Do the dogmatic 14 yr olds posting Neocon propaganda know their politics will change dramatically in time?

Question

It happens.

Conservatives defect to "the dark side" of their enemy, and vice versa. The only ones who don't evolve are the ones who stop thinking altogether and are subsumed by the numbing drudgery of making a living and meeting the bills and raising a large family.

Every older person I have known, my parents generation, wound up at a point nearly 180 the opposite of where they began. So-called "Roosevelt Democrats" became "Nixon men" in the face of war protests and aggressive civil rights legislation like affirmative action.

And the good boys and girls of Nixon men, who grew up believing the G.O.P. was the party of "the good old days" and morality and niceness of their parents realized how wrong they had been (during the steep decline of the Middle Class and factory jobs during the Reagan years) and became progressives.

Something for you to ponder, as you rant here with the 100% unshakable conviction of a person who has not had enough life to look at things from both sides, yet.

Answer 1

As I've gotten older, I've realized that my views are closer to those of a Libertarian position. Gone from semi-liberal to necon, I'll admit it, to my viewpoint now. There are some things that still make me liberal, like drug legalization, something that make conservative, like pro-life. But I've realized that smaller government is better than the inefficiency of big government, that entrepreneurship is one the biggest influence to the power of the USA, that Bill of Rights has been trampled on by mostly the neocons, but a bit by the liberals, in the way of property ownership. I don't believe that same sex marriage will be the end of traditional marriage, but definitely isn't the same as traditional marriage, at least in raising a family.

A few life changing events that are personal, and some that are public, have of course, influenced my views. Starting a business, has shown me that big government is so inefficient, due to the hoops that I have to jump through to maintain a business, that decentralized capitalism with marginal government interference is best for the entrepreneurial spirit that built this country. We are no longer risk takers, because the benefits have been marginalized. 9/11 showed me that the world is a very dangerous place. Something that I knew, but finally really hit home, figuratively and literally. We can't afford to be an isolationist country, not only because of that, but also on the economic side. And on a personal note, I saw a movie. I know it is kind of silly that a movie would alter my views, because usually I'm a rationale person that would view a movie as entertainment, and with little social value that is capable of this much influence, but that movie was "Saving Private Ryan” I appreciated the military before, but after that I realized that these young men and women do a job that most people take for granted. I also learned to appreciate my grandparent’s generation more. It made me think about how that generation went through the toughest times, from the Great Depression to WWII, without a thought for themselves and the sacrifice for the survival of liberty. Follow that with the self centeredness of the me generation, and you can understand my disdain for the self-centeredness that is prevalent today.

So now you know where I've been and where I'm at now. You are right that people change. And some people change dramatically, but others change marginally. Those that change marginally probably don't explore different viewpoints.

But the parties have changed, too. It is sad to see what the Democratic Party has become, with a socialistic agenda and romantic vision of pacifism. Their romantic visions of the protecting the working man, world community of peace, unfettered liberty, while I believe is genuine and viewed as best for the country and the world, isn't realistic.

By the same token the notion that present day Republicans are the party of Lincoln is a myth. They feel that have the best solutions, too. But in reality, Republicans are just as guilty of big government and guiltier of personal intrusion.

What is even sadder is that fact that people don't see that the democratic party is not the party of JFK or FDR, and the republican party is not the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. I have no problem with changes in party platform, but when people don't recognize the changes, and vote democratic today, like they are voting for JFK, or vote Republican like they are voting for Lincoln.

So where am I going? I don't know for sure. Right now I think I'm right about the way I answer. Why would I answer the way I do, if I weren't confident about my position? But knowing that the changes in position in past, I am also confident I will change my mind in the future. But I can't change present day arguments when I don't know what will change my views in the future. I guess in the end, it is best to be confident today, but be open to other views. That is why I'm here, answering this today.

