Have your political views changed since joining America's Debate? Have you come to any great realizations, or have learned anything worth noting?

Feel free to post your thoughts and observations from the last year in this topic.

Over the past year, learning has been on an accelerated path. That's really an understatement. I've felt as if I'm caught up in a wild time warp running through multiverses.

America's Debate has certainly contributed to this. Just off the top of my head, I've learned that the US is not very dependent on Middle Eastern oil. We get most of it from the Americas (as in South and North and Central). Therefore, our military involvement in the Middle East is for some other reason.

World peace I suppose.

Eh, won't discount that possibility straight off. But I don't think so! It's a jungle out there. . .

Another major leap for me has been to realize that emotions run so deep with various situations in many people who, on the surface, one might think these folks never have a concern about anything. I've been underestimating the depth and passions of my fellows -- worldwide.

Politically, I've gravitated more strongly to the left. I've always been over there in a Woody Guthrie sort of way or maybe Unitarian (think about heaven, think about revolution), but now I'm active in politics. Granted, in a small way. I'm no Che'.

Just about every day I check out America's Debate. Usually I'll post something after reading quite a while. Sometimes I find AD to be a comfort when things are really a mess. I enjoy the differing views and sometimes get furious about some folks, but then it's time to do something else. But the thinking doesn't stop.

What AD provides all of us is a stimulus to think, feel and express. What have I learned?

To keep on doing this.

I learned im a democrat. I always considered myself an independant and have liked select politicians indiscriminately but on the social front I am just at extreme odds with conservative and republican ideology. My views are just to similiar to many democrats. It has become hard to remain independant although politicians like Mark Kirk, Rod Simmons, Jim Kolbe, Richard Luger, Amo Houghton appeal to me. If a major sect of socially liberal environmentally responsible republicans existed I would probably be a republican. Most of my friends are republican. America's debate has simply shown me that I am not a republican and that my views for arguments sake are not independant because I am consitently siding with democrats.

I've learned a lot in the past year.

The main thing that I have learned is that my read on the Constitution is considered to be very extreme by people of just about any political background.

It seems my read on the Constitution gets more and more conservative as time goes on, as well. When I see self-proclaimed conservatives (for whom I have voted) passing huge spending increases, creating huge bureaucracy, and failing to fulfil their oath of office, it makes me want to setup a little shack out in the woods.

Everyone is entitled to my own opinion...

Mike

America's Debate has taught me an incredible amount in a very short time and helped me to evolve as a person.

Since I started posting here, I feel much more informed and aware of what is going on in the world. I wouldn't say that I have necessarily become an activist, but for certain issues I have actually taken the time to write personal letters to my congressmen/women and senators. This is something I never would have considered before.

Any time there is some major event in the news, my immediate thought is "I need to log on to AD and see what people are saying about this!"

Another thing I am grateful for is the intelligence and high quality of each and every post by our members. We all come from very diverse backgrounds and it has been great being exposed to all of that. I may not always agree with what is posted, but I am constantly in awe over how thorough the posts are. It has been extremely educational and I have been able to learn things I didn't know, and at times the arguments have even swayed me to a new position.

Finally, I have found a real intellectual outlet for my thoughts. The majority of the people I interact with in social circles roll their eyes at the mere mention of politics. Being a part of this community has allowed me to find an outlet to express my opinions, force me to think about certain issues, learn from our other members and challenge me to support my views with facts.

I pretty much totally agree with CJ on this one. Before I found AD I would read the news and sit there debating with myself for a while, good thing I found you I might have gone schizophrenic. I've changed my views on many topics, the most probably is the homosexuality issue in which my views have become less harsh. (but not totally accepting, because that would mean defeat )
Another great thing is the resources that come up in the debate. I've gone from reading 5 publications on a slow day to at least twice that much. It's amazing all the obscure sources we find just to support a point.

I think I'm learning to keep my passion in check -- it has gotten me into trouble. It makes me spend more time in contemplating how people will take what I write, how to express my views with out becoming offensive. This is a skill that I may use in my later life if I decide to pursue a career in politics.

I've also learned to do a bit of research and not to be too lazy. Even though I've thought out my views pretty thoroughly on most of the subjects where I post, it's always good to have concrete stuff to back it up.

I also enjoy the interaction with people, and I'm learning a little bit about how the opposition (the right) thinks and how and why they form the opinions that they do.

I have not moved too much on the political spectrum due to AD, but I feel a little more balanced and logical about my views (rather than overly emotional) since joining.

I learned that you CAN have fun arguing with people that disagree with you in a civilized manner.

Also I learned that you need to "go fishing for the facts."

Also I learned that communication in an internet chat room is quite enjoyable.

