What changed your political beliefs?
 

Title says it all, I guess. List a moment in your life, that you can remember, that changed your political beliefs or made your views what they are today...it can be a family member or a book read, among other things of that nature.

I was raised as an anglican. Although presently I am atheist going to a catholic school (attend it because of its superior quality in education) Before I went to this school I was a conservative because of my fathers views..One of the classes taught at the school in Grade 12 was called Peace and Politics. During the semester in this course it completely altered my views about politics. Before this class I was for the war in Iraq among other things. And when I began reading books based on politics it just further altered my views to where I stand now..so what changed you or made your views what they are today?

i was raised catholic, but i didnt like to go to church and i didnt like the school i was at. my political views were never really influenced by anyone or anything, they just developed on their own by whatever seems logical to me.

I went to a Catholic school up to 6th grade. Then I moved to the public school system because my catholic school was soooo poorly funded. Much of my views are influenced by my morals that I've developed through my life.

All the way up till 6th grade:
I never talked to a black/asian/indian/arab person b/c my school only had 25 kids in my class (7 being boys)
I never knew a family that went through a divorce
I never saw any parent of my friends smoke
I never consciously saw a drunk person
*edit* I'm NOT racist at all. I was brought up in an environment that accepted everyone. Racist people really piss me off

I had a pretty "safe" life. Once I moved to the public school system that all changed. In 7th grade I made a bunch of black friend and was exposed to MANY cultures. I guess I saw the total opposite of my "safe life" here and held on to my moral values.

It wasn't until college that I saw a drunk person and smelled weed. I just kept myself away from those scenarios during highschool. It's not like it didn't happen in highschool either. There were kids having sex in the bathroom in 7th grade; kids smoking pot in the bathrooms since 7th grade, gang wars with weapons and k9 units in 10th grade; etc

There have been many different scenarios when my good friends have been killed by drugs and alcohol (using or by someone who used), so I haven't touch any substance that alters my body...not even Tylenol or something to that effect oOo: .

I do support "the arts" ...for the most part since I am a musician and plan on being a music teacher. I just sorted my own thoughts and views on education and funding for art with my own experience.

Foreign policy has been affected by my friends that are in the military and family that is currently serving.

I grew up in a house where both of my parents parents were really religious.

The polish side was catholic and the scottish side was presbyterian.

so luckilly I didn't have to embrace either...and our family lived religion free.

It's the greatest decision my parents have ever made for me.

Politically wise...I just go on what I believe is worthy.

Lost my innocence around 12-13 years old - Main factors: High School, Friends, Internet....

Based my political opinion around my parents - Who sort of take individual issues as they come and really wouldn't fit into either liberal or conservative platforms...But on the majority of issues I suppose you would say we sway liberally, for the most part I resent the attitudes of hard-line liberal thinkers, just like I really despise the attitude of most conservative thinkers I know...

full metal jacket

I lived in a very nationalistic and conservative country until I was 8 years old, so I didn't know any better...

I guess when I moved to USA a lot of my views changed, but I didn't have many because I was so young.

Another changing point was when I took Economics in high school, and my teacher was a Liberatarian. He taught economics a very good way (he didn't teach the traditional Keyensian economics).

I was raised in the CofE. THrough my gran. I was forced to go to church and went to a Cof E school. Then decided I was teh person to lead and run my life. Noone else.

As I grew older I saw the same shit happen over and over until I got apathetic about it all.



beer: dance:

Probably me too.

My political beliefs are still and will continue to change. I don't think I can pinpoint one specific moment when I "put it all together" or anything like that. I see this as a journey, and as I learn more my beliefs and morals change.

your morals change? how so?

not so much change but how their defined I guess. People say the bible is critical to being a moral person. actually i mean religion in general. people will say there needs to be some sort of guidelines for you to follow. and I did for 13 years of my school life at a catholic school. however now i've become to realize you don't need guidelines or a book or religion or fear of a higher power to be a good person.

Grandfather is retired-Navy democrat.
Father is retired-Army democrat (who has never voted democratic)
Older brother is more liberal
Younger brother is active duty Army and more conservative.
All of us are Catholic and still go to church
Roommates/housemate in college were Jewish, Iranian, WASP, and a Black
I travel the country for my job and deal with all sorts of people.

I went from being hard corp conservative to more liberal to somewhere in between. Its all about life experience, interacting different people, and not buying into extremist ideals because they happen to be hip at the moment.