I was chatting with my mates over (a lot of) wine about politics, when they said that since the recession began I have changed my political views a lot. I used to be rather capitalist and libertarian and they pointed out that it was only about 2 years ago that I was like that, it's bizarre. I remember not talking about politics a lot when I was younger, and I have changed since then as I've become more vocal about it. I think I used to be 95% capitalist and 5% socialist, now I think it's more 80% capitalist and 20% socialist. Anyway, they think the reccession changed my views.

Anyway, I thought I would share that with you as many of you would find it interesting lol.

I haven't changed my views that much, but I have noticed that the number of Democrats I agree with (in general) has been drastically reduced because their views have changed so drastically ...

18 to 24 months ago most Democrats would agree that it was a problem for the government to increase its power and influence, while propping up companies for political reasons and running record deficits; and today they all disagree ...

Socialism isn't evil just because people in fringe corners keep on repeating it. In just about every religious doctrine written, elements of socialism are taught; give to thy neighbor, donate to charity, and help those less fortunate are just a few examples.

Sure capitalism harnesses our greed and uses it to fuel success, but socialism helps those who are used as stepping stones along the way.

Still, i'd like to see what mafoo says so i can stand on the opposite side

The difference between charity/religion and socialism is that you have a choice whether to participate in charity/religion and inefficient charities that give money to people/organizations that are not supported by their donors/volunteers tend to fail ...

That's not socialism.  Choosing to help people is being a good person.

Forcing someone to help someone else is socialism.

Taking rights away from someone more fortunate to help someone less so.

In the end... it's doing a good deed by taking from others. 

To some this is always seen as bad.  The kind of people who don't beleive for example it's right to kill 1 person to save 10.

I've become more libertarian these past few years but still with a slight left leaning stance on many issues. Whereas I think a few years ago I was almost a fully fledged socialist in many regards.

That has nothing to do with the financial crisis though, its because I got sick and tired of ever increasing government power at the expense of personal freedom through the scapegoat of anti-terrorism (among other things).

EDIT 3000 posts...

haha, you know where I stand.

What I think is interesting over the last few years. Is everything I have said and HappySqurriel has said about the effects of socialism have come true (economically), and yet all it did is make people thing the world must have been different then how they saw it, because the socialist techniques didn't work.

No, all the last two years have done is strengthen my views about libertarianism. Not weaken them.

Yeah, i'm somewhat in the same boat in that regard.  All the shit Bush did was outright ridiculious... but then the democrats weren't doing anything to fix what he did even when they got congressional majority.

Made me very distrusting of both parties.

Of course it doesn't help that 9/11 wasn't really a big deal to me in the first place since i didn't know anyone who lived in NY.

A terrorist attack in NY is the same as one in London, Gaza, Dubai or Tehran to me.

A tragic loss of life.

I have to admit it's sad to have to pick between the guys who pull ridiculous shit and the guys who fail to undo the damage ... but it's a choice I can make.

[edit:  although I will also say there are areas where my opinion of the Democrats I get to vote for is significantly better than "not actively making things worse".]

And the Australian Liberal party (liberal thats a joke) were following Bush and Blairs lead. The problem is the Labor party is moving right and now is essentially the same as the liberals despite the supposed idealogocal differences they have.
Hence the (effectively) two party system in Australia might aswell be a one party system since they're both so similar now. Not to mention the liberal party is conservative and the labor party has abandoned its union based roots. What a mess.

None of the parties actually represent what they're named after anymore. The closest Australian party to my views is the Greens and they aren't close at all to my more libertarian views. And the actual Libertarian party is so small that it doesn't matter (not to mention I disagree with them on many key policies). Essentially I have no-one to vote for that actually represents even a lions share of my political views.

9/11 was a tragic loss of life, but the response to it was rediculous. Not only do we have two extremely expensive and innefective wars, the laws inacted to "combat" terrorism were/are making western countries look more tyrannical by the day.

Pro-tip if you want to fight an idealogical war you don't do what your enemy wants.