I have learned to be passionate about beliefs again, now I must learn to control my passion. I have learned that I am actually quite conservative, really not a Dem, though that is what my card says. I have learned that I feel very strongly about the rights of minorities and as of late particularly the rights of homosexuals. Prior to AD, I don't think I really cared a rats derrière. I have learned that there is not only another point of view, there may be 20. I have learned to walk in another's shoes, I am still trying to walk in everybody's shoes though I tend to get blisters with such diversity. I have grown and I thank all of you for that.

My views on abortion have changed slightly due to some very convincing posts by Mrs. Pigpen. At one time my disdain for abortion performed for social reasons was ironclad, but Mrs. P loosened my views slightly and although abortion for social issues still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, some of the social reasons given for abortion are a little more palatable.

Quarkhead helped me accept the ACLU's reasons for targeting Christian symbols. Previously, I held a strong opinion that the ACLU was targeting Christianity. Now, I believe they may actually be correct in their pursuit to rid all government buildings, seals, etc., of Christian symbols.

My views on the Palestinian/Israeli crisis have also changed. I was always and still am supportive of Israel, but recently I've come to realize the conflict isn't one-sided. I've been very disappointed in the actions of Israel of late and believe they could do more to bring peace in the ME.

I am more convinced that ever that we must provide homosexuals with the same rights as heterosexuals.

Lastly, several posters here at AD, who are my political rivals, have gained my deepest respect. We've many true patriots here at AD. We are all the same - we want the best for our country, we just have different ways of getting there.

I've learned that I am not a political party commitment phobe. I don't need counseling; I am where I should be. That there is a reason that I am not a Republican or a Democrat. Perhaps the Libertarians will get my full support but not yet. I'll let ya know if that changes next year. I've learned that I can not debate my Dad yet. It is better for him to think I'm a Republican leaning. The biggest thing I learned is that I OPPOSE the death penalty. I always felt uncomfortable with it but thanks to some pro death penalty poster's that uneasiness has turned to outright opposition. Opposition to the point of activism now.

I have learned that I am a moderate American that sees the need for Republican leadership and longs to live in a world where that leadership is NOT needed.

OK, I finally have the time to try to answer this one.

First of all, prior to finding AmericasDebate.com I had concluded that all political debate / discussion websites were controlled by elitist of one political extreme or another who would squash an articulate user of the political opposition in a second, simply to protect the status quo. Furthermore, I believed that most posters on these types of websites were there merely to flame and ridicule their political opposites and had nothing to add to discussions outside of the talking points of their political group(s) and parties.

Then, thanks to a "Reason-sympathizer" on another debate site I discovered AmericasDebate.com. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! Not only do the Administrators do their best to avoid letting their personal politics dictate policy, the try to make sure all sides are represented within the moderators and Committee Members. Furthermore, they insist that discussions stay on topic, allowing debates to grow deeper then anywhere I have ever visited, while recommending to those that drift off topic to start a new topic so that those views can be discussed as well. And most importantly, the do not allow personal attacks, flames, and the like. You can passionately disagree with a posters views, but calling them a "poopie head" will get you the Mike Mallet or Jambe Jack Hammer.

This is absolutely the best debate site I have ever visited. I am here for life (I apologize to those who just groaned ).

Thanks to this environment my views, as well as my personal style have changed. Thanks to the lack of personal attacks and meaningless "I told you so posts" I can actually post that my opinion has changed or that I was mistaken. I don't feel like I have to keep quiet about that for fear of reams of "haha" PMs and replies. It just doesn't happen here.

As for my beliefs. Some may be shocked but I was an Independent, and then a Democrat in my youth. I felt my conservative views were matched better in the Republican Party a little later in life and was a member of that party for about 10 years. Having the opportunity to Articulate my views, read those of others, and re-think and refine my own (as well as a link in a members signature) lead me to the Republican Liberty Caucus. I was and still am very Libertarian minded, and this seemed like a match for me.

But the more I debated issues and viewpoints the more I felt that the Republicans (as I felt of the Democrats years ago) were not really supporting their own views. They talked a good game but they voted for political power, not ideals. They were not supporting their own platform. Seeing this as well as the few planks in that platform I could not agree with I simply said enough was enough and left the party.

I came full circle, back to the status of Independent. The Libertarian party might be a possibility for me (if I can ever get questions I have about their platform answered) but I am comfortable in my independence.

The Administrators of AD as well as the many fine and intelligent members here have shown me that I do not need a party to be heard or to influence others beliefs. I don't have to sell out to the lessor of two evils just to feel like I can accomplish something, to be heard.

My political views have deepened and shifted because of AD. Because of AD I have a greater respect for the former Clinton Administration. I learned alot about what they did in 8 years and though I still have issues with them I can look back no and see that some good did come out of those years.

Discussions on this board about the death penalty lead to discussions with my wife. As a result of all the talking and thinking on this issue I hopped over the fence and became an opponent of the DP for the first time in my life.

