What has been your your greatest "180 degree turn" regarding social or political issues? (beach, emotionally)
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If folks haven't had a few 180s in their lifetime, I think that is cause for reflection. Are we introspective, self-analytical and open-minded enough if we haven't changed our minds on at least a few 'big' issues?
I've never been much of a believer in religion, but as I've gotten older, instead of demurring I simply say "I am an atheist." What pushed the change was the many efforts to teach creationism in public schools and other examples of trying to push religion into civic life.
Fortunately I live in the PNW, where religion is a private issue and it's considered pretty rude to discuss in public.
1. Switched from supporting the War in Vietnam (stop the dominos from falling) to totally opposing it (our Vietnamese side was not fully committed).
2. Switched from voting for Republicans (Nelson Rockefeller, Frank Sargent, Ed Brooke) to never voting again for anyone associated with the GOP: Party of Hate®.
3. Switched from not really caring about the South to totally despising all the traitors to the Union.
What about us southern liberals in the Georgia 6th?
You're not the only one. I consider myself a Conservative as well, but it seems the Republican party has been taken over by mostly Libertarians pretending to be Conservatives who call everyone that's a true Republican Conservative a RINO. They called Teddy Roosevelt a RINO. Heck of Ronald Reagan rose from the grave, they'd call him a RINO. To me it's very sad to see what has happened to the Republicans. I'm not a socialist so I can't vote for a left wing Democrat. And I'm not a Libertarian, so I can't vote for a TEA party anarchist. I don't mind being a man without a party, but hate going to an election and finding no one running who represents or even cares about my views.
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Actually the Republican party has been taken over by the Religious Right and Conservatives. The number of Libertarians in the party is next to none, at least on the national level. The Religious Right and Conservatives are the ones that use RINO. No more Kemp, DuPont, and Rockefeller types.
Goldwater warned us about the Religious Right when he said we ought to line up and kick Falwell in the ass.
What about us southern liberals in the Georgia 6th?
I don't quite understand this, but I didn't think there were any liberals in the south. A good friend who is gay moved there due to less pricey housing, I met him in San Jose when I worked up there....and he's dying down there, his dog has become even more his best friend. He has a small circle of close friends last time we talked but it's been tough for him.
Everyone saying, "I was liberal, now more so." or "I was conservative, now more so."
How is that a 180 degree turn?
What you are saying is, "I was an intolerant dogmatist. Now I am an even more intolerant dogmatist." Instead of a 180 degree turn you just stayed the course and increased your speed towards being an a-hole.
Hmmmmm......I tend to have evolution rather than revolution.
For example, when it came to gay folks..at first I was just concerned due to AIDS. That really is the issue that brought gays to the national news. Then the subject of civil unions came up....I was ok with that. Heck, it's only fair that they would get the same tax breaks, etc.
I thought "official marriage" was not needed as long as they had all the same rights. I guess I still feel the same - but have no problem either way.
Try as I may, I can't think of many 180 degree turns I have made.
Saying that you are "liberal" or "conservative" does not (necessarily) mean you are dogmatic, but rather that your political/social beliefs tend that way. Saying that you are a Democrat or Republican, on the other hand, can imply that you vote straight party ticket. Plus a lot of people identify themselves as "social liberal, fiscal conservative" or the like. Not that I ever recall hearing someone call themselves "social conservative, fiscal liberal".
I find that I generally vote Dem, particularly since we have had a wave of "Tea Party Conservatives" run for office at my local/state level in the last decade and I don't back them in the slightest. Prior to that I voted a bit more split ticket.
I thought everyone wanted equality, fairness, and making a better world for everyone. Little by little, through personal experience over the years, I learned that was true when talking about it, but not actually living it.
My 180 brought cynicism into my life. It can be beneficial at times, but I look back fondly at the idealism and innocence in my earlier days. A 360 in my future doesn't seem likely, but that little flame of hope still exists.
Last edited by jean_ji; 07-29-2017 at 02:51 PM..
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