Can you change?

I have seen folks switch and normally it is from Dem to Rep. I think the Dem party lends more to the younger generations where the GOP favors older generations.

Just my two cents.

That made me think of this quote attributed (some think incorrectly) to Winston Churchill -
"If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart. If you're not conservative when you're older, you have no brain."

I've been registered independent since day 1. I've never identified myself with either party though I've gotta say I've never once voted Republican, but I would if the right candidate came along. At this point I don't see a huge difference between either of the parties. It's just one big cluster F.I've voted Republican at the state level but never for the federal executive branch.

Most of my ideas run a bit right personally but I try to think of others when making bigger decisions such as who should run the country, not who would benefit just me. Our country needs plenty of help and it seems like the Dems are more willing to offer it whereas the Republicans don't seem to care as much. I know that there's partisan bickering on everything but it also seems like the Republicans won't give ANYTHING a chance and will bitch about it without having their own idea of how something should be done. I don't get as much of the play-by-play from Congress now that I don't watch C-Span much anymore though.

That made me think of this quote attributed (some think incorrectly) to Winston Churchill -
"If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart. If you're not conservative when you're older, you have no brain."

ha.. I was going to post this in response to something the other day but was on my phone and was like eff it

I think that it's somewhat true.. or at least seems to happen quite a bit

I think that after awhile a lot of people lose sight of actual politics and certainly progressive politics.. as the world gets crazier they remember their own conservative times when things were simpler and in turn want that in their government as well

A change in the tax bracket in which you're categorized. Get a big raise? You're more likely to see the republican point of view. Get laid off? You're more likely to see the democrats point of view. They say you never understand until you walk a mile in a man's shoes. If your financial situation in life changes, chances are you'll feel differently about a lot of things.

But for me, I consider myself an independent thinker. I will examine each situation independently, consider all viewpoints, and come up with my own conclusions. In this way, I don't consider myself either a democrat or republican; I'm a fan of whichever side has the right answer on a particular issue. This leads me to like republicans on some things, but democrats on others.

However the fundamental premises upon which I base my thinking mostly line up with the republican side (because I actually understand economics). Things like lower taxes, smaller government, pro business, etc. I don't see those things ever changing. However, if the Democrats do things that are pro business, I gladly support it.

I liked the bank bailouts. I liked the Wall Street bailouts.

So some things won't ever change, especially the fact that I'll always think independently and will never join a team, aligning myself with one party on all issues. I'll surely vote democrat when the candidate and the issues call for it, and I'll vote republican plenty of times as well.

I've been registered independent since day 1. I've never identified myself with either party though I've gotta say I've never once voted Republican, but I would if the right candidate came along. At this point I don't see a huge difference between either of the parties. It's just one big cluster F.

These. Exactly how I feel.

The simple answer to the question for me is, yes I can change. However, my feet are planted squarely within the Democratic party. I grew up in D.C., and I love this city with all of my heart, so I come from a "blue state", so to speak. So my views and political leanings were obviously influenced by my environment.

As far as values go, I'm conservative on some issues and I'm liberal on some others. I believe in an individual's right to bear arms, but I also believe in individual privacy and that a woman should have the right to choose what's best for her body and mental well being, not the government. I believe in basic human rights, whether you're a prisoner at Gitmo, someone in China working at sweat shop, or some kid getting beat down by a cop in S.E. D.C. It's just fundamental to who we are and why we are the greatest nation on earth. The minute we start inching to the right or left, little by little, on these basic truths we begin to compromise that greatness.

Could I vote for a Republican, hell yeah! But I've yet to be inspired by the party, the leaders and the brand of leadership they've put forth over the past decade. Say what you will about Bill Clinton, but we enjoyed prosperity during his presidency and he did pass the torch with a surplus. Say what you will about TARP, but the program has been a success and we've only used $495 billion of the $700 billion. Truth is we need to cut some taxes in some areas and raise some taxes in some areas. We need to cut government in some places and expand government in some places (see BP oil spill and Wall Street reform.) So the Republican cookie cutter solution - this or that- not this and that doesn't work for me as a concerned and engaged citizen, and it certainly doesn't address the long-term systemic and complex problems that we face as a nation. If cutting taxes and government were the solutions to everything I'm sure George Bush, as inept as he was, would have figured that out and passed Obama a surplus. I just have to believe that. But governing and leading isn't that simple in this era. Besides, taxes were cut -- twice-- under Bush and the economy still spiraled into a deep recession.

