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PJMcK

(21,916 posts)
11. I've become more liberal
Wed Jun 29, 2016, 09:21 AM
Jun 2016

I'm in my late 50's and as I've aged, I've thought about your question, DanTex.

Although I've been a Democrat my whole life, I'm far more liberal than I was in my 20's. I think part of that is my reaction to the outrageous lurch to the right by the neoconservatives in the Bush II administration. Part of it is that being a parent has made me more concerned for the future. Part of it is the rise of the Stupid in the Republican party and the idiocy of the Tea Party. (Quick aside: When the Republican primaries began, the 17 candidates were billed as a "deep bench" by the GOP. Really? Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Carly Fiorina, et al. are all light weights; not one of them (including Governor Christie, Governor Kasich and Governor Gilmore) had the gravitas or, frankly, the real patriotism to be president.)

But the biggest part of my move further leftward is that with age and experience, I'm wiser. Wisdom has taught me that Democrats are better for our country. The economy does better under Democratic presidents. Social programs are strengthened under Democratic policies. Foreign relations are generally better under Democratic administrations. Democrats listen to facts and reason and science, they don't govern "from their gut."

Our country and our world face serious problems. We need the best and the brightest not an idiot like Donald Trump.

Not yet, thank goodness! merrily Jun 2016 #1
Well, I have changed, but in the opposite direction Kelvin Mace Jun 2016 #2
Good for you! merrily Jun 2016 #33
Of course, if you look at the facts, there is no alternative but to become more liberal... Human101948 Jun 2016 #129
Same with me. The more I've learned, the more liberal I've become. Rhiannon12866 Jun 2016 #132
In my early thirties and I am more left-wing than ever... nt LostOne4Ever Jun 2016 #3
I might have considered voting for Bernie nest Jun 2016 #4
Bullshit nt rufus dog Jun 2016 #36
Hold on a sec LoverOfLiberty Jun 2016 #100
Did you miss ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2016 #102
I have become more liberal Sherman A1 Jun 2016 #5
I like that! PJMcK Jun 2016 #12
Lol. Good answer. I just followed a topic to a site Hortensis Jun 2016 #68
The older I get, the more liberal I become. appleannie1 Jun 2016 #6
Happy almost birthday, appleannie1! (n/t) PJMcK Jun 2016 #14
More liberal, I was damn near "centrist" as a youth. Not quite but I could see TheKentuckian Jun 2016 #7
Always a pleasure and a privilege to see you, TheKentuckian. merrily Jun 2016 #34
You too my dear Merrily! TheKentuckian Jun 2016 #123
Who has ever suggested we "tear it all down"? Dawgs Jun 2016 #8
Fair enough. Although Susan Sarandon did, but she's just one person. DanTex Jun 2016 #16
Yet, HR 676 (Medicare for all) had 100 co-sponsors. Not many complaints about Medicare, either. merrily Jun 2016 #38
I think medicare is great, and support expansion. DanTex Jun 2016 #63
Again, I don't know of many complaints about it. merrily Jun 2016 #69
But what do you think of my idea, extending medicare for all, but letting people opt-out DanTex Jun 2016 #70
Again, there doesn't seem to be a problem "selling" Medicare to anyone. merrily Jun 2016 #71
There is to me, because I don't want it. What's wrong with letting people like me keep DanTex Jun 2016 #73
What is your specific problem with it? BTW, I am totally unfamiliar with any widespread reluctance merrily Jun 2016 #74
What is your problem with letting me keep the insurance I have now? DanTex Jun 2016 #77
You're "answering" a question with a question? You're problem with Medicare is your merrily Jun 2016 #79
I answered your question as to why I don't want medicare. Why don't you answer mine? DanTex Jun 2016 #81
Not really. You did not identify one real problem with Medicare, only an assumption--and one merrily Jun 2016 #82
