NationStates Jolt Archive

I'll start. Note: your first political views can be from anytime. For example, even though I didn't quite understand politics (at all basically) at the time, I considered myself a Democrat when I was 10.

Just go in the order that your views changed..

Me (thus far):

Centrist Democrat
Independent liberal
Indepedent libertarian (not strict, but nevertheless)

tough question really. i've always been left, but i used to be very authoritarian. at times i even leant towards the right on some economic policies - and specially on 'protecting the moral fabric of the country'. so i've changed to be much more libertarian (not fully) and become less left.

I'll start. Note: your first political views can be from anytime. For example, even though I didn't quite understand politics (at all basically) at the time, I considered myself a Democrat when I was 10.

Just go in the order that your views changed..

Me (thus far):

Centrist Democrat
Independent liberal
Indepedent libertarian (not strict, but nevertheless)
I've gone from fairly left and revolutionary to EXTREMELY LEFT, but less violently revolutionary. I've become more supportive of passive resistance, and way clearer on my stance on any number of given issues. That's the big difference...hazy and sort of left to razor sharp and REALLY left.:)

Edit: I refuse to align myself with any party politics, which is why I say LEFT and avoid any specific -ism.

socialist
liberal
social democrat
socialist
marxist-leninist (stalin)
marxist leninist (trotsky)

(in just 6 years)

socialist
liberal
social democrat
socialist
marxist-leninist (stalin)
marxist leninist (trotsky)

(in just 6 years)
ARGHH!! A TROT! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!
(you were seriously a Stalinist? Who admits that?)

Fascist
Neo-Nazi
Extreme Liberal
Libertarian
Independent Libertarian

EDIT:
Actually, now that I think of it, I doubt I really fit under the libertarian banner any more, and now I'm more like just some odd left-winger.

I went from a conservative in 6th grade, to liberal 8th and part of 9th grade, then became politically apathetic until early 10th grade, when I became libertarian

I'll start. Note: your first political views can be from anytime. For example, even though I didn't quite understand politics (at all basically) at the time, I considered myself a Democrat when I was 10.

Just go in the order that your views changed..

Me (thus far):

Centrist Democrat
Independent liberal
Indepedent libertarian (not strict, but nevertheless)

Hmmm.

Pre-Vietnam: Right-wing Republican
Post-Vietnam: Left-wing Democrat
Regan Era: Centrist Republican
Now: Independent [ slightly left of center on Economic issues, slightly right of center on Foreign Policy ]

Was, lol
I did agree with him on most facts but then i realized trotsky was right (after reading up on trotsky some more). I just think too much thats why i change views so often :D .

I've always been pretty socially liberal - basically, do what you want, so long as you don't hurt anyone else.

My economic views have changed from slightly right-wing to dead-center, to slightly left-wing. I've seen enough homeless and heard enough stories to know that some people need a bit of help to get back on their feet. Meanwhile, I still feel that anyone not actively attempting to help themselves should be cut off from aid.

BION, I was a pretty militant left-winger when I was a teenager.

I suppose on politicsI have shifted quite a bit. I suppose the best way to map my shift would be to break things into the three main rights used by nationstates countries.

In civil rights I have shifted from being in favor of somewhat restricting civil rights to wanting to see them expanded.

Economically I have gone from being pretty socialist to supporting capitalism with a safety net and free medical care.

For political rights I have shifted from wanting democracy to supporting enlightened oligarchy.

I went from a conservative in 6th grade, to liberal 8th and part of 9th grade, then became politically apathetic until early 10th grade, when I became libertarian

Heh, in from 6-8th grade I would say that I was politically apathetic. It was only during 9th grade that I really started to form some serious political opinions, although not on economic issues (which I'm still not 100% decided on, except for the fact that I'm pro-capitalist).

conservative
stalinist
socialist
anarchist

Up to about the age of 15 I was fairly conservative in most things. After reading up on the USSR and Lenin, I lurched to the left and have stayed there since.

conservative
stalinist
socialist
anarchist

LOL! And I thought I changed my "stripes" too often! :D

christian-democrat as a teenager
social-democrat/environmentalist in my twenties
resigned anti-capitalist now

LOL! And I thought I changed my "stripes" too often! :D
Dude, I was young.

