What Was Your Political Journey?

[Untecna]

My shift from my initial posting as a member of the conservative right to leftism was mostly due to engagement here and my own experiences. It was also a matter of growing up.

[Union of Cadobod Communist Republics]

I can't really stress this enough but LGBT rights are not political. It's giving people the ability to feel comfortable in their own skin.

don't you understand? everything is politcal /j

[Intaglio]

When I first became political aware as a teen, I was your standard mid-2000s liberal. That was due to my upbringing; my parents were Democrats and my dad often talked about political stuff. Then, my brother oddly enough became conservative after his first year of college and started watching a lot of Fox News and I guess that influenced me to start considering conservatism. While I became more open to right wing ideas, they still didn't really clap with me. From late high school through college, I defined myself as a political moderate and centrist because I had a peacemaking mentality and I believed the whole fighting between both sides of the aisle wasn't really beneficial but even then I remained more left leaning. Since Trump came into office the first time, I've found myself growing more left leaning out of disdain for the whole MAGA ideology and the reactionary behavior I see going with it. I've become more supportive of trans rights as opposed to when as a college kid, I was more skeptical of them and I'm more supportive of LGBT in general. I define myself as center-left now and consider myself an Independent since I care more about candidates as individuals rather than as party members.

[The Lazarene Republic]

I can't really stress this enough but LGBT rights are not political. It's giving people the ability to feel comfortable in their own skin.

don't you understand? everything is politcal /j

Everything is political /srs

[Pale Dawn]

Teens I was left leaning.
twenties I moved libertarian.
thirties I became what I am today.

I was a bit disenchanted with our system in the Gore Bush election as a kid. From there I pivoted to what I saw as doing the least net harm possible based off what I witnessed our society do and trend towards.

[Foderales Konigreich Schlesien]

I went from right-wing in 2022 to center-right in 2023-2024, and now to center-left or center.

I like workers rights, and I don't like either Kamala or Trump. I'm also not a fan of woke ideology because of my Christian beliefs, but I don't dislike trans, gay, etc. people.
"Hate the sin, not the sinner," I think.

[Flaming Fash]

I went from right-wing in 2022 to center-right in 2023-2024, and now to center-left or center.

I like workers rights, and I don't like either Kamala or Trump. I'm also not a fan of woke ideology because of my Christian beliefs, but I don't dislike trans, gay, etc. people.
"Hate the sin, not the sinner," I think.

so you're a queerphobe
"no no you see I don't hate you I hate the fact you exist and hate everything you stand for"

[Foderales Konigreich Schlesien]

I went from right-wing in 2022 to center-right in 2023-2024, and now to center-left or center.

I like workers rights, and I don't like either Kamala or Trump. I'm also not a fan of woke ideology because of my Christian beliefs, but I don't dislike trans, gay, etc. people.
"Hate the sin, not the sinner," I think.

so you're a queerphobe
"no no you see I don't hate you I hate the fact you exist and hate everything you stand for"

I think you missed the part where I don't hate the person.

[Technoscience Leftwing]

Hi. With everything going on in the world today, I want this to be a nice, relaxed Thread. Essentially, it’s the title. How did you come to hold the beliefs you have today?

My journey towards Compassionate Paleoconservatism was actually incredibly simplistic. When I first discovered politics, and even before that, I was what I like to call a ‘automatic liberal’. Automatic liberalism is essentially not necessarily a set of exact principles, but more so a state of mind. It is the one, I believe, is inherent in human psychology. Essentially; if I want it, it should be given to me, and my feelings matter above all others. Then, I began caring more about my faith, and I became a generic Christian Conservative. All of the standard points; free markets, small states, Abrahamic morality. During my early 20s, I regressed into a period of spiritual and political nihilism, however I swiftly recovered from that mindset and returned to standard conservative. And then, I learnt about the exploitation of the workers, and began studying Bernie Sanders. So then, Compassionate Paleoconservatism emerged from my desire to synthesis my new understanding of the human condition and my previously established Christian conservatism.

