In what year did you become politically "sentient?"

[Happy Hoosier]

12. I was in elementary school.

My Dad, who was fairly conservative and had voted for Nixon, wanted me to hear the Watergate hearings. I became aware of what politics were, though not really aware of the details.

I became politically interested in my pre-teens, though like many kids I just followed my parents' politics. I remained "officially" conservative until college, though I had had doubts previously... I began questioning some of my received beliefs. By the time I graduated from college, I dumped conservatism (to my parent's annoyance, but acceptance). That was... about 30 years ago now.