Getting more conservative as you get older? [View all]
I swore it wouldn't happen to me, but here I am, not even "that old" (late 30s), and I'm more conservative than I used to be. Not "conservative" by any stretch, on basically all issues I'm way to the left of most Americans, but not as far left as a I used to be. In my first election, 2000, I was a borderline Naderite.
What are the causes? Some of them I think are good, and some are bad.
Conservatives like to think that it is "wisdom", because they like to think that conservatives are more wise. Which is bullshit. Denying global warming isn't "wise", it's stupid. I do think that in my own particular case, wisdom moved me away from some ideological extremes. For example, 2000 me probably would have wanted Obama just to let all the banks fail, ignoring the major depression that would have ensued. But this works both ways. I have friends that were hard-core libertarians (that was a big thing among young people back then), who have considerably mellowed those views.
Some is risk-aversity. This can be both good and bad. Courage is good, and caution is also good. I think it's just a human thing that young people are more prone to taking bigger risks. Not always, but in general. And I think as a society we need both youthful courage and passion, as well as some of the cautiousness and even cynicism that comes with age.
I also thing some of it is becoming part of "the establishment." When you're 20-ish, you're just starting out your adult life. You can think of just the way the you want the world to be, you don't have to worry about transitioning or adapting, because you haven't started yet. Now, I have a niche in the current system, and I like my niche. Yes, I'm happy to pay more in taxes, I think there should be a stronger safety net, I basically support all liberal policies, but the "tear it all down" rhetoric, which 15 years ago would have appealed to me, I'm not there anymore. This is probably part of why I supported Hillary over Bernie, even though on most issues I'm closer to Bernie.
How have other DUers' political views changed over time?
= new reply since forum marked as read