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Has getting older made you more conservative?

Are you more conservative now than you were years ago?

  • Total voters
    93
DifferentDrummr said:
A common political theory is that the older voters get, the more conservative they become. Let's put this theory to the test here at DP.
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I have heard that too. They say if you aren't a liberal when you are in your 20's then you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative in your 40's then you have no brain.

I guess I don't have a heart or a brain. I do consider myself conservative but not as conservative as I was a few years ago.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
A common political theory is that the older voters get, the more conservative they become. Let's put this theory to the test here at DP.
Click to expand...


And I would disagree with that theory over all.

When I was young, idealistic, I believed we could fix racism, poverty and that governments were actually effective. In my middle years, I became more conservative, especially financially and move slightly to the right socially.

Today, I am retired and have become more "liberal" as in classic liberal, civil and individual rights trump pretty much everything, gay marriage included, and don't mess with my life while ensuring all Canadians have reasonable access to health care at no personal cost. The police have already sufficient powers thank you, in fact let's role some of that back.

Life is about enjoying the fruits of one's labors unfettered by authority, the right to marry who you want, be what you want, and live the way you want.

I would never allow my government to dictate to me by by threats of financial penalties buy a product I was not satisfied with from a *for-profit* corporation. That's fascism
 
Overall, I had always been and remain a moderate libertarian (classical liberal, South Park Republican, whatever...). But as years pass, I definitely shift more toward "broadly pro-life" positions.

Death penalty: Previously, weakly against, mostly because of practical problems. Now - strongly against, on principle.

Abortion: Previously, "pro-choice", with some caveats regarding "partial birth" and other extremes. Now - strongly against abortion in the third trimester, and "uncomfortable" about the whole thing.

Euthanasia: Previously, all for it. Now - very uncertain.

And - to answer in advance the obvious question - no, I did not turn more religious. I am an atheist, and with that I am quite comfortable. In my youth, I was (tried to be) Catholic.
 
I can't see myself going in a conservative direction without some form of traumatic brain injury. Socially, I outgrew them at the age of 8. Fiscally, I realized that around the age of 23 that there is very little 'conservatism' in conservative principles. It's really just government spending on bad ideas, rather than for the common good.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
A common political theory is that the older voters get, the more conservative they become. Let's put this theory to the test here at DP.
Click to expand...

I started out conservative, I became more libertarian.
 
My experiences and education have shifted me further from conservatism thus far.
 
The older I've gotten the more compassionate and understanding, and the less intolerant and inflexible. It doesn't mean that I find certain kinds of uninspiring and unethical behavior more excusable, just more understandable. Somewhere in between being increasingly fiscally responsible and socially liberal is where the balance is for me. But every issue has a different solution, depending on what it addresses in relation to fairness.
 
Amadeus said:
I can't see myself going in a conservative direction without some form of traumatic brain injury. Socially, I outgrew them at the age of 8. Fiscally, I realized that around the age of 23 that there is very little 'conservatism' in conservative principles. It's really just government spending on bad ideas, rather than for the common good.
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You didn't understand Conservatism when you were 8 amd you still dont understand Conservatism.

You're supposed to grow and mature as you age.
 
Its made me believe more in the conservative movement vs the liberal one. To me being a liberal is equated with being a sandal wearing tree hugger that hasn't bathed in a month.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Its made me believe more in the conservative movement vs the liberal one. To me being a liberal is equated with being a sandal wearing tree hugger that hasn't bathed in a month.
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That's because you believe moronic caricatures.
 
Kobie said:
That's because you believe moronic caricatures.
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I also believe that people put themselves in the position they are in and its not my responsibility to change them for the better.
 
The "as you get older, you turn more conservative" idiom is a myth. Well, there is one parallel - old people and conservatives both tend to be crotchety.
 
CRUE CAB said:
It is, its also reality. No one is stepping up to make my life any better. I work. I don't work, I don't eat.
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Yeah, no one stepped up to make your life better by, you know, making roads, the Internet, farming, providing food and water, and making the entire society as a whole that you live in. Unless you live in the woods and you're posting on the Internet via the magic of your mind, how about you eat a piece of humble pie and quiet down. You aren't that great.

Honestly, what have you done to even have that kind of attitude? You work? Ok great, here's a handshake. I hope you're good at whatever job it is you do, because no one cares.
 
whysoserious said:
Yeah, no one stepped up to make your life better by, you know, making roads, the Internet, farming, providing food and water, and making the entire society as a whole that you live in. Unless you live in the woods and you're posting on the Internet via the magic of your mind, how about you eat a piece of humble pie and quiet down. You aren't that great.

Honestly, what have you done to even have that kind of attitude? You work? Ok great, here's a handshake. I hope you're good at whatever job it is you do, because no one cares.
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Paid my taxes. So no, no one "gave me" anything. I also don't need your handshake but plenty of people care that I am good at my job. Everyone that I deal with needs my experience and ability. Experience and ability that I have worked on for a career. Not sat on my ass waiting for someone to give me a hand out.
 
25 years ago I was far more conservative than I am now and over that time have basically transformed into a libertarian. I like to think it's because with age and experience in the real world comes wisdom. Others would it's because with age comes senility.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Name calling. How nice, typical liberal.
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Great one. Because saying, "anyone in a tough spot deserves to be there because I've worked hard and no one helped me" isn't classic old man conservative talk.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Paid my taxes. So no, no one "gave me" anything. I also don't need your handshake but plenty of people care that I am good at my job. Everyone that I deal with needs my experience and ability. Experience and ability that I have worked on for a career. Not sat on my ass waiting for someone to give me a hand out.
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And so does almost everyone else.
 
whysoserious said:
Great one. Because saying, "anyone in a tough spot deserves to be there because I've worked hard and no one helped me" isn't classic old man conservative talk.
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Been on my absolute own since early 20s. Can you say that? Now I am 51. And have watched plenty of people sitting on their ass with their hand out.
 
CRUE CAB said:
Not as many as should.
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That's a healthy way to go through life - worrying about the percentage of people that deem to be working hard enough.

CRUE CAB said:
Been on my absolute own since early 20s. Can you say that? Now I am 51. And have watched plenty of people sitting on their ass with their hand out.
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No I've had a family around me that helped me when I needed it. And I've also had a society around me that has helped me along the way via libraries, Universities, tax breaks, etc.
 
whysoserious said:
That's a healthy way to go through life - worrying about the percentage of people that deem to be working hard enough.
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I don't worry about it. But did come up here, so I responded to it. I really don't call that worrying about it.
 
I have always be very fiscally conservative, and will likely die that way.
I feel, that it does not matter whose money it is or where it came from,
If I am in change of spending that money, I should be as careful with it,
as I would with my own money.
I feel our Government, at all levels should do the same.
Socially, I think I have become more moderate over the years, but was always fairly moderate.
 
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