Answer 2

First, let me praise you for a well-written "question." We see far too little of that on here.
That said, I am not fourteen, but twenty-six, with many experiences under my belt that most don't experience until they're twice my age, if they experience them at all.
While it's true that I was considerably more conservative when I was thirteen and fourteen, I reviled my more conservative upbringing for a liberal one. The ONLY conservative ideal that I retained was the idea that abortion was wrong. Other than that, I was a bong-hitting liberal.
I was twenty, almost twenty-one when the WTC fell. That's when my ideology began to change.
Now, I call myself a moderate conservative, if there is such a thing. I will freely admit that 9/11 had a hand in changing me, and the change continued when I left my hippie boyfriend for a conservative US soldier.
I HAVE seen life from every angle. I'll admit, and there is not an ounce of pride in the statement, that I am wise beyond my years. Sure, there are things I have yet to discover, like motherhood, but there's no denying that I've already faced many obstacles that most will never have to suffer through.
Therefore, it's my life experience that has led me to adopt a conservative lifestyle. I'm not as young as one might think.
I'm a pessimistic idealist, but others call me a realist.
So don't dismiss a person just because of their age, or their beliefs. That is awfully presumptuous.

Answer 3

There is a saying "If you're 25 and not a liberal, you have no heart, and if you're 35 and not a conservative, you have no brain." It has been falsley attributed to Winston Churchill, but whoever said it, I believe is correct. The more living, responsibility and experiences you have, will shape your world views. It doesn't mean you lose your compassion and caring for others; just that you understand that personal responsibility has to be expected from those you help. You understand that you can't lift up people from poverty without their own hard work giving them pride in their abilities to take care of themself and stopping the cycle of welfare.
It means that you understand freedom is not free. It does come with a cost in lives, sacrifice and money.
It means you may disagree with people, but you don't have to demean, and denigrate their views.
It means you hold life as precious, because you know the years behind are more than the years ahead.
The young are filled with fire and the belief that nothing can happen to them. The older you get, the embers burn, but you know that life is not fair, and yes, terrible things can happen.
So, as they rant with their certainty of being right, those who have lived longer have the knowledge that they will grow up and look back on these days with fondness as the folly of youth.

Answer 4

Is that right? Here's something for you to ponder; Being that I turned 14, 44 years ago and have had plenty of time to examine the state of politics in this Countryt, I think your ideas are all wet. the changes have not taken place within the general population as you claim. The changes have taken place within the political parties. the Democratic party of FDR and Harry Truman has been hijacked by the loopy lefties like Pelosi and Dopey Dean. These people are so fanatically unrealistic that no one with an IQ over 25 would vote for them.

The unltra-right wing wackos have tried to take over the Republican party many times but we were always able to marginalize them, despite the strident liberal media reports to the contrary. It's too bad that the democrats who do have half a brain haven't yet figured out how to do that but until they do, the idiots like Kennedy and Kerry will have their way and they'll force the moderates like Lieberman out into the cold.

Answer 5

Nice rant.As I have gotten older and presumably wiser,my position on many things has changed.Almost all of them have gone from a liberal to a more Conservative one.

It was the Baby Boomers greed not Reagan that destroyed the middle class by the way.By jacking up their standard of living to heights never seen with their early retirement,double dipping,unsustainable union demands and the rest.They did it at the expense of my generation.Just so you know i'm not 14,I'm almost 40.

Theres somthing for you to ponder.

Answer 6

It's in human nature to evolve in the crucible of life experience. I don't know why everyone is getting so hot about your rant. I think you're spot on. The more life experience you have, the more likely you will change.

Answer 7

No, I don't think they realize it.

This is very similar to the phenomena that as teenagers become young adults, their parents get a lot smarter.

Answer 8

wow starting to new years eve party a bit soon didn't you, pls don't drink and drive. Try eating something you'll feel better. ALL YOU LIBERAL DIP STICKS CAN GO FRACK OFF YOU COMMIE TERRORIST LOVING, SADDAM LOYALIST, RETARDED, SPINLESS, BABY KILLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!