In 2002, when I first started getting interested in politics (bear in mind I was 13), I was very far to the left. I almost considered myself a Green for a while. Very gradually, I've grown more moderate on the issues. I used to appreciate Michael Moore as a decent left-wing film maker. Especially after this past election, however, I've tried hard to battle extreme leftism (it probably started during the DNC primary season when I supported John Kerry over Howard Dean). I find myself becoming more and more aligned with Clintonesque moderate Democrats. I don't plan on switching parties anytime soon, however.

I used to be far left on economics and moderately conservative on social issues. Then I went more liberal on social issues. Then I became less left-wing on economics. Then I became centrist on economics and became even more libertarian on the social issues. You can see this in my political compass results.

Me:
authoritarian socialist
democratic socialist
centrist libertarian (now)

Now: Independent [ slightly left of center on Economic issues, slightly right of center on Foreign Policy ]
Left on economics? I thought the main reason that you usually vote Republican is because you like their right-wing economic policies?

Dude, I was young.

Young? Um ... I vaguely recall being young once, believe it or not! ;)

Left on economics? I thought the main reason that you usually vote Republican is because you like their right-wing economic policies?

Um ... not sure where you got that impression. And what makes you think I "usually vote Republican?" Hmm. Perhaps I'm not making myself clear?

Since I became interested in politics (over 20 years ago) my political tendencies have been:

conservative (middle of the road)
left of centre
anarchist-communist
socialist
green
left leaning liberal (with a healthy dose of green)

When I was really young, like about 6 (Probably later) I considered myself a Democrat because I thought that the whole party was based on having a true Democracy. How naive I was.

Then I learned more about what the parties stood for, and was pretty right-wing, although I really didn't care too much. Clinton was a good president in my opinion, but a somewhat flawed man. But we all have flaws, eh?

Then I met a group of Socialists and Communists, and fed up with their views (I like Capitalism, you see) I began to express the stance of a group they incredibly hate, the Fascists.

And when I think about it, that wouldn't be such a bad plan, except that Fascism almost always replaces Religion, and I kind of like Religion, it's a nice thing. So I'm thinking about moving to Vatican City and living under a Fundamentalist Theocracy for a while...

Salve atque vale!

I used to be more so-called liberal. NS helped me towards conservatisim by showing how plainly idiotic the so-called liberal policies - omnipresent totalitarian governments telling everyone what to do, who they are, and how much they owe the government that week - really are. And of course I learned a bit about economics in the proces and don't think I'll be looking back. I don't see how anyone can really be leftist and intelligent, but I guess there's a lot to be said for denial and ignorance.

I am the socialist revolutionary at my school and i'm only 13

At first I was your standard-issue liberal Democrat in my formative years, moving more and more towards socialism the more I read about American history and Marxist economic theory. After that I lurched from democratic socialist to anarchist to noncommital Trotskyist to Marxist-Leninist-Maoist in the present day.

I used to be more so-called liberal. NS helped me towards conservatisim by showing how plainly idiotic the so-called liberal policies - omnipresent totalitarian governments telling everyone what to do, who they are, and how much they owe the government that week - really are. And of course I learned a bit about economics in the proces and don't think I'll be looking back. I don't see how anyone can really be leftist and intelligent, but I guess there's a lot to be said for denial and ignorance.
"Omnipresent totalitarian governments"?
Huh?
:confused:

ive always been liberal and eclectic in my politics. over the years i have become rather pragmatic and cynical.

I started out as a Democrat. Then, my high school American History teacher (a Republican) said something about gun control that made sense to me, and I started leaning more toward Libertarian, but I didn't know it by name. In college, I met somebody who actually was a Libertarian, and he really bothered me. I didn't take the time to figure out what a Libertarian was, though, until I actually started discussing politics while he was in the room. Then I looked up the LP's platform and discovered a lot of things that I'd come up with on my own, and I was happy. Now, I understand a little bit more about economics, so I'm definitely a Libertarian.