This board has moved me closer to the fence on many issues, and caused me to leap over it on occasion.

This site, thanks to it's fantastic Administrators, Moderators,Committee people, and especially it's members has forced me to think and dig deeper on issues, has shown me that you can have a voice, and has allowed me to get over my lack of college education and feel like I can contribute to the discourse.

Thanks AD. I am honestly a better person because of this site and all the people here.

Well, I finally figured that it was my turn to weigh in here.

Having joined AD nigh a year ago, I've come to numerous realizations. Pursuant to that fateful day, I came to the complete realization that I was not just a Democrat any longer. I realized that I wasn't just "liberal" but "very liberal" shortly after joining. I also realized that, although a Dem for most of my life, the Democratic leadership didn't adequately reflect my views; I became a Green in name. Now, I still care about the Democratic party and I still know that I'm a Democrat, but I can't call myself a Dem right now. Ahh, but someday the Greens will come about and I'll jump on their little bandwagon (which will be a hydrogen-powered, no doubt ).

AD has made me realize that I can't just believe something without providing some basis for that belief. I've also realized that, out of all the people I debate, I may never change a single mind. I can't admit that my views have changed any; however, that's not to say that it won't happen. I've talked to so many people who are absolutely brilliant that it's unbelievable. AD has quite a brain trust here. There are so many people here who aren't given to the "blind patriotism" that I see so often in this country: the patriotism of flag-waving with apathy, the patriotism of singing "God Bless America" with inaction. I'm thoroughly convinced that we are the true patriots, the ones who are not willing to simply take what the media and the government say at face-value; the ones who are not content to let the government's authority go unquestioned. And don't we need more people like that in this country? We have a wonderful group of people here who don't simply argue with hollow phrases and meaningless buzzwords; we have a group that is absolutely passionate about the issues of the day. We do need more people who are not apathetic and servile, for those are the traits of a citizenry that are the stepping stones to tyranny. Is it too much to say that AD is protecting us from authoritarianism?

Politics was once simply a passing interest in my life: thanks to AD it is my life. AD has helped me decide that I want a future in public service-- hopefully I'll be a U.S. senator someday. AD really has changed me. I was once despondent when it came to discussing politics; I was simply unable to find anyone at my school who actually cared enough to even take notice of politics. But now that I have found a forum where I can express my ideas, be heard, and hold intelligent debate on those ideas, I am quite elated. It is most unfortunate that I have not been able to devote more time to AD than I have, but my breaks in school afford me ample time. Perhaps that is something I can work on.

The staff here at AD do a superb job of ensuring that all sides are heard, and that the debate stays on course; for that I thank them. Just as the motto suggests, AD truly is "The best in news, government, and political debate." I've looked at other debate sites, and they are simply incomparable to the quality of the debate, the staff, and the debaters we have here at AD. AD is quite simply a great place with great people. Period.

I have learned that I probably always be an Independent. No real suprise althought there is a little disappointment as it means my influence in elections is limited and there are rarely any indie candidates worth voting for.
Although I have entertained thoughts of becoming politically active as a Democrat as I think they will soon begin to rebuild and transform their stands on issues to more accurately reflect current America.
Sadly my respect for the Republican party has really plummeted. Personally I find there hypocrisy disturbing, thank whatever spirit you worship for John McCain and that the idea of America is stronger than the damage the Repubs are trying to do.
Understand I have always considered myself a borderline republican and only withheld my all out support because of the religious wacko mullahs of the christian coalition who IMO hold far too much sway and just do not accurately reflect most Americans.
I was horrified at the fact that I got an election with Gore vs. Bush and wouldn't you know it got even worse with Bush vs. Kerry.
I like Edwards.
I have learned I need to control my temper, and NEVER post at 2 in the AM.
Wertz vs. Aquilla rocks as does Wertz vs. Amlord
the Piper ClaN has been a welcome encounter.
I need to hone my research skills and flesh out my topics better.
I also think I should use my natural method of speaking and phrasing. Its colorful and sometimes borderline politically in and definetly UN correct, but ya gotta be who you R.



and spelling. gotta work on spelling

I've learned that I am a libertarian conservative. There I said it. I've become more skeptical of politicians and distrust the gov't a little bit more. I've also changed in that before I used to quickly answer questions posed by someone and quickly rebut whoever I was debating with, now I'm more analytical and slower, I think it's made a difference.

Slower? Must have been all that time you spent in the old marijuana threads... You didn't test your theories did you?

Lol, hey, whatever works

CP

My political views might have changed slightly. There's nothing like reading other posts and putting your own responses in writing to help you realize what you really think, because I rarely get into any discussions off the computer that approach the discussions here.

I'm more conservative than I thought myself to be.

I continue to learn that people cannot be pigeonholed nearly as neatly as data-gathering and political organizations would like for us to be. That is refreshing. We don't really want to be cut and turned out cookie-cutter gingerbread wo/men on a conveyor belt anyway. Bor-ing.

