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Growing up, I was Republican......but I would follow Henry B. Gonzales to the ends of the Earth and my parents were so fed up with the Republicans that they became Democrats.
After I got out of the Navy, I was Democrat for about 10 years.
Now, I'm Republican again but with a tremendous sense of playing fair, by the rules.
"Iffy" or confused? Seems like a lot of blowing in the wind to me...
I think this is true of many people, but not necessarily all or even most. I think it's more an issue of personality. Some people have certain personality traits that give them a heightened sense of importance or superiority. These people often cannot be reasoned with, or at least not easily. Many of them likely will develop their views early on and maintain them.
So aren't like this. Some people are naturally open minded and will change their views based on the best argument. Some people are naturally indecisive and will change their views on a whim. Many people don't really have firm political views in their 20s and thus develop them later in life. Some never really develop excessively firm views. Their are people who collect social security who have a loosey goosey view on the world.
I myself sometimes get caught up in my own world view that I sometimes forget to hear the other side, but I make an effort to be aware of this and always here the other side out. I also have quite a lot of idealism and there are views that I wish I had.
Many, all, most, some..., I don't know from where you get your "numbers," and I am no better able to statistically quantify my Cement Theory, but my observations over many years has been that the great majority of people are simply intractable when it comes to their core religions and/or political beliefs, once set. There is room for debate as to when those beliefs get set, but once set, people don't change their mind as a general rule no matter the facts, reason or logic.
This has surely been my observation over many years of such exchange. I find it very curious that others find their experience to be any different...
Again I ask, anybody here change their religion or political leaning as a result of anything learned in these threads? Or as a result of anything learned over these past years?
Nobody EVER comes forth with any such change -- of consequence -- no matter how many times I ask...
And/or if someone does suggest they have changed, they don't say what learning caused their belief to shift.
Closest we get are from those who really had not come to firmly believe in the first place, like most people do by the time they are through their 20s...
"Iffy" or confused? Seems like a lot of blowing in the wind to me...
Please, don't insult a counter view to your theory. Just because it doesn't agree with your doesn't mean it's wrong.
But, as an example to my point, after I got out of the Navy, I received a much more extensive education about ethics, far away from the Regimented system I had been before I got my commission. Under that latter system, for example, we saw nothing wrong with sinking a Soviet hospital ship if it meant we could sink the destroyer afterwards. (of course, something us young heroes didn't know was that POW's could be moved on hospital ships, too!)
To the former, however, I learned extensively about group think, State sponsored terrorism against one's own people, and in depth briefings such as about My Lai. Might does not make Right.
It is, however, a two sided sword. I might not (in the LE era I come from) tell you what your rights are but rather depend on your ignorance to allow me to do what I want..............but I won't lie to you either.
Please, don't insult a counter view to your theory. Just because it doesn't agree with your doesn't mean it's wrong.
But, as an example to my point, after I got out of the Navy, I received a much more extensive education about ethics, far away from the Regimented system I had been before I got my commission. Under that latter system, for example, we saw nothing wrong with sinking a Soviet hospital ship if it meant we could sink the destroyer afterwards. (of course, something us young heroes didn't know was that POW's could be moved on hospital ships, too!)
To the former, however, I learned extensively about group think, State sponsored terrorism against one's own people, and in depth briefings such as about My Lai. Might does not make Right.
It is, however, a two sided sword. I might not (in the LE era I come from) tell you what your rights are but rather depend on your ignorance to allow me to do what I want..............but I won't lie to you either.
My apologies. I sometimes forget people can be a little sensitive, and I don't know that "blowing in the wind" is an insult. I surely don't mean to do so just because someone doesn't agree with me. I am not so much interested in the quick judgment as to who is right or wrong, but why...
In any case..., seems you have learned much about many things in the navy and thereafter, but I am very confused how you associate those teachings with changes from being Democrat or Republican and/or vice versa.
With all due respect, I think a good many people are not as clear what either party truly represents or why they may be for one party vs another (or neither).
I also notice that sometimes the poking for these details (that some might consider insulting), is often what brings out the truth of these matters rather than just leaving the unknown at that...
Time to get on with my day. Until next time, a good day to you too!
No forum is going to change your base ideology, but debates about specific events can change your opinion on those.
As an example, I had a change of heart on how schools should deal with troubled kids following that officer who dragged that girl out of her chair. I disagree with Amythyst, religiously, on CD all the time. Although I agreed that the campus cop went to far, I disagreed with Amythyst about how she, Amythyst, felt the school should have handled the situation. After a couple of days and Amythyst providing additional information, she won me over. I planned to admit that she was correct in the thread, but since the thread had closed before I could, I sent her a PM explaining how she was right and had won me over, and Amythyst is a person I had clashed with over and over again. Since our base ideology is very much opposed, I'm sure we'll debate on opposite sides in the future and not win each other over, but there is a chance we could effect how the other views a topic or event.
I've also been won over to another person's way of thinking on a tax issue as well.
I don't think these debates are nearly as futile as some might believe.
Debates minus the extremists and name-calling (*******, tea bagger, o'bagger,) and blaming the other side (liberals are the cause of all our problems vs Republicans are the source of all our problems) - YES.
However, let's admit we see precious little of that here.
I have had my eyes opened to police brutality and inappropriate actions which I never paid attention to. But those threads don't always degenerate to 'liberal vs. Conservative". Once the thread gets to that level - I can't be won over; nor will I win anyone else over.
Same with 'in your face' social media posts on Facebook. Give me a coherent, well-thought out opinion vs a meme saying how much you hate Obama and everything else - and I will listen. Stupid, meme with everything you HATE and I will simply unfollow all your posts and never see anything you post again.
I could not disagree more, but I asked the question, why bother?
Whether your brain was cemented early or late in life, I can just tell, there is no reason to bother here...
I understand, it is very hard to reason with the truth.
Why be a failure of your own topic?
Social-Progressive is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.
Show me a young Constitutionalist and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Socialist-Progressive and I'll show you someone with no brains.
In regards to changing opinions based on discussion here, I have. Not in a ton of places, but discussions here made me realize that presidents really have very little effect on economics or spending. I know theres a ton of threads blaming Obama or Bush for certain things, but due to arguments here I have realized that presidents have a LOT less power then people claim they do.
Theres tons of little things as well, but that one right there is the biggest one-it sounds small...but it really is pretty major. Its really changed my viewpoint on politics, and whats important.
where you were raised as a free-market libertarian Republican.
but then as soon as you hit the 'real world', these so-called "Self-Regulating Financial institutions" suddenly collapse -- and you get to watch Congress and the Fed dole out trillions of dollars to the banks and asset owners to prevent them from losing money. It became pretty obvious Republicans didn't seem to care much about "letting the markets work", they were worried about their political donors losing money. Maintaining the status quo and protecting the financial interests of the wealthy was their #1 priority.
so now I'm center-left with strong socialist tendencies, and I probably will be for the rest of my life. The GOP had their chance to live up to their ideology of "free markets", and they failed completely.
Which Republicans...the ones that paid-off the banks after the Democrat`s bubble collapsed or the ones who took to the streets to protest the bail-outs and were called racists by the same Democrats who have gone back to blaming Republicans for the collapse their housing bubble?
What Carbon Tax Bubble are you talking about? What Carbon Tax?
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Many, all, most, some...
