The Liberal Gene

Feeling a bit liberal today? It's all in your genes.

A new study sponsored by the National Science Foundation hypothesizes that liberalism might be built into DNA.

"We hypothesize that individuals with a genetic predisposition toward seeking out new experiences will tend to be more liberal, but only if they are embedded in a social context that provides them with multiple points of view," wrote lead researcher James H. Fowler -- a professor of medical genetics and political science at the University of California, San Diego. (FOXNews)

What this means is anyone's guess. Here are my thoughts:

1) Having multiple points of view plays no part in modern liberalism. The most closed-minded and intransigent people I know claim to be modern liberals. While modern liberals consider themselves to be open-minded, endemic to the system is the vehement exclusion of any beliefs they don't agree with.

1A) (corollary) While the concept of open mindedness may not apply to modern liberalism, it does indeed apply to classical liberalism - the same ideals that created the concepts of individualism, democracy, and limited government power.

2) The concept of genetic determinism is the modern liberal's panacea to excuse bad behavior. If there are genes for thinking certain ways, the conclusion is that any action that follows such thoughts cannot ever be wrong. This is an unfortunate conclusion, making humans no more responsible for any action than amoebas have.

3) On the other hand, blaming modern liberalism on genes makes a certain kind of sense. We can't blame modern liberals for their actions. They simply cannot help themselves. They just feel that way without any rational thought. We just need to ensure that they don't ever hold political power so they don't hurt themselves or others.

4) If ideology can be inherited, then modern liberals should recognize and accept that social conservatives also cannot help the way they think. Raging against social conservatives is, therefore,  a phobia, the worst kind of bigotry, that must be be weeded out of modern liberalism.

While genes may predispose us to be friendly or open-minded, the idea that genes determine certain ideologies and subsequent actions creates the huge philosophical quandary of self-will and self-determination. I choose to believe that humans are responsible for their own actions, no matter how socially damaging.

As the old Rush song puts it: "You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill. I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill."

And if you disagree with me, you're probably a bigot.