As with any form of indoctrination

[question everything]

religious, politics, or other - if you cannot trust your kid to be exposed to opposing views, your problems are larger than simply having the President telling your kids to stay in school, to work hard and, yes, even to write to him.

[rucky]

1. and as a parenting strategy

it never really works out as intended.

[bigjohn16]

2. I don't have kids myself but

if I did and I believed that they could be swayed by one persons politics or opinion I think I'd feel like a failure as a parent. I'd hope I could instill in them a stronger sense of self and individuality.

[question everything]

4. And, either way, you would want them to come home

and discuss what they've heard and why they were swayed. And this could be a beginning of discussions where you could see where you may have failed.

Sometimes the reason is that parents abdicate their responsibility to gently guide a child to their set of beliefs and ideas. Yes, we, the baby boomers started it, not to be like our parents and to let kids choose what they wanted. At the age of 2, or 5, kids need strong guidance that can become more subtle as they develop their own thinking and perception skills.

Also, to be alert to what other sources of ideas the kid is exposed.

I know a couple of very liberal parents, they both were from the Midwest and then the job took them to a Southern state, to a university town. They were shocked when their teen age boy came home upset that they did not "accept Jesus" because they will go to hell. And they felt quite helpless in swaying him the other direction.

[Jennicut]

3. I am a liberal. My kids are free to be whatever they want to be politically wise

I would hope they would not be apolitical...apathy and not caring is the worst thing we can do in a democracy. But I can't force my beliefs on them. My own parents are conservative. I chose not to be. Hopefully I give them enough tools that they reject conservatism....educate them on the real truths of the world. But when they turn 18 I cannot tell them what to do. These parents are silly.

[question everything]

5. Even before they are 18. You don't want to prohibit them from

listening to - urgh - Rush or Orally. But you do want to encourage them to tell you why they listen to them and what they take from them and you hope to be able to have a meaningful discussion explaining why your opinion is different. At least, you instill in them a respect for different opinions, where people can debate and agree to disagree, instead of just shouting down the opposition with misinformation.