Have you moved more right ward or left ward since joining this forum?

[White Trash]

If IceSpear or BRTD is posting, I get more rightward. In general, I'm probably moving leftward.

[IceSpear]

If IceSpear or BRTD is posting, I get more rightward. In general, I'm probably moving leftward.

That's funny, since I considered myself pretty far to the left before I started posting here. Now apparently I'm a latte liberal corporate shill who hates working class Americans because I support Hillary Clinton and dislike ignorant racist hicks. Okay then...

[Vosem]

Since joining back in 2009, I've definitely moved leftward, on a whole host of social issues and having become more environmentalist generally, but since becoming consistently active in early 2012 I haven't really moved in either direction. Voted "left".

[Mr. Reactionary]

both.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

both.

[White Trash]

If IceSpear or BRTD is posting, I get more rightward. In general, I'm probably moving leftward.

That's funny, since I considered myself pretty far to the left before I started posting here. Now apparently I'm a latte liberal corporate shill who hates working class Americans because I support Hillary Clinton and dislike ignorant racist hicks. Okay then...

Funny, I supported Clinton too. Are we both neoliberal hacks then?

[Derpist]

Marginally right, just because the left-posters tend to be more obnoxious.

[hopper]

I think about the same. So neither.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I still am solidly Unionist in my political opinions, I still stand in support of Obama, the only area at the moment I think of that I have changed definitively is trade.
Tomorrow might see myself being able to name more.

[Goldwater]

I still am solidly Unionist in my political opinions, I still stand in support of Obama, the only area at the moment I think of that I have changed definitively is trade.
Tomorrow might see myself being able to name more.

As in more supportive of protectionism, or more supportive of free trade?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

I still am solidly Unionist in my political opinions, I still stand in support of Obama, the only area at the moment I think of that I have changed definitively is trade.
Tomorrow might see myself being able to name more.

As in more supportive of protectionism, or more supportive of free trade?

I have become a bit more supportive of free trade.
I initially opposed TPP, but now support it.
I was also in support of gmo labeling, but not now.

[President Johnson]

Little more rightward. Say from left-wing to center-left. Especially since I became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Ironically that was exact the same day I joined this forum (August 27, 2013).

[Antonio the Sixth]

Little more rightward. Say from left-wing to center-left. Especially since I became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Ironically that was exact the same day I joined this forum (August 27, 2013).

Further proof that the SPD is a pathetic excuse of a "left-wing" party that should be put out of its misery.

[President Johnson]

Little more rightward. Say from left-wing to center-left. Especially since I became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Ironically that was exact the same day I joined this forum (August 27, 2013).

Further proof that the SPD is a pathetic excuse of a "left-wing" party that should be put out of its misery.

The SPD is a pragmatic center-left progressive party. And like in almost any party, there are different wings. SPD consists a left wing and a moderate-pragmatic wing. The youth organization is mainly left. Especially at the federal level, but the state organization of Baden-Württemberg, where I'm from, is more moderate (like the party in general; has likely something to do with the strong economy in our region).

[Sir Mohamed]

I stayed the same.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Little more rightward. Say from left-wing to center-left. Especially since I became a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Ironically that was exact the same day I joined this forum (August 27, 2013).

Further proof that the SPD is a pathetic excuse of a "left-wing" party that should be put out of its misery.

The SPD is a pragmatic center-left progressive party. And like in almost any party, there are different wings. SPD consists a left wing and a moderate-pragmatic wing. The youth organization is mainly left. Especially at the federal level, but the state organization of Baden-Württemberg, where I'm from, is more moderate (like the party in general; has likely something to do with the strong economy in our region).

In modern parlance, "pragmatic center-left party" is short for "completely useless outfit that doesn't stand for anything except for whatever makes them look Very Serious", and the SPD embodies that better than any other.

[Torie]

I have tacked a bit to the left.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I now strongly support a single payer health care system, pot legalization, and climate change regulations, so leftward for sure.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

I've been moving left in general, though not caused by this forum specifically. I've never really been right wing anyway.

[Classic Conservative]

To the far right in a very authoritarian way on social issues and somewhat to the left on issues such as trade and infrastructure.

[TJ in Oregon]

I don't think I've moved much, just grown up some. I've slowly realized virtually nothing good can be accomplished by the government in my lifetime and that politics is an enormous waste of time at best, at worst a vice in its own right. It also doesn't help that the Republicans decided to commit seppuku. There is no hope of trying to change the government on a massive scale.

I've also realized that I don't really have economic views and see the field as almost entirely situational. Both capitalism and socialism taken seriously are complete failures. If the almighty market is selected as the variable for optimization, we fail to take into consideration the human consequences. Companies find ways to do more with less at the yoke of unforgiving investors who care nothing beyond getting a return and not doing anything illegal. Between that and the sexual revolution it's no wonder society is collapsing everywhere except for wealthy enclaves of a decadent elite who have the resources to live hedonistically without consequence. So the solution the left has to all of this is to raise taxes and have the government write checks, which ignores the value of work and struggle in peoples' lives. I never imagined things would collapse as rapidly as they have over the last five years. I don't think there is a policy solution really, though there certainly are policy decisions that one can make that make things worse. Until we find a way to get the players in our economy to act with restraint instead of pressing their full advantage, I can't see a way out.

[Goldwater]

To the far right in a very authoritarian way on social issues and somewhat to the left on issues such as trade and infrastructure.

It seems like I'm always asking, this, but what do you mean by left on trade?

[Mr. Reactionary]

To the far right in a very authoritarian way on social issues and somewhat to the left on issues such as trade and infrastructure.

It seems like I'm always asking, this, but what do you mean by left on trade?

Pro-tariff because of nationalism/localism concerns.

[Goldwater]

To the far right in a very authoritarian way on social issues and somewhat to the left on issues such as trade and infrastructure.

It seems like I'm always asking, this, but what do you mean by left on trade?

Pro-tariff because of nationalism/localism concerns.

Which sounds like a right wing reason to me.

[Higgs]

To the far right in a very authoritarian way on social issues and somewhat to the left on issues such as trade and infrastructure.

It seems like I'm always asking, this, but what do you mean by left on trade?

Pro-tariff because of nationalism/localism concerns.

Which sounds like a right wing reason to me.

It's inherently less capitalist, and on the economic scale more capitalist = further right. That is, if you believe in defining political beliefs on an oversimplified 1 or 2 dimensional scale. Aside from my grievances with the political compass, I do believe that protectionism is a left wing ideology.