Why did you choose your political beliefs?

[New West Guiana]

Lets see I live in a bigoted neo-con town that hates gay people, hates blacks, hates Latinos. After watching CNN for so long my liberal stance took full affect after the 2008 elections.

Proud Liberal Democrat

Obama 2012!

[Yankeea]

I was a Moderate Socialist (my parents are) until I became interested in Anarchist Philosophy. I consider myself a Democratic Anarcho-Capitalist. I see an Anarcho-Capitalist society as the ideal, which I hope that humanity can achieve somday through gradual democratic reform and political debate.

A democratic anarcho-capitalist? Thats something I have no heard of before. What do you mean by this?

That's just the term I generally use when explaining it. Democratic Socialism is the idea that society should slowly move towards communism over time. I feel that way about anarcho-capitalism.

[The Congregationists]

I went with moderate, but honestly think of myself as anti-ideological. I think all ideologies are untrue and harmful. While they do have some insights, all too often they end up becoming dogmas that stiffle free thought, innovation and fail to change with the times. Our present day "left vs right" dichotemy is the greatest threat our civlization faces - the political class is consuming so much of its energies in politicized warfare that vital issues are being left unaddressed.

[Blazedtown]

Lets see I live in a bigoted neo-con town that hates gay people, hates blacks, hates Latinos.

Sounds charming.

[Yankeea]

Lets see I live in a bigoted neo-con town that hates gay people, hates blacks, hates Latinos.

Vladivostok?

[The USOT]

A democratic anarcho-capitalist? Thats something I have no heard of before. What do you mean by this?

That's just the term I generally use when explaining it. Democratic Socialism is the idea that society should slowly move towards communism over time. I feel that way about anarcho-capitalism.

Oh so you dont beleive neccesarily in retaining democracy in an eventual Ancap world?

[Sunny Marionette]

Because it's what makes most sense to me. I used to be very conservative, and I feel myself drifting back towards being a Centrist. But right now, I'm a Liberal.

[Yankeea]

That's just the term I generally use when explaining it. Democratic Socialism is the idea that society should slowly move towards communism over time. I feel that way about anarcho-capitalism.

Oh so you dont beleive neccesarily in retaining democracy in an eventual Ancap world?

Not definatly, that would be up to the future generations achieving anarchy.

[New Heathera]

I used to be conservative and, yes, even racist. However, I've since realised that what I really want is a world of progress and acceptance of differances. I'm now a liberal, and view racism as one of the great enemies of mankind.

[Genivaria]

I stumbled upon a large book called A People's History of the United States in the library during my junior year in High School.
The rest is history.

[Cerberion]

I'm me.

Mostly conservative, somewhat libertarian.

Though I suspect using the term bigot in the Op means you don't really want to know why.

You can say it anyway.

Well, I suppose it went like this.

I was raised in the UK which, through my voting years, was pretty much in a mess financially and socially. My parents were poor but were staunch supporters of the labor party. I thought all the social safety nets were great, though they were so cheap it was almost impossible to survive.

As time progressed I watched more and more reliance grow on the state to support the people and this didn't seem to be a good move to me. The Government didn't have any great means of making money, so logically someone had to be paying for all the support they were giving.

Those people were of course every day folks.

It occured to me that perhaps I was witnessing a snowball effect where the economy was consuming itself. First there were a lot of unemployed to support, and provide health care to everyone.
So taxes had to go in to pay for all of that.
So everyone had less money to spend on businesses.
So there was less need for staff
So more people were unemployed...
and off we go again around in a circle.

There was also the infringements on civil liberties like gun and knife control.

All of this got me rather worried about the UK. Then I moved to the States.
And found there could be freedom and prosperity, and it appeared to be driven by attitude and small businessmen.


So now i firmly believe in small government, people looking after themselves, and above all the protection of their rights.

[Blazedtown]

I stumbled upon a large book called A People's History of the United States in the library during my junior year in High School.
The rest is history.

My sister got my that for Christmas last year. I read it, and now use it as spare TP.

[Socialist Ecuador]

I started reading the books of various communists in my teens. Though I dabbled in Ancapiness in my college years, I returned to being a libertarian socialist around six years ago. I suppose my dad might have set me down that path, though he never forced his politics onto me. I, for the life of me, can't remember if it was a specific event that made me change from an Ancap to a socialist or just a gradual shift.

[Liriena]

I chose to be a combination of Classical Liberal and Social Democrat, the first because it felt natural to me, and the second because it made sense.

I believe in freedom, be it social, political and economic, but I also understand that you can't leave everything in the hands of the Market, and that some things require left-wing policies, in order to ensure a fair society in which, at the very least, all people have the same inherent opportunities to prosper. On those grounds, I fully support universal healthcare (but endorse private hospitals if some want them), free public college education (but have no problem with private institutions), strong, sensitive labor laws, tight regulations to protect the enviroment, and the nationalization of some key public services (merchant fleets, trains, water, electricity) but with always a private option for those who want it.

I support same-sex marriage.
I find myself increasingly tolerant towards abortion (but tolerant, not accepting).
I support religious freedoms, but also the separation of Church and State.