That my doctor doesn't take medicare is a pretty big problem for me. DanTex Jun 2016 #83
You just said you didn't know if he takes it or not. If we went single payer, his option would be to merrily Jun 2016 #84
I'd be very surprised if he did. Assume he doesn't for this conversation. DanTex Jun 2016 #88
If we had single-payer, your doctor would have to take it or quit adigal Jun 2016 #91
If he quit that would be a problem for me. If he decided not to take insurance and just take DanTex Jun 2016 #92
Self payment? His business wouldn't last 3 months! adigal Jun 2016 #95
There are doctors who already don't accept insurance. DanTex Jun 2016 #96
Not necessarily mythology Jun 2016 #146
I see Single Payer as building up rather than tearing down since it's more inclusive suffragette Jun 2016 #142
You'll like that insurance a lot less when you have a serious illness. Gormy Cuss Jun 2016 #143
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #9
Your second paragraph shows your wisdom PJMcK Jun 2016 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #21
Less naively idealistic. That's me for sure. redstateblues Jun 2016 #28
I would say ... I am still idealistic ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2016 #103
You nailed it. Ain't got time for theoretical bullshit. bettyellen Jun 2016 #106
I've noticed a segment of the public thinks ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2016 #108
I'm just the opposite MindPilot Jun 2016 #10
I've become more liberal PJMcK Jun 2016 #11
Yep. This is very true for me, as well. emmadoggy Jun 2016 #110
As I grow older 1939 Jun 2016 #13
More staunchly liberal left. longship Jun 2016 #15
It has been said that men get more conservative, women more liberal Maeve Jun 2016 #18
opposite. spanone Jun 2016 #19
At 74, I believe I have opened my mind with time. I have moved from right to left, losing the..... dmosh42 Jun 2016 #20
No. I'm more liberal. nt Ilsa Jun 2016 #22
I am also more liberal as I get older katmondoo Jun 2016 #23
Me too. femmocrat Jun 2016 #37
No. I'm getting more liberal as I get older. Aristus Jun 2016 #24
I'll be 66 in 3 weeks. I'm still as leftist as I was at 18. hobbit709 Jun 2016 #25
I think that many of us may think we have become more liberal, but the fact is that we have world wide wally Jun 2016 #26
Doesn't that assume that people on this thread in their sixties and seventies don't realize that? merrily Jun 2016 #42
Fuck no. Solly Mack Jun 2016 #27
DITTO Skittles Jun 2016 #117
More progressive, because modern "conservatives" . . . well, aren't. HughBeaumont Jun 2016 #29
Me too, for the same reason TubbersUK Jun 2016 #67
I don't know too much about Thatcher. white_wolf Jun 2016 #137
My younger thinking said I was entitled to free lunches and then I realized those working Thinkingabout Jun 2016 #30
Most adults realize that, but are tired of picking up the lunch tab for plutocrats. merrily Jun 2016 #43
Let's all lunch together! k8conant Jun 2016 #101
yes enid602 Jun 2016 #31
Sometimes our fundamental beliefs don't necessarily change. Captain Stern Jun 2016 #32
You're saying that almost everyone became liberal on that issue since Stonewall. merrily Jun 2016 #46
I don't think you even have to go back that far. Captain Stern Jun 2016 #51
The point was that most of the populatoin became more liberal about that issue. merrily Jun 2016 #72
I agree that that's what happened. Captain Stern Jun 2016 #99
Lifelong Democrat here, and almost 63. I'm sitting just about where I started. tonyt53 Jun 2016 #35
I wouldn't call it getting more conservative. sufrommich Jun 2016 #39
I do think the "tear-it-all-down" mentality Shankapotomus Jun 2016 #40
the meme that you get more conservative as you get older is bullshit rufus dog Jun 2016 #41
I have drifted left a little further each year JEB Jun 2016 #44
No. Definitely not. I used to be quite tolerant toward the bankers and Wall Street types Glorfindel Jun 2016 #45
Nope, I guess I just have that gene in me... Stellar Jun 2016 #47
Your thirties are when you start to come to terms with the way the world is Warpy Jun 2016 #48
