I always enjoy reading Kyle's writings.
I have a son who is exactly the same age as Kyle. He attends college and is constantly exposed to liberalism.
The difference in attitude between my son and Kyle is always interesting for me to observe.
Kyle, maybe because of his "insider" status or exposure to organized politics, seems so cynical for his age.
My kid, on the other hand, is the cock-eyed optimist, who still thinks you should enter the fray and take on the liberals you meet, converting them one at a time through discussion and debate. (Actually has had some success in this, but with college kids his own age, not with the profs.)
This summer he's taking online classes, and is constantly engaging in debate during his discussion postings.
Kyle's positions are probably more realistic (although I think it's a stretch to say there's no difference between the Dems and the Republicans), but I wonder if it's not better for the psyche of a 17 year old to think he can do the "impossible", and change the liberal direction of our country through working on the campaigns of candidates he supports or engaging in lively debate (my kid still wears his Bush/Cheney bracelet from the 2004 campaign and never took his bumper stickers off his car.)
My hat is off to you, by your parenting and to the results you have described. I have 2 sons, at 27 & 31. Excellent men- proven by hard worked for education, surviving combat and well earned Fatherhood. There was a time when I envisioned their future lives, as being nothing like their current lives. Now, back to Kyle, as I stated prior- if folks want to appreciate this child's words, just remember he is exactly that- a growing child.