NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a question to all NSers.

In this individual thread, I don't care what your political views are. What I do want to know is how you arrived at those views.

What event, or series of events, in your life led you down the road you currently walk? And, as an added bonus question; what might it take for you to change your mind on your beliefs?

As for me....

I determined my political leanings when I was going to college in San Diego CA. The major lynchpin in the formation of my beliefs was in 1996, when the Republican National Convention was in San Diego.

I was working for the Old Globe Theatre at the time, aside from school. I worked in both in the box office, and in the lighting department. That year, (and practically every year since then) the GOP had been talking about drastic cuts to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts). That alone posed a threat to my job, which was first on the list of irksome things I found in the GOP. Then, during the convention, a pro-life "army" decided to march through Balboa park (where the Old Globe Theatre is located), and it was the single most crass thing I had ever laid eyes on. People actually carried signs saying "Democrats hate babies" and other bullshit stuff like that, and I got offended. Previous to that time, I had more conservative political leanings, my family was practically a group of poster children for the GOP. They truly believed in "voodoo" economics (because a good portion were rather well to do), and were highly religious to boot. But, to insinuate that any person, or entire political party was against children seemed not only fanatical and insane, but deeply divisive, and unamerican. I had decided to go against my family and vote for Clinton that year, based on what I had seen. And, the more I explored the ideals of the Democratic party, the more I realized that my own personal beliefs fell more on the left side of the aisle, and the more I felt at home there.

Next?

Started democrat:
Travelled the world with family, saw that US was not always the best, but was very often better off.
Read Communist Manifesto in 7th grade, started "People's Party" in my HS.
Made communist propaganda for sports events.
Senior year, took philosophy class. Realized all people did not deserve the same thingsl.
Read Nietzsche, Aristotle, Plato:
Now preffer aristocracy.

Well, I started out as a pure Republican, but became increasingly distanced from them on social issues from 1996-2000. By 2000, I was independent at heart but finally broke ties after the election. My beliefs developed until I became what I am now: a registered independent that is economically Republican and socially Democratic.

well, mainly my upbringing added with allot of my own stuff(which is mainly that the best government is to emulate nature, which i originally thought was anarchist(which is a pretty despised political view here, like communism in america) and then i realised that nature is actually totalitarian, so i went back to what i'd originally been, mostly, just from a different viewpoint.(communist, as my parents were(when we lived in maine they were registered under the republican party. i guess it's just that the left/right line isn't exactly correct, and so it differs, yopenya's is more similiar to that of russia than to that of america :p ))

Started Republican, around 2000. I was as right-wing as you could be (Though I was never any sort of Religious Neocon.) These views were largely bourne from distaste of Clinton's immoral behavior as president, as well as that they were my parent's political views.

I still hate how Clinton treated the White House as a strip club, but I've been shifting toward the center for the last 5 years, mostly on social issues. By 2004, I would have still voted Bush (I wasn't quite 18 yet), and I may have still now--- Kerry was a BAD Democratic candidate. Too many open flaws.

In this last year I've changed dramatically. I used to have a "classical conservative", semi-libertarian view of less government intervention in all respects, including social works and economic conservatism--- one of the main things the Bush administratration pushes. But recently I've shifted--- just 6 months ago I supported the tax cuts. Now I realize how damaging they are to our economy in the current situation.

Right now I consider myself an independent centrist, veering left until something stops me.

Started Democrat

Brainwashed by far-leftists, but not communists or socialists (still supported a form of capitalism)

Gradually developed a liking for Libertarianism - that way Im not a pussy environmentalist leftie, or an uptight conservative Republican

Decided that Im Jesus Christ. <-- not relevant

Decided not to be strict in any of my beliefs, really, to be more so practical while leaning towards Libertarian. I'd probably vote Libertarian in 2008 if the choices are Hillary and McCain or Jeb Bush.

I've always been left of centre and probably will always be. This has to do a lot with the enviroment in which I grew up in and my schooling. i have gradually shifted towards the centre, where depending on the candidate and the political situation i may vote conservative. I have grown up realized the follies of a number of social issues, but leftists will always be progressive and conservatives will be regressive. The slippery slope is progression!

Raised Democrat.

Joined debate, heard about Rawls, decided the Veil of Ignorance makes sense.

Read I Robot, saw the perfect government. Continuing in debate, found out through experience that the best positions are the ones that are inherently true.

Became a Technocrat.