It's true. However, part of the reason my generation (and the generation after me) is intellectually stunted, especially when it comes to politics, is an absence of proper modeling.

I'm very fortunate in that I have a number of friendships spanning 25+ years. From that core group of friends, mine was the only father who actively participated in parenting. My dad taught me not just his views, but also why he thought the way he did, and how to challenge logical fallacies. He encouraged disagreement, so long as it was respectful and well reasoned. (My mom was the opposite kind of person, but we won't go there. Her views are based on emotion and knee-jerk reactions.)

And I was part of the middle class. At least my friends actually had fathers that stuck around. Drop down a few income levels, and not only do you suffer from a complete absence instruction, but also of familial structure.