* I grew up in the USSR (under Brezhnev-Chernenko-Andropov), and from childhood I was familiar with the materialistic picture of the world: the world is material and developing, the Earth originated from a gas nebula, animals and people appeared as a result of evolution from inanimate matter, miracles and supernatural beings only exist in fairy tales, religion is a means of manipulation of the masses by the masters, etc. And also with the Soviet version of political ideology: the USSR and the socialist countries are moving towards communism, in the future all countries of the world will join this bloc, socialism gives people many social benefits, capitalist countries will be defeated without war through peaceful economic rivalry, etc.
* Naturally, already at the age of 10-11 I saw negative phenomena: the life of the pioneer organization was very formalized and was entirely under the command of adult bosses without the slightest initiative from the schoolchildren themselves, in many families there were phenomena more characteristic of the patriarchal past than socialism (beating women by husbands, bossing younger children around by elders), in culture they relied on folklore and classics to the detriment of modern rhythmic music and brightness, the design of buildings and clothing was gray, the food was bland, there was a shortage of many goods, in the moral sphere there were some painful analogues of Puritan asceticism with its cult of labor and fear of pleasure, etc. All this made many of my peers think that in the West life was brighter, although more risky (unemployment, poverty, crime). I sometimes thought so too.
* But when the rulers began in 1988-89 to move from criticism of the shortcomings of socialism to completely social-Darwinist pro-bourgeois propaganda, I realized that this would cause a lot of harm: the disappearance of social guarantees, a surge in interethnic hostility, mystical-religious fraud and fanaticism, the omnipotence of monopolies that would arise from the free market having won the competition, then possibly a fascist dictatorship of monopolies, wars for sales markets. This turn from the humanization of socialism to wild capitalism frightened and traumatized me, as did the post-Soviet hyperinflation, the shooting of parliament in 1993 and everything that followed, including the creeping gradual transition from the democratic form of capitalism to the ultra-right dictatorial religious-patriotic form.
* Seeing all this, I determined for myself what was positive in the ideas and experience of the USSR, and what in this experience was conservative pre-revolutionary destructive remnants or anti-humanistic ballast. Many conclusions resembled Trotsky's conclusions in "The Revolution Betrayed" - a conservative bureaucratic degeneration occurred in the USSR, which influenced everyday life and culture, and led to collapse. Elements of conservatism are harmful, and in future attempts to create a new society it is desirable to avoid them.

[Saelmstica]

Nice topic, I'll use this opportunity to tell you my story on political journey.

I'm born in the place where it has the context of nationalism, ultraconservativism, monarchist, coup d'état, political instability, polarisation and stagnation, and the struggle of centre-left from the youth and new generation.

The first political event that reflects my perspective is the border dispute between my country and the neighbouring country in 2008. The climate at that moment was promoting the distaste on the ethnic of neighbouring countries. I didn't understand why we have to hate each other. This is the first time I'm on the neutral side.

Through the political polarisation between two camps: pro and anti of former Prime Minister who is both popular and controversial, I'm still on the non-aligned side for the political climate was getting more violent and dividing families apart.

And then, 2014 coup events and the death of late King, succeeded by the new King, my political ideology shifted. For the reason of witnessing the abuse of power, justification of authoritarianism in the name of "democracy", corruptions, suppression of speech. And there was a rise of new movement from youth who advocating for structural reforms.

These events shaped my belief into social democracy and liberalism.

And then, there was a time I focused on understanding more about Buddhism and engaged in the community, my belief is not purely political anymore, but with Buddhist characteristics too.

And I think this is current beliefs I'm having.

[New Stonkopolis]

I began my life living in the United States of America, born mere months before the Obama administration took control.
I spent most of that time growing up moderate(?), then spent about a year or 2 during middle school being right wing.
Went to high school, became more center-right than I was.
Finally, my gender changed, so I'm leaning full center, held to the right by religion.

[Flaming Fash]

I began my life living in the United States of America, born mere months before the Obama administration took control.
I spent most of that time growing up moderate(?), then spent about a year or 2 during middle school being right wing.
Went to high school, became more center-right than I was.
Finally, my gender changed, so I'm leaning full center, held to the right by religion.

call me in 2 decades when you finally make it to the far-left

[Ineva]

I only started to form any true sense of a political identity after out moving. Overall, I think I've become much more cynical of government, and, by extension, less likely to support initiatives that would empower it. I've also become more cognizant of environmental issues. Beyond these, most of my positions have remained largely the same.

Edit: Since we also seem to be discussing parents, I look like Carla Denyer compared to my mother. My father never much cared for politics, though, in many respects, he, too, was socially conservative.

[The Lazarene Republic]

I began my life living in the United States of America, born mere months before the Obama administration took control.
I spent most of that time growing up moderate(?), then spent about a year or 2 during middle school being right wing.
Went to high school, became more center-right than I was.
Finally, my gender changed, so I'm leaning full center, held to the right by religion.

If you are ever considering apostatizing and becoming a trans Twitter communist, please find a liberal denomination like the Episcopal Church instead of converting to Stalinism or Maoism

[Lusitanic]

My Mom was leftist, my Dad was centrist. I grew up with leftist ideals. Now my Mom's a conservative, my Dad's still a centrist, and I'm still a leftist, finding my beliefs myself.

My mom is super liberal (in an American sense) but I’d say my dad is disillusioned with both sides.

