What is the most embarrassing political belief you used to hold but no longer do?

[GunnyFreedom]

I don't have to tell him that. He wrote about it:

“Ideas are very important to the shaping of society. In fact, they are more powerful than bombings or armies or guns. And this is because ideas are capable of spreading without limit. They are behind all the choices we make. They can transform the world in a way that governments and armies cannot. Fighting for liberty with ideas makes more sense to me than fighting with guns or politics or political power. With ideas, we can make real change that lasts.”
― Ron Paul, Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom

There is nothing whatsoever about that quote that implies Constitutionalism is illegitimate and unjust. I believe you are seeing what you want to see, rather than what actually is. In fact, that explains a lot of things.

 

[scottditzen]

That Rush was right.

That Republicans were inherently more trustworthy than Democrats.

That the Iraq war was justified by 9/11.

That Democrats were the anti-war party.

That Alan Keyes would've made a great president.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

You think incorrectly. (But don't let that stop you. It never has before. )

LOL yeah sure you betcha.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

There is nothing whatsoever about that quote that implies Constitutionalism is illegitimate and unjust. I believe you are seeing what you want to see, rather than what actually is. In fact, that explains a lot of things.

And I believe you see what you want to see in a lot of things too, which explains a lot of things. So we're even. (and I suspect you care as much about my opinion WRT this as much as I care about yours)

 

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I started college at age 19. I actually believed that going to school would pretty much make you a Democrat and that Democrats were higher on the evolution scale. Republicans were less formally educated and just not as smart.

Man, now that is just dumb.:o:o:o

 

[Anti-Neocon]

My views of the Civil War and WWII periods were long shaped by what now seems like silly propaganda.

I also believed that Obama would be about neutral for civil liberties, rather than fight tooth and nail against them.

 

[Airborn]

that all politicians were snakes, crooks and lairs. In 2007 I found that to still be true with the exception of a Texas congressman I had just learn about. My exception list has grown a little bit since then

 

[Henry Rogue]

I didn't want to post in this thread, but everyone else came clean, so, in no particular order:
I use to believe we had a two party system.
I use to believe that republicans were for small government.
I used to believe that America was the greatest country in the world, now i don't think there are any great countries.
I like Gunny, believed WW2 was a war we needed to fight and that it got us out of the Great Depression.
I use to believe that my Father's and Mother's Generation was the greatest generation, now i see people as mostly the same and only reacting to the environment they are raised in.
I use to believe The U.S. could have won the Vietnam War had we allowed the generals to run it and not the politicians.
I use to believe they hate us because we are Free.
I use to believe Ronald Reagan collapsed the soviet empire by out spending them.
I use to believe, that after the Cold War was over, that the U.S. wouldn't be involved in any wars. It didn't take long to dispel that belief.

Things I was right about: I was against going to war with Iraq and Afghanistan, not so much because of moral reasons, but because I knew we could not win them and because it was pointless. I was also firmly against the Patriot Act and subsequent legislation. I was also against all bailouts.

 

[bolil]

love it or leave it. Where to?

 

[RickyJ]

That's an easy one to answer. My most embarrassing political beliefs were that Israel had a right to take the land they have now, that the Arabs were just a bunch of uncivilized heathens and that Jews were basically good people. I realize that is more than one, but they all go together. I essentially was fooled into thinking the Jews were God's chosen people and that they had a right to that land. I know better now and am considered by some to be "anti-Semitic" because I dare criticize Israel, their religion, and their theft of the Palestinians' land.

 

[RickyJ]

I once thought the state should raise all the children.

/thread

You win!

 

[RickyJ]

Once upon a time, many moons ago (like, circa 2005), I believed in ONE-HUNDRED PERCENT taxation to be imposed on every citizen, those funds to then be re-allocated to each citizen according to his need and/or ability.

Just admitting that makes me feel like an idiot.

If this isn't sarcasm then why did you ever think this way? Were you very young, if so then I don't think that really counts giving your lack of knowledge and experience at the time.

 

[Mitchell2]

I use to be a socialist with a neo-con's foreign policy. I thought it was a good idea if anything the far-left Democratic Party preached was actually put in effect and I use to fume about the "super-rich". The scary thing is that where I live (the Silicon Valley) I use to pretty much fit in perfectly to the average political mold.

 

[klamath]

Well that's quite the non-response...

They is government, government has declared war on the governed, that's me, and you if you don't work for the government...

Courts, the "Just-Us" system, which is part-n-parcel of said government, write the passes for these wars and all associated actions they undertake..

Do you have a better idea than what I've been trying for over 40 years?

Peaceful ain't working that I can tell....

And back to my original belief.... How quickly people can justify their war.

 

[Cap]

I didn't want to post in this thread, but everyone else came clean, so, in no particular order:
I use to believe we had a two party system.
I use to believe that republicans were for small government.
I used to believe that America was the greatest country in the world, now i don't think there are any great countries.
I like Gunny, believed WW2 was a war we needed to fight and that it got us out of the Great Depression.
I use to believe that my Father's and Mother's Generation was the greatest generation, now i see people as mostly the same and only reacting to the environment they are raised in.
I use to believe The U.S. could have won the Vietnam War had we allowed the generals to run it and not the politicians.
I use to believe they hate us because we are Free.
I use to believe Ronald Reagan collapsed the soviet empire by out spending them.
I use to believe, that after the Cold War was over, that the U.S. wouldn't be involved in any wars. It didn't take long to dispel that belief.

Things I was right about: I was against going to war with Iraq and Afghanistan, not so much because of moral reasons, but because I knew we could not win them and because it was pointless. I was also firmly against the Patriot Act and subsequent legislation. I was also against all bailouts.

How did you read my mind Henry? You sound like me.

 

[tod evans]

And back to my original belief.... How quickly people can justify their war.

Yet I argue against their war and ask honestly for ideas...

Do you have any that haven't proven ineffective?

 

[DGambler]

Capital punishment and the War on Drugs.

Oh, and briefly believing government's account of the events of 9/11.

Mine as well....oh, and that the Government really cared about its citizens.

 

[klamath]

Yet I argue against their war and ask honestly for ideas...

Do you have any that haven't proven ineffective?

Can you show ANY method that has brought utopia in the history of mankind? Wars have been tried more times than not and nearly always there is no change.

 

[tod evans]

Can you show ANY method that has brought utopia in the history of mankind? Wars have been tried more times than not and nearly always there is no change.

Is "utopia" the goal or freedom?

 

[mtr1979]

Supported the war on drug.
Supported Israel.
Had the belief other countries hated us because of our freedom.
Fight them there so we don't have to fight them here.