Am I a Republican in San Francisco? No way!

[JDP]

I'm from San Francisco, one of the most pro-democrat cities in the US, in perhaps the most pro-democrat state in the US. I've always thought I was democratic. I voted for Barrack Obama in the last election.

I've just taken some time to travel for the last 6 months. While traveling, I've been studying economics for fun. As I traveled, I started to realize how much of my "adamant beliefs" were really just me being swept in the the political fervor of what everyone around me believed.

What did I really think about abortion? Taxes? The war? What facts did I know and what was media propoganda? I began to realize I didn't really know much about politics or economics.

As I learned more, to my surprise, I'm finding myself aligning more and more with "the right" so to speak. It feels odd, as a good 95% of my social contacts back home are democratic.

Today, I believe much more in the free market than in government action. Generally, I'm for lower taxes and less government intervention. Or at least these are the beliefs I'm forming and exploring as I'm studying economics.

Also, I used to hate bush. But I just read his autobiography, Decision Points, and I'm realizing just how tough the decisions he had to make were. I've actually developed a bit of respect for the guy.

Anyway - That's kind of where I am. I'm joining this forum because I want to flush out some of my ideas and have a forum to interact politically so I can figure out what I really believe in.

Thanks guys,

- JDP

 

[spud_meister]

 

[RiverDad]

Good luck on your intellectual journey.

Your observation on how your political position was formed via peer network effects was quite insightful. Your decision to develop a political outlook based on your own thinking is fabulous.