I am proudly far right. :) viva Bush! And Regan was Uber.

Neo-con
Centrist Conservitive
Libertarian

I don't vote and that's my politics. :P

I've probably been:

Left wing (early highschool)
Fascist (mid highschool)
Oligarchist (late highschool)
True economic rationalist (in my experience that can put you in all sorts of camps) (when I started to take economics)
Libertarian (when I started to understand economics)
Classical liberal (when I started to realise having any government requires serious check and balances that aren't provided for in libertarianism)

Right now I can still see the allure of economic rationalism (real economic rationalism, not the stuff that some of the right claim to be) but pragmatism and major problems I have with economic theory keep me from it, and to an extent I can see the allure of contractarianism.

I used to be very far right wing, almost a fascist in some ways. Then I became anarchist.

I used to be very far right wing, almost a fascist in some ways. Then I became anarchist.
lol, big policy-shift

Fascist
Neo-Nazi
Extreme Liberal
Libertarian
Independent Libertarian

Whoa, really? I totally wouldn't have picked you as being a Nazi. Well at least you reformed :)


As for me, I started reading into the USSR at the age of 11 or so. I've stayed on the left, but I no longer believe in state-socialism.

Whoa, really? I totally wouldn't have picked you as being a Nazi. Well at least you reformed :)
I was brought up in a conservative Christian family, and led to believe that it was a good thing if the government was extremely strict about everything. Luckily, I got some outside views and realized I was being an idiot.

I was brought up in a conservative Christian family, and led to believe that it was a good thing if the government was extremely strict about everything. Luckily, I got some outside views and realized I was being an idiot.

Ah. My parents are good, they keep out of my politics despite them being right-wing. I'm sure they regret what they have brought about deep-down though :p

British Liberal
British Labour (when I thought they were left, since realised they're not)
British Liberal (who I'd vote for at the moment)

But really, I've gone centre-left, centre-left, centre, but in reality now I'm fairly far left, but not authoritarian (very 'Libertarian'), so I don't get on with British Political Parties.

When I was a little kid and didn't know any better, I tended to think the Republicans were okie dokie (I was 10 when Reagan took office). I was a Centrist Democrat when I hit 18 and started to vote. The older I get, the more to the left I lean.

At first I was your standard-issue liberal Democrat in my formative years, moving more and more towards socialism the more I read about American history and Marxist economic theory. After that I lurched from democratic socialist to anarchist to noncommital Trotskyist to Marxist-Leninist-Maoist in the present day.
Interesting. You must give me your political compass results for my survey. Take the test here:

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/

And that goes for all of you in this thread!

Um ... not sure where you got that impression. And what makes you think I "usually vote Republican?" Hmm. Perhaps I'm not making myself clear?
Because you said it. I probably am unable to drag up the quote, but in some post you said that northerners never ever vote Republican, whereas you sometimes vote Democrat (despite usually voting Rep).

In any case, you've been confusing me a lot lately, since I discovered you were to the left of John Kerry!

I used to be more so-called liberal. NS helped me towards conservatisim by showing how plainly idiotic the so-called liberal policies - omnipresent totalitarian governments telling everyone what to do, who they are, and how much they owe the government that week - really are. And of course I learned a bit about economics in the proces and don't think I'll be looking back. I don't see how anyone can really be leftist and intelligent, but I guess there's a lot to be said for denial and ignorance.
Most leftists are libertarian on social issues, whereas most conservatives are authoritarian on social issues. Both groups are authoritarian, but in different ways. So if you are really a conservative you can't really claim to be about freedom. If you want to be about freedom I suggest you try libertarianism.

I am the socialist revolutionary at my school and i'm only 13
That's very cute.

I'm unsure as to what I stand for at the moment. Certainly liberal, anyway. I'm not in favour of any constrictive laws beyond the ones that are sense (don't kill, steal, etc) beyond that, I've no problem with it as long as the personal action doesn't affect others.


I used to be quite conservative, but that's European conservative, not American conservative.

I went from centrist to way-hardcore left wing libertarian (I stayed there for about 2 years), then went back to centrist, and now I am slightly right wing, but still very centrist.