It isn't boring here!

I have learned that logic and reason are useless if you don't also take into consideration the effects of the human condition. My emotions and personal experiences do influence my arguments, and "I feel..." is not a dirty phrase. I think it's important to find a complimentary balance between the two.

My political views always move around a bit as I learn new information. I am not written in stone, and I don't expect that I ever will be. I registered as a Democrat this year because I wanted to take part in the primaries, but I didn't actually participate because I became disenchanted. I expect that I will change my status back to independent in the near future.

I'm not sure what else to say here. The politics and news of the last year have left me feeling quiet and withdrawn, hence the reason that my frequency of posting has decreased a bit. I read all of your arguments, and I'm always learning, but I just can't find the words to respond. Hopefully the next year will bring some healthy changes to political scene.

The frequency of my posting has declined somewhat of late as well, due to a number of factors, but I may be heading out of my slump. I still read most of the threads, but have learned that I don't necessarily have to add my two cents if there's already a fiver on the table - especially if it would only depress or infuriate me.

I've also, during the course of the year, regained a bit of my faith in the American people in general - and a lot of that has to do with some of the changes I've seen in a few participants here. I've also been reminded that, just because someone has an opposing point of view - even on issues which I feel are vitally important - it doesn't necessarily mean that they are inherently evil.

I've found myself doing a lot of PMing this year, which (along with the Live Chats) really helps to humanize the participants here - and that has also helped me moderate my views of "the opposition" overall.

America's Debate remains, to my mind, the best political discussion board anywhere - and we should all be proud of making it so.

What I have learned is stuff I already knew: Conservatives don't have horns. Don't hate black people. Aren't all rich and white. Love their children and clean air and water. Don't all love George W. Bush. Don't all kneel at the feet of authority.

I knew that stuff already. America's Debate in 2003/2004 just confirmed it.



How my views have changed. Not all that much. I knew the racial divide between whites and blacks was wide and deep. Now I see it's full of muddy water too. We don't understand each other very well even though we share more in common than we don't.

I'm less optimistic about racial reconciliation and the achievement of Dr. King's common dream of a shared humanity than I used to be.

I've learned (recently) that Wertz doesn't consider me inherently evil .

Seriously, I have learned that people are more entrenched in their viewpoints than would be expected, myself included. I think we all have good intentions, but the means used to achieve the ends is where we part ways.

We all want to be safe and to be able to do whatever the hell it is we want to do. Some of us want limits on certain behaviors, others of us want restrictions on other behaviors. Nobody wants to live in chaos, though.

AD has also crushed my hopes of ever becoming President of the United States .

I have learned that the biggest challenge to our character is to give a fair hearing to a viewpoint we deeply and permenantly dispise. We all wave the First Amendment as a banner but the true test of our convictions regarding civil rights is when it is in your power to silence the voice of an opposing viewpoint. I never considered myself an advocate for censorship but there were times I would have edited out posts that I found offensive.Fortunatly we have a well moderated discussion forum here and well thought out posts are allowed dispite what I may think of them.

In retrospect I feel stronger in my convictions because I was able to wade through the muck and mire of political debate and I learned one thing. Concensus is never achieved through political dogma, its only through compromise and painstaking reason that we arrive at the truth.

I don't know that any of my core beliefs have changed allthough I think I have a more balanced view of abortion and a couple of issues I won't name. I know what I wish I had learned, I wish I had learned to make an intelligent argument without going off on tangents and avoid those insipid typos that allways seem to show up in my posts.

May the truth prevail,
Phaedurs

P.S. Amlord has my vote for President even though I think he should reconsider Wertz for a running mate.

I didn't say there were no exceptions.

Unfortunately for my frequent participation in this site, I find I have little patience for formal debate and more interest in casual discussion of the issues. Staying up to the standards of debate here requires more time for research and more time for composing posts than I'm willing to devote, since unfortunately I have little free time and would generally prefer to spend it in my online roleplaying games. Currently that's Star Wars Galaxies and I'll be trying Call of Heroes soon. On the other hand, there are things about this place that I love, mainly the people and their tolerance and general niceness. There are a number of posters here that I've grown to love, and many more whom I greatly respect. I will continue to be here, but I can't spend as much time on it as I did last year.

I'm not entirely sure what led to it, but I'm a bit less libertarian and more conservative, and I'm feeling the urge to go back and re-read Russell Kirk. I no longer shy away from being called a conservative, though certainly if I am one, I'm of the Goldwater stripe, who was himself much more a libertarian than a conservative. Really I feel more akin to the libertarian sci-fi writers like Poul Anderson and Robert Heinlein than to any of the political philosophers. The difference is while those writers are as passionately devoted to individual liberty as the ideologues, their approach is much more practical and empirical, and I identify with that.