No not really.
This forum is so incredibly partisan that all it does is drive me even closer to what I already believe.
.....I am stunned at the extreme bigotries of many on "the left" - economic, gender, race, by their almost rabid opposition to free speech, the mass number of messages calling for people of different views to be imprisoned in extremely harsh terms - and then causing them to lose nearly all rights including the right to vote, and overally contempt of individuality, private citizenry rights, and demanding goverment control-freakism. I have learned that "liberal" mostly now is the anti-thesis of "personal freedom.".....
The one issue where I'd say I've possibly flipped sides -- and this is due to a combination of things, including education, DP, and work experience -- is foreign aid. I am much more suspicious of it because of the damage the aid agencies tend to do, and the international contractss that prevent any real progress from being made. It seems more and more like resources down the drain; or even less helpful, resources that are actually making things worse.
Has participation on this forum changed your political views?
It has mine. When I first was here, I was a stauch Obama supporter, what I would call Independent Democrat and more views leaning left than right. My early messages clearly were "pro-Democrat." "anti-Republican" and "pro-Obama." I had been a Democrat election judge for my precinct.
However, reading so many messages by members "on the left" and "on the right," OTHER THAN SOCIAL ISSUES - I find my self going further and further "right" and "Republican." However, I disagree with Republicans vehemently on nearly all social issues (gay marriage, abortion).
I am stunned at the extreme bigotries of many on "the left" - economic, gender, race, by their almost rabid opposition to free speech, the mass number of messages calling for people of different views to be imprisoned in extremely harsh terms - and then causing them to lose nearly all rights including the right to vote, and overally contempt of individuality, private citizenry rights, and demanding goverment control-freakism. I have learned that "liberal" mostly now is the anti-thesis of "personal freedom."
Has your views changed, hardened, or ? by participation on this forum?
A renown, and controversial, article from years ago:
SPIEGEL Interview with African Economics Expert: "For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!" - SPIEGEL ONLINE
Nothing makes me more mad then to see a fellow college student patronize me if I refuse to donate to a "save Africa" type of campagin for being "heartless" or "ignorant" when they are the ones not doing any good. One thing I absolutely loathe is a self-righteous fool.
I experienced a similar transition from hardcore economic libertarianism, though my transformation happened prior to coming here. I especially identify with the part in red... they shouldn't be master market manipulators, but people have proven they are unable to be left alone completely and still be responsible, so we do need some oversight and regulations. Having said that, right now I think we have too much. We can't seem to find a happy medium and leave it alone.I started off here as a hard-lining right-libertarian, but after a year here I've been pulled over to the middle in economic matters. I still don't believe that the government should be master market manipulator, but I am in favor of a small social safety net, socialized health care (with an opt-out ability like Germany), and free education. I still however believe that people can handle their money and their lives far better than a bureacrat.
As far as social issues go, I haven't really changed at all. I believe everybody should be able to live their lives absolutely any way they choose, so long as it does not prohibit someone else from doing the same. It is absolutely none of my business who someone marries, what they smoke, or what they believe.
Has participation on this forum changed your political views?
It has mine. When I first was here, I was a stauch Obama supporter, what I would call Independent Democrat and more views leaning left than right. My early messages clearly were "pro-Democrat." "anti-Republican" and "pro-Obama." I had been a Democrat election judge for my precinct.
However, reading so many messages by members "on the left" and "on the right," OTHER THAN SOCIAL ISSUES - I find my self going further and further "right" and "Republican." However, I disagree with Republicans vehemently on nearly all social issues (gay marriage, abortion).
I am stunned at the extreme bigotries of many on "the left" - economic, gender, race, by their almost rabid opposition to free speech, the mass number of messages calling for people of different views to be imprisoned in extremely harsh terms - and then causing them to lose nearly all rights including the right to vote, and overally contempt of individuality, private citizenry rights, and demanding goverment control-freakism. I have learned that "liberal" mostly now is the anti-thesis of "personal freedom."
Has your views changed, hardened, or ? by participation on this forum?
This is part of why I have been heading away from libertarianism (in some aspects, not all). I believe libertarianism actually encourages and fosters authoritarian-minded people do be authoritarian. Kind of a "as long as they don't usurp my rights, then all is ok" mindset. But, if the authoritarian person is allowed to do their thing, do we really expect them to restrain themselves and leave others alone? Of course not, they're authoritarian, that's who they are and what they do. Too many of the most ardent and extreme libertarians, in my view, are either unable or unwilling to make the connection between their desired philosophy, and believing that everybody else will be just like them and respect other's wishes, and the realities of human nature. IOW: Be careful what you wish for...It has made me more inclined toward libertarianism, because of the amount of authoritarian-minded individuals, on both the left and right, not only here, but on political forums in general.
But, if the authoritarian person is allowed to do their thing, do we really expect them to restrain themselves and leave others alone? Of course not, they're authoritarian, that's who they are and what they do. Too many of the most ardent and extreme libertarians, in my view, are either unable or unwilling to make the connection between their desired philosophy, and believing that everybody else will be just like them and respect other's wishes, and the realities of human nature. IOW: Be careful what you wish for...
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