I used to be further Right. After spending time with you guys in Nationstates, I think I'm not as far Right, but still quite Right-wingged because of my upbringing, culture, lifestyle and religion.

Greedy Pig, what is your religion and upbringing and what's so rightwing about them?

Liberal
Socialist
Fascist
Conservative


Left to Right. Huzzzzzah.

bump. this thread is interesting

The older I get, the less I want to think for others. Definitely getting more and more liberal as I age.
Life's too short; Live and let live.

Hmm...
I am a central leftist/Libertarian.

Well Lets see.

Democrat
Soft Conservative Republican.
Green
No party. Centrist. (Due to the shrub
Centrist. Democrat(due to the shrub running again).

Welfare-state Libiral
Social Democrat
Anarchist

I started as a blind Republican when I was young. I was then influenced into being more leftist by various junior high teachers. By the time GW Bush was elected, I was more neutral. However, after 9-11 I became more right leaning. I was a republican for a year or two. However, I became more and more disapointed with the republican party and realized that I had no representation with them. We don't really even have two parties anymore, we have the Democans and the Republocrats. Lol. Anyways, I now classify myself as a Constitutional Nationalist.

Not much change, considering I've been voting since 1984.

I have never voted for the Republican party, and probably never will!

US needs a third party with as much strength as the Dems and Repubs.

this topic should not die thats why i'm posting.

For Swimmingpool:

My political compass
Economic Left/Right: -9.88
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -7.08

Heh. Maoism is often said by people who don't understand it to be an authoritarian ideology. Well, nuts to you.

The PC is more accurate than the standard left-right spectrum, but some of the questions are a bit simplistically constructed.. for example, the pornography should be legal one. I'm against it, not because a videotape of people having sex is morally wrong somehow but because it exploits and degrades women, but I'm not for arresting the actors or producers and throwing them in jail or something. I'm in favor of women's liberation and changing society's attitudes towards women so that eventually, things like that just won't go on.. or at least, not nearly as much. No morality police for me, thank you. The test doesn't allow for that kind of nuance alot.

I'm against it, not because a videotape of people having sex is morally wrong somehow but because it exploits and degrades women
If you think porn exploits and degrades women (who consented to appear in the film) surely you are saying, in a way, that it is morally wrong?

I used to be a hardcore libertarian and while I still am socially, I'm more of a centrist economically (for Britain, so quite lefty internationally).

Of course, there was the obligatory hardcore socialism when I first started getting into politics, but I think nearly everyone goes through that phase.

Well, sort of, but not in a narrow-minded and dogmatic way. I.E. it's wrong because premarital sex or casual sex is wrong (it ain't), and because some crazyass 4000 year old sky god says so.

Anywhoo. If you want to know what I'm talking about, just go looking for porn videos nowadays. See how the female actors in these films are portrayed and treated.

I'll start. Note: your first political views can be from anytime. For example, even though I didn't quite understand politics (at all basically) at the time, I considered myself a Democrat when I was 10.

Just go in the order that your views changed..

Me (thus far):

Centrist Democrat
Independent liberal
Indepedent libertarian (not strict, but nevertheless)

I can remember quite clearly being five or six years old and answering the question of "what would you do if you ruled the world" with "I'd ban smoking".

Nowadays I'd call that an authoritarian intrusion on personal liberty.

Well, sort of, but not in a narrow-minded and dogmatic way. I.E. it's wrong because premarital sex or casual sex is wrong (it ain't), and because some crazyass 4000 year old sky god says so.

Anywhoo. If you want to know what I'm talking about, just go looking for porn videos nowadays. See how the female actors in these films are portrayed and treated.

Depends what video. In some of them the woman is most definitely "on top"...

Plus there's always gay porn.

From the time I could read until the age of 12: Environmentalist (lol)

12-13 (I started to visit Chel-ives.com): State-Communist

13/15 and after that (I started to read a lot of books, and look what leftism would do to ruin my family, family-life and the lifestyle of that and my friends): I became more liberal, now I am principally a Libertarian practically a Classic Liberal.