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What Shaped Your Politics?

I have a keen interest in the process that brings people to their political views. That is why I am compelled to learn why people believe the way they do politically. What particular events in your life (Parent's Belief's, Speeches you have heard, particular world or local events, Religious upbringing etc.) have shaped your political views?

Politics Shaped What

What shaped my politics, well despite coming from a former British colony, I have been exposed to US culture, and other countries to get a flavor of the effect of government. However, over the last few years I'd say reading a lot of the stuff here at InternationalDiscussions.com has given me a firmer position on a lot of issues with Politics, and other Topics for that matter. I know that sounds like an advertisement, but it is the Truth for me.

What Shaped Your Politics? History & Civil Business Politics

My parents were control freaks. I was the last child and the most rebellious in a lot of ways. I hate being controlled. They pulled some nasty tricks to maintain control at the risk of peoples' character and future. Those were my first lessons on evil and how it worked. I think they learned a few lessons from me as well. They are not evil they just did evil things that they have recently confessed. I think even the tiniest bit of power goes to some peoples' heads. They had a false belief of their doctrine and eventually turned on each other. I fought and rebelled sense childhood and they wished me dead many times. (I actually get along with them pretty good now)

I spent a lot of school time in ISS and my favorite OSS. I have had a lot of conflicts with people abusing their power, or as I perceived it. I was feeling outcast and lone wolfish for how I viewed things. My friends were considered the dregs, confused, and throw aways that were trying to fight and rebel, but didnt understand what to fight and rebel.

My favorite religious character was Capt. Moroni. I wasn't big on mormonism at the time because of my upbringing and my lack of understanding towards it. I alway liked the good Capt though. I guess it was 3 or 4 years ago that I heard Ron Paul speaking and he had some things to say that kind of struck me. I actually felt the spirit when he talked. I listened to him more and more. I studied him up and found the Libertarian belief system and right then and there I knew what party I belonged to. I also like the JBS. I then started studying what some of my church leaders had to say and they said similar things. Ron Actually helped me with my rediscovery of my own religion?

I believe in limited government and regulations. I believe in revolting against those that want to take our liberties and freedoms. Libertarians seam to fit everything that I am all about and what the founding Fathers meant for us to be.

Politics Shaped What

I have always considered myself a conservative since I had been interested in politics, and have moved farther to the right the older I get.

In thinking back when I was about 8 years old I remember sitting in front of a 13 inch black and white television television watching a presidential debate between Governor Reagan and President Carter. I think I was as impressed by Governor Reagan's eloquence as some people are impressed by President-elect Obama's. I was too young to understand the Iran hostage situation, lagging economy and the issues that were facing the nation at that time, but I felt some untapped interest in the word's of Mr. Reagan. When he was elected president I was Happy, but was ignorant of the issues (I was 8).

I have always been an avid reader and I began around ten to study the ideas of President Reagan. I read his "a Time for Choosing" a speech given in support of Barry Goldwater.

Wow. I was energized. I had never heard such words from an individual.

Reagan Said:

I was attracted to this up or down philosophy, because it meshed with my religious views that man was a progressive creature that was destined for greatness. I loved the idea of freedom, of allowing the individual to become something better.

This research started the path to conservatism. I saw the strength of a President who was not willing to cow to authoritarianism of Communism. I reveled in the falling influence of Communism, whose fall I attributed to leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

I saw Conservatism as a shield to values that I held dear. I was pro-life and saw Roe v Wade as a destructive influence on society. I supported the death penalty, as I saw it the ultimate justice for killing the innocent. I wanted leadership that thought American (United States of) ideals were admirable as well as among the best in the world.

I saw a decline in Western civilization, and Liberalism to me was only hastening this decline. I understood that Liberalism was not necessarily a bad thing(as I had admiration for the liberal giants of the past), but that it had lost some of its core ideals (Franklin Roosevelt loved The United States and did anything to protect her) of stopping tyranny and spreading freedom to others.

I realize that I am a product of my family's conservative values, and of my Mormon faith, and even in my younger years clung to these values rather then the Liberal ones that surrounded me. I realize that the fear of Soviet aggression (or any tyrannical influence) and rule, directed me to leaders who recognized and fought this influence. As I read about the past (if we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it:George Santayana) I knew that acceptance of dictators led to Stalin and Hitler, and I vowed in my own mind that this could never be allowed to happen again. Furthermore, My stubbornness in college made me annoyed at the soft acceptance and celebration of deviance and I was determined to fight society's decline.

Here in a nutshell is why I believe the way I do and it has greatly influenced my current ideals and politics.

Politics Shaped What

I believe that the Republican parties original ideals were right. In light of recent events they seam to be going more towards socialism.

Dbackers do you ever see yourself leaving the republican party for this reason? I don't think the republican leaders share your moral belief structure any more.

I have read some of your other posts. Don't you think there is a good bit of corruption in the party right now? With the way both parties vote I can hardly tell the difference.

Not really looking for a debate. Just curious.

What Shaped Your Politics?

Quasar

I have come to the conclusion that the only way to change the world is to work within the power structure that currently exists. There are two main political parties in existence today that have dissimilar philosophies but equal issues with corruption.

But I believe I can only influence society as a whole if I work within one of these established structures(even though they are flawed). To me the Republican party reflects my views more then the Democratic party, though I do not agree with the current liberal trends that are seen in the Republican party.

In my current political journey, my goal is to bring back the Republican Party back to its roots of Civil Liberty and Freedom of the individual from undue governmental influence. There could come a time, where I could not in good conscience remain a Republican, if they completely abandoned their social and fiscal conservative ideals, but I am not their yet. I have invested much in trying to influence the party in that direction.

Edited: dbackers on 11th Nov, 2008 - 8:07pm

What Shaped Politics

Well we don't agree on everything, but we have the same beliefs on liberty and freedoms.

I like how you word things. I think you would have a good influence on the Republican party and it's original design, if you don't already.

Good luck with that.

What Shaped Politics Politics Business Civil & History

History books. I've read what has been done for us to have the freedom we enjoy today and it makes me emotional to see us fling that same freedom around without a care for the blood lossed.