[Western Theram]

My dad is a registered libertarian and my mom is a liberal democrat so i was raised with fairly progressive values that were only amplified by my interest in extreme art and music. Punk rock is liberal at the very least, pushing back and rebelling against a traditionalist out of touch system, it also taught me alot about politics and history. From the Battle of Cable Street to the economic recession of the Thatcher years. all while introducing me to various other genres with similar anti-fascist and rebellious attitudes like ska and reggae.
as far as how i got into punk rock- it was the soundtrack to most of my video games and my skateboarding years.

[Flaming Fash]

so you're a queerphobe
"no no you see I don't hate you I hate the fact you exist and hate everything you stand for"

I think you missed the part where I don't hate the person.

I think you missed the part where it's still queerphobia and bad
hating one's identity is equivalent to hating their person, since their identity is, y'know, them

[The Lazarene Republic]

I went from right-wing in 2022 to center-right in 2023-2024, and now to center-left or center.

I like workers rights, and I don't like either Kamala or Trump. I'm also not a fan of woke ideology because of my Christian beliefs, but I don't dislike trans, gay, etc. people.
"Hate the sin, not the sinner," I think.

Define woke ideology

[Foderales Konigreich Schlesien]

I think you missed the part where I don't hate the person.

I think you missed the part where it's still queerphobia and bad
hating one's identity is equivalent to hating their person, since their identity is, y'know, them

I'm not hating their identity. If their name is, say, B, then their identity is B. The sin is defiling the body to change their body, if trans or gender-fluid, or homosexuality if gay. What they do, I believe, is seperate from their identity. Also, even if sex/gender is part of one's identity, it is never the whole. It's like if liking or being a thing becomes one's entire personality. That's just not how it works, or at least not how it should be.

In this case, being queer cannot be one's whole identity. What about what they love? The experiences and memories they have gathered in life? That would always make up a large part of their identity, whether they realize or like it or not.

[Foderales Konigreich Schlesien]

I went from right-wing in 2022 to center-right in 2023-2024, and now to center-left or center.

I like workers rights, and I don't like either Kamala or Trump. I'm also not a fan of woke ideology because of my Christian beliefs, but I don't dislike trans, gay, etc. people.
"Hate the sin, not the sinner," I think.

Define woke ideology

I should have been more specific, sorry. Specifically, the sins that defile the human body by changing it's... for example, sex/gender, that are more accepted nowadays. The book of Romans highlights that this is a sin.

Also, could we stop talking about this? This is pretty random.

[The Lazarene Republic]

Define woke ideology

I should have been more specific, sorry. Specifically, the sins that defile the human body by changing it's... for example, sex/gender, that are more accepted nowadays. The book of Romans highlights that this is a sin.

Also, could we stop talking about this? This is pretty random.

You brought it up. So even if you don’t approve of it, how big of a deal is it? A 1 is “it personally bothers me but the harm is so minimal that it’s barely worth mentioning” and a 10 is “this will be the downfall of human civilization”?

[New Stonkopolis]

I began my life living in the United States of America, born mere months before the Obama administration took control.
I spent most of that time growing up moderate(?), then spent about a year or 2 during middle school being right wing.
Went to high school, became more center-right than I was.
Finally, my gender changed, so I'm leaning full center, held to the right by religion.

call me in 2 decades when you finally make it to the far-left

Won't have to be callin' yah then, I'm keeping away from the extremes.

I began my life living in the United States of America, born mere months before the Obama administration took control.
I spent most of that time growing up moderate(?), then spent about a year or 2 during middle school being right wing.
Went to high school, became more center-right than I was.
Finally, my gender changed, so I'm leaning full center, held to the right by religion.

If you are ever considering apostatizing and becoming a trans Twitter communist, please find a liberal denomination like the Episcopal Church instead of converting to Stalinism or Maoism

Oh hell naw, I'm not going Communist. I'm weighing my options for baptism, sooooo I'm already planning on what you've suggested

[Zetronius]

I was left-wing from the start. My mom told me about how politics work one day, and after twenty months of personal opinion development, i forged my own political identity, and declared myself a minarchist.

[Flaming Fash]

I was left-wing from the start. My mom told me about how politics work one day, and after twenty months of personal opinion development, i forged my own political identity, and declared myself a minarchist.

please don't quote ayn rand

[Leviggo]

I've had an ideology for only like 3 years. Before that, I didn't really care about politics. I started getting into politics as a progressive socialdemocrat, and I basically just went left after that. I just started praising communism with my friends because we found it funny, and now I am a communist, and I feel like I am becoming more and more radical and authoritarian. If I do a political compass test, I am 9/10 left and 1,74/10 libertarian. The last time I did it I was a bit more left and twice as libertarian.