And I support a Parlamentary Republic (similar to the one in Switzerland) as the best form of govenrment.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

Because a socialist economy with conservative social views is awesome.

[Pope Joan]

In 7th grade I was an active member of the Young Republicans. I later was chairman and treasurer of the successful mayoral campaign of my GOP friend in my hometown.

I worked in the inner city and the barrio for four years after college, and developed deep sympathy for the residents. They were not cheaters or loafers, they were just like me (let's not argue, I mean in essentials, in the self) only they had to face a much tougher situation.

My instincts are still for limited government, but the GOP needs to wean itself away from the corporate teat because limiting plutocracy is also a good thing.

I believe in community organization, in people collectively taking care of themselves at the most local possible level, of mutual aid, in social egalitarianism, in personal freedom, in limited but incremental goals, in open debate, in compassion, in accountability.

[ATTENTION DUELISTS]

I used to be quite the liberal, but then when I saw a quote of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord (1754-1838), which stated "Surtout, pas trop de zèle." ("Above all, not too much zeal."), I realized that I had far too often allowed my emotions get the better of my personal judgment on matters regarding governmental policy. Nowadays, before I make up my mind up on any social or economic issue, I ask myself these questions.

1. Does the proposed Act or legislation have a proper purpose which will benefit the broader society over the long term?

2. Which group(s) benefit(s) at the expense of others? Is there a way that both parties can come to a collective agreement and understanding, or will one party's views have to assert dominance over the other?

3. What is the cost-benefit analysis like? Do the benefits outweigh the costs for the society/economy or not?

4. Is the moral basis of such a decision a utilitarian or individualistic one?

5. Have I properly and fully heard both sides of the argument?

6. Have both sides of the argument presented clear and concise statements as to why they believe that they are correct, as well as providing empirical, statistical and/or quantitative information or data to support their claim? Are such information and data applicable in the case of the current issue?

7. From a neutral observer's point of view, what can be said about the level of knowledge that each side has into the philosophical and/or systematic foundations of the other's argument? Are they backing up their argument with objective fact and data, or simply using generalizations and stating a subjective opinion that is not backed up by statistical evidence?

8. To what extent have I come up with and concluded upon my judgment purely out of my own conscience, instead of simply following along with the majority, or the 'herd' of people?

[Tovaslavia]

Can't believe "Socialist" is not a choice

Anyways, I'm a socialist because capitalism is dangerous. Capitalism destroyed millions of lives through wage slavery and terrible working conditions. Capitalism is like a lottery, the chances of being a "winner" are one in a thousand. Those who are not winners spend their lives barely surviving. It's not right that some CEO earns three million dollars, while a poor hardworking construction worker makes barely a percent of that wage. I don't want complete equality, as that would eliminate much of the competition, but I want things to be more equal. Socialism doesn't just benefit one person, it benefits all those who work hard. This is why I am a socialist.

[The Downward Spiral (Ancient)]

I picked radical because I am a revolutionary though my political beliefs would be something between mixed-market capitalism and mutualism.

[Yorick]

No choice for the libertarians, I see. I guess I'm just a mushy "moderate" then: socially liberal, economically conservative.

Minarchism is libertarianism.

[Mike the Progressive]

An evolution from once being a socialist to being a libertarian to being not to sure/indifferent.

[North California]

I used to be a neo-conservative George W. Bush Republican. That was until I found out that the wars were wrong, and everything the GOP does goes against small government. Basically, as soon as I was introduced to Ron Paul and libertarianism, I have never looked back.

[Free Soviets]

I used to be quite the liberal, but then when I saw a quote of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord (1754-1838), which stated "Surtout, pas trop de zèle." ("Above all, not too much zeal."), I realized that I had far too often allowed my emotions get the better of my personal judgment on matters regarding governmental policy. Nowadays, before I make up my mind up on any social or economic issue, I ask myself these questions.

1. Does the proposed Act or legislation have a proper purpose which will benefit the broader society over the long term?

2. Which group(s) benefit(s) at the expense of others? Is there a way that both parties can come to a collective agreement and understanding, or will one party's views have to assert dominance over the other?

3. What is the cost-benefit analysis like? Do the benefits outweigh the costs for the society/economy or not?

4. Is the moral basis of such a decision a utilitarian or individualistic one?

5. Have I properly and fully heard both sides of the argument?

6. Have both sides of the argument presented clear and concise statements as to why they believe that they are correct, as well as providing empirical, statistical and/or quantitative information or data to support their claim? Are such information and data applicable in the case of the current issue?

7. From a neutral observer's point of view, what can be said about the level of knowledge that each side has into the philosophical and/or systematic foundations of the other's argument? Are they backing up their argument with objective fact and data, or simply using generalizations and stating a subjective opinion that is not backed up by statistical evidence?

8. To what extent have I come up with and concluded upon my judgment purely out of my own conscience, instead of simply following along with the majority, or the 'herd' of people?

so now you fall at least somewhat left of liberal, eh?

[Basilon]

Arent national socialist abd Facist the same?
Or am i frong and was hitler not a Facist?
I miss normal socialism in the poll.

[Markinian Skrill]

When the Internet helped me realize I have no right to tell other people what to do. Libertarian woo