There is no truly objective truth.
(Says perceptional psychology.
)
So whenever you read an argument, and maybe make it your own, you always take a part of its sociology with you (the social field around it) that is also why in part political views tend to change over a lifetime.
So getting in contact with certain fields or scenes, is not yet brainwashing. Not even getting situated in certain social scenes (Bill Clinton finding a girlfriend that kind of made his political career, Hillary Rodham meeting a certain professor that formed her political view, and understanding of the world, ...
Just using the most triggering examples possible for the right, could have used the most triggering for the left (Chicago School, .. ) instead, doesnt matter), and taking over their collective opinions, is actually fine. Its pretty normal and expected. If through all of this (life
) you dont loose your critical/analytical approach to getting to know issues, all the better. But in casual social conversations with your friends, you probably wont keep up your critical analytical stance all the time. Still expected and normal.
Whats not normal, is - if all of a sudden you are shouting "look her up", storming a pizzeria with a gun, or are talking about the Clinton foundation world conspiracy sponsoring all your foes, because they are devil worshippers.
Maybe you see the slight difference here.
Absorption, and assimilation into cultural thought is normal. Also - we only talked about liberal ideals here, not republican vs. democratic, left vs. right. There is a liberal right as well you know?
Thats why I mentioned, that later in life political orientation might shift as well, because people get in contact with other ideals, and will get more stability focused, and so on and so forth..
Universities are hopefully most of the time promoting for students to think for themselves. And if they are not (because you are studying law, f.e.
), they are not. But as a result of it, a more liberal mindset - kind of comes with that. But people take it on very willingly. Just tell somone, that the world is open to them, they are the best of the best, they can do whatever they set their mind to - and if they believe it, you'll get a liberal person out of that.
And thats kind of the thinking, that we want at universities. Mostly.
Now. Lets talk about right wing national conservative ideals.
Those get born out of - "defending what you have".
In europe we've an OECD study floating around currently, that shows, that in the past 20 years, lower and middle income classes have lost effective wage income (percentages), but they are subjectively happier than before. Thats real brainwashing.
(Or whats needed to save the earth. One or the other..
)
The reason suggested by the study, btw is that we gage our place in the world by comparing our standing with the relative standing of others around. And since the immigration crisis brought us a new set of people that are perceived as 'even lower class' by rightwing nationalists (right wing politics tell them that they are) - they are happy as can be, getting cheated out of their money.
Which is kind of why those rightwing movements are financed by billionaires (as well...
More so than democratic movements, usually. Because that approach, just works so well..
).
In the end, people in general are kind of dumb, and get convinced by words, what can I say.
Democracies can work without having to resort to "old style" propaganda, because PR and marketing work just as well with a "softer" kind of influence approach.
Just be aware, of when you are chanting two syllable word slogans in masses again. Because chances are, that you are brainwashed at that point. If its not a concert of >your favourite band< of course..