hard to say the reference point keeps moving dembotoz Jun 2016 #49
Slightly more fiscally conservative but mostly auntpurl Jun 2016 #50
Nope I am 60 and still a bleeding heart liberal... Silver_Witch Jun 2016 #52
Like everyone does, I've changed Bluzmann57 Jun 2016 #53
I am a LOT older than you, but yes, I see it in myself. redstatebluegirl Jun 2016 #54
Hell, no wryter2000 Jun 2016 #55
When I was younger I was more conservative kimbutgar Jun 2016 #56
I wouldn't necessarily say more conservative DemonGoddess Jun 2016 #57
Is it more "conservative" or more "measured"? forjusticethunders Jun 2016 #58
no at 74 years of age.... chillfactor Jun 2016 #59
I've moved left. GoldenSF Jun 2016 #60
I'm 67 and voted for Bernie HockeyMom Jun 2016 #61
Opposite. We is definitely supplanting me. seabeckind Jun 2016 #62
More or less the opposite for me. Adrahil Jun 2016 #64
I'm more aware of my own economic ignorance. Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2016 #65
I never resolved my idealism from my 20's libodem Jun 2016 #66
Well kinda ismnotwasm Jun 2016 #75
I get less Conservative all the time. Squinch Jun 2016 #76
No. Moving the opposite direction. mnhtnbb Jun 2016 #78
Nope! PasadenaTrudy Jun 2016 #80
Actually, I've grown more radical as I've grown older MrScorpio Jun 2016 #85
Nope mcar Jun 2016 #86
I just turned 30 and am more liberal than I was in my early 20s. Svafa Jun 2016 #87
Politically, I'm getting more and more liberal because I see inequality worsen adigal Jun 2016 #89
Yep. Svafa Jun 2016 #93
Definitely edhopper Jun 2016 #90
I think the words 'conservative and progressive' are misused in todays politics. Sunlei Jun 2016 #94
No. elleng Jun 2016 #97
I've become more liberal/progressive as I've gotten older. Frank Cannon Jun 2016 #98
Definitely grumpier. HassleCat Jun 2016 #104
Not me! When I was younger, I wanted to tax the rich.... Bigmack Jun 2016 #105
In my mid fifties. I don't believe that I've changed; the two parties have pokerfan Jun 2016 #107
I'm nearing sixty eight stage left Jun 2016 #109
I was radicalized by the George W. Bush administration, John Poet Jun 2016 #111
I'm 72 and frogmarch Jun 2016 #112
I've gone more left Tree-Hugger Jun 2016 #113
No, just the opposite. ananda Jun 2016 #114
Far more liberal here Red Mountain Jun 2016 #115
Every year I get more liberal. Rex Jun 2016 #116
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2016 #118
This message was self-deleted by its author tenderfoot Jun 2016 #119
Getting old now, and it's all been an upward Liberal curve pinboy3niner Jun 2016 #120
No. Less conservative and rapidly so. Chan790 Jun 2016 #121
A lot of dems are getting more conservative... here, there and everywhere. demmiblue Jun 2016 #122
I've moved from Stalin to Lenin. rug Jun 2016 #124
I've moved from Queen to pawn three pinboy3niner Jun 2016 #135
I always side with the pawns. rug Jun 2016 #138
Nope. phylny Jun 2016 #125
I am not more conservative, but I see the world as more gray than black and white Agnosticsherbet Jun 2016 #126
Well said. greatauntoftriplets Jun 2016 #128
always and forever a LIBERAL handmade34 Jun 2016 #127
No, more amazed though at how repetitive the human race has shown itself to be... AuntPatsy Jun 2016 #130
I've gotten more liberal with age TexasBushwhacker Jun 2016 #131
I actually thought more in absolutes when I was younger. CBHagman Jun 2016 #133
Hell no, completely the opposite laundry_queen Jun 2016 #134
Totally opposite! The establishment screws most people unless you are in the upper percentile... slipslidingaway Jun 2016 #136
I'm also in my late 30's Zing Zing Zingbah Jun 2016 #139
I'M getting more liberal and more leave me the hell alone. sarcasmo Jun 2016 #140
Sorry, but real liberals are the small-c 'conservatives' at this point. Marr Jun 2016 #141
A lot more conservative taught_me_patience Jun 2016 #144
I seem to be moving farther to the Left Bettie Jun 2016 #145
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