Survey

I'm curious as to what attributes or circumstances of our lives have influenced our political views. If you are also so interested and so inclined, I'd like to take a little survey to find out. Of course, I'll be the first to answer. Feel free to add questions you think may be important. Of course, you don't have to answer all questions.

Age: 45
Married: Yes
Children: 2
Education: BS, Information System
Military: Yes
Ever lived in a country other than USA?:
Yes
How would you classify your political views:
Fiscally conservative, socially independant.
How would you classify your parents political views:
Fiscally liberal, socially conservative.
How would you characterize your economic status:
Middle class, white collar.
How would you characterize your parents economice status:
Working class, blue collar.
Raised in a urban, rural or suburban environment:
Urban.

Age: 50
Married: Divorced
Children: 3
Education: BS Art Education/Special Ed. certification
Miltary: no
Ever lived in a country other than USA?: Yes
Classify your political views: Fiscal/Social Conservative
Economic status compared to most amateur astronomers: lower middle class
Parent's economic status: middle class/military
Raised in small Southern town. pop. approx. 2000

. 50+
. Been there, done that...'nuf said.
.2 beautiful daughters.
.College, no degree -yet... major:theology,
minor: English.
.no military... 4F.
.Spent Bicentennial New Year in Windsor, Ontario...
full extent of being out-of-USA.
.Politics: yes... left of many, but no Leftist anymore.
.Parents politics: New Deal Democrats... dad may've voted
Labour if he'd not emmigrated... Socially progressive.
.Self: Blue collar, working class.
.Parents: Blue collar, working/ex-agrarian class. Parents underemployed WRT their education...depression era, ya know?
.Chicago area & suburbs.. most of my life, so far.

Good evening all:

I've been contented to just lurk here occasionally, especially given the - er - fervor with which some of the topics are discussed. (I recently posted 3 notes on the Philosophy / Religion Forum but have gone back to just lurking there as well since that forum has moved way beyond the topics associated with my posts and with - umm - gusto.) Anyway, this question attracted my attention and seemed "safe." So here're my responses:


Age: 53

Married: Yes. Once since July 29 1989

Children: 4. Son age 23, and daughters age 18, 13, & 11. The older two are step-children.

Education: BS Physics, MS Nuclear Engineering

Military: No

Ever lived outside USA: Yes New York - :-) Actually, no.

Political Views: Conservative (especially social conservative)

Parents' political views: Conservative (especially social conservative). Their views and mine are very very close but not identical.

Economic status: Middle class, white collar. I'm an engineer for the area electric utility.

Parents' economic status: middle class, white collar. My Dad raised 8 of us on a yearly income of $15,000.

Childhood environment: rural (0-5 yr), suburban (other)

Current environment: suburban

Extra info FWIW

Raised in: Florida (North FLorida)

College education in: New York

Currently live in: North Carolina

Religion: Presbyterian (PCA). Was raised Catholic.

And around here most importantly ....

Telescopes I've owned in the past:
Tasco 40mm 10-50X refractor
Sears 60mm F11.7 refractor
Criterion RV6 Newt
Sky Research 8"F3 Newt dob

Telescope currently owned:
Burgess 102F6 refractor (unstopped). Originally looked at geting back in with an 8-10" dob but wanted something more portable and what the hey, I'm a refractor guy. Currently invested $550 in OTA, mount, and accessories.

Back to lurking - occasionally....

Good night.

Mark Costello

Matthews NC