But yeah, I can change!

Good post 12th.

I'm like you, except on the other side of things (I'll always remember that thread with the chart that plotted where each person was on the political spectrum), that was a good thread.

I grew up just outside DC in the People's Republic of Montgomery County (Kensington), although it was probably at least 10 years earlier than when you grew up. My folks were registered Ds, but voted R from Reagan on. I'd say they were Kennedy Ds. I remember reading the Washington Post, but mostly checking the baseball box scores, reading Skins stuff, and checking the Weekend section for the movie times, not realizing the Washington Post was left of Pravda. :) I was worried about Reagan "putting us into a nuclear war" before he got elected in 1980, but was in his corner as I got into HS. When I went into the USAF I was sent to Japan and exposed to the real world, my views were solidly formed and have stayed consistent since, but more fiscally conservative as I get older.

Could I vote for a Democrat, certainly. But you can't find a fiscal conservative, limited gov't Dem to save your soul. And I agree, I haven't been inspired by the Rs in quite sometime. To me they're just the lesser of two evils. Problem is both parties are controlled at the top by special interests and solid, middle of the road, common sense candidates can't get out of primaries because the big party money stomps them almost every time. We just had a primary here in VB and the big party guy won even though he wasn't the best choice. He'll be another don't tax but keep spending RINO. He'll say the scripted things, but will be a tool for the RNC, just like Thelma Drake was.

I would trade in Obama for either Clinton, especially Bill, in a heartbeat. I was no fan of his, but he did know how to track to the center when necessary. That being said, while Clinton technically passed a surplus to Bush 2, he also passed on a recession. His housing policies were also a contributor to the current recession (but to his credit, he saw the pending problems and sounded the warning bells on this, the current crop of Ds didn't heed the warnings).

While Bush was certainly no fiscal conservative, the Bush tax cuts did limit the impact of the 2001 recession and minimized the impact of Sept. 11th on the economy. Most of Bush's spending increases were related to Sept. 11th (DHS, etc.) and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, with bi-partisan Congressional support.

I don't think changing is really the issue, the folks here that meaningfully contribute to the political discussions have different views but normally are in agreement or could come to a satisfactory agreement on 80% of the issues. The vast majority of the country is influenced heavily by soundbites and talking heads without doing any research or investigation into the issues. You could find out what the 3rd WR on the Texans did in the Week 5 fantasy league or what American Idol/Bachelor/DWTS gossip is going on before most folks could name the VP or their own congressman/ senators.

I am a Dem for the most part but I be stupid not to vote for this guy.

Bob Ehrlich Splash (http://www.bobehrlich.com/)

The Dem party in MD is just plain awful.

What needs to happen, broken down by member:

Saden = US declares bankruptcy
TTE = needy elderly
JTF = big business owner

Obviously this is a joke, but it leads to the real answer: everyone has a different perspective and none of them are wrong.

The big business owner feels like they worked hard enough to get where they are, and they deserve what they earn and shouldn't have to share it with anyone.

The needy elderly cannot survive on their own, and they feel like their lifetime of hard work entitles them to support from the government.

The poverty-stricken child who found their way out of the ghetto and received a college degree doesn't want others to face the same obstacles, and petitions the government for minority support for higher education.

None of these people/perspectives is wrong. I once read a quote that said the real truth is the sum of all perspectives. I think it applies well to politics.

I think it was Bertrand Russell who said, "the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are so sure of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubt."

I love that quote.

I have changed. When I was fourteen I thought we should have national health care. Then I got a job and found out that none of this stuff was free. Just because you get a middle man to steal for you (the government), doesn't mean you're not a effing thief. I don't care if you're a poor old person or some starving child, eat cat food and die. There's no magic money tree at the Federal Reserve.