On how many of the following issues have you ever changed/modified your position?

I put two, but it's really 1.5. I've changed from my youth on capital punishment, and am nominally pro-choice. (I think being lucky and cautious enough in life to where my personal circumstances never required a definitive position on abortion is why I think of myself as being mushy on the topic... I truly see both sides though I can't stand the pro-life fringe.)

 

I switched positions on the death penalty (now against), drug legalization (now for), and gay rights (now for).

 

Just about all of those, at some point or another. In my adult years, though, I'd say four.

 

Interesting topic.

I used to be for the death penalty, but changed my mind when I considered the cost of making an error. Furthermore, studies show that it (in its current form) does not act as a deterrant, so I really can't think of a reason why the "positives" (a rather awkward word in this context) outweigh the negatives.

I also used to support an outright banning of all handguns and other non-hunting weapons. However, I feel that such an action runs counter to American culture and would no more successful than prohibition. I still believe that a gun registry would be a good idea.

I haven't changed my mind on the legality of abortion - I think it should be an available option. However, in my own personal sphere, I would do everything I can to convince a loved one to seek another option. I don't know if that counts as a change.

I will admit being a homophobe as a teenager, but having lived with at least one gay roommate in college (I suspect another was in the closet), I got over that pretty quickly. But I can't say that I ever opposed the idea of equal rights for gays.

My opinions on affirmative action and drug legalization have remained the same, though my understanding of both sides of the arguments on these issues is much deeper.

 

subtomic: That's a good way to put it. I haven't changed my bottom line positions on any of those issues since I hit my teen years at least, but I've developed a more complex understanding of the other side WRT to abortion, affirmative action and the death penalty. My bottom line on those issues remains the same but I can completely see the other side and respect it.

I have never understood why someone would oppose gay rights and I still don't. I just find that to be a hateful, untenable position and justifying it with religion does nothing more for me than justifying racism with religion. Since an early age, I have understood that the drug laws do more harm than the drugs themselves. That one's very black and white for me. I've modified my gun control position slightly -- it used to be quite radical. I used to believe all guns should be banned, but if someone feels the need to protect themselves or their family I understand that. There have been times I wished I had one myself. The ROXRAN position that we should all be allowed assault weapons still seems ridiculous to me.

 

I've softened on Capital Punishment, Drug Legalization, and Gay Rights

Hardened on none. Remained firm on the rest.

Abortion rights-- always been pro-Life
Affirmative action-- don't think it is necessary
Capital punishment -- have practically turned against it
Drug legalization -- room for some legalization
Gay rights-- full citizens, right?
Gun control-- am for gun rights but against Uzi proliferation...

 

Thanks for writing my post for me... damn, that is frightening

 

KateBeckinsale7 (man, I'm a slow typist! Short Monikers! Short Monikers!.......... not Stupid Monikers! ), uh, KB7, you didn't say a qualifier, like are you talking about positions you've had as long as you can remember? Or since you were 18? 15?

Anyway, assuming it's after your sophomore year in high school, I can't say I've changed my basic positions on any of those particular issues. Certainly refined them. Clarified them. Muddied them up some. But have basically felt the same about all of them. If you'd asked about some other issues, I wouldn't say that, but going by those 6, yes, they've stayed pretty much the same.

........................

I'm tempted to delete all this stuff... what the hell, I just did.

 

Abortion rights - I have always been pro-choice, although I am further in the gray area now than I have been in the past (thanks mostly to MadMax for forcing me to clarify my stance).

Affirmative action / Racial preferences - I was once totally against AA because I didn't think anyone should be discriminated against, but have since decided that there are some instances where AA is appropriate.

Capital punishment - I am seriously in the gray area here. I know that capital punishment doesn't completely deter murder (obviously), but I believe that the victims family has a right to see their family members death avenged. I am also all over the place on application, since it is predominantly poor people and minorities who get the death penalty. I guess I used to be completely for capital punishment and now see that we should not kill these people unless there is absolutly NO evidence of innocence. IOW, I would be for capital punishment if the system was able to guarantee that only the guilty would be executed.

Drug legalization - Believe it or not, I was once so rabidly prohibitionist that it now disgusts me. I believed that alcohol should also be prohibited again as a result of the damage I have seen alcohol do. I have since found that prohibition causes virtually every harm having to do with drugs, and as such I am for regulating the sales of currently illegal drugs.

Gay rights - I always thought they should have the same rights as anyone else.

Gun control - I once thought that guns should be banned and now see the folly in that position (as I saw the folly in prohibiting other things). I think that reasonable controls should be in place to try to keep guns out of the hands of certain people, but there is no reason that a law abiding person should be barred from owning a weapon for (among other things) home defense, so long as that individual (and members of their household) has been educated as to the use of that weapon.

Gives me a change in 4 of the 6,

 

Abortion rights - no change...except that the more i learn, the stronger my feelings get

Affirmative action / Racial preferences - back and forth a few times. not a major issue with me

Capital punishment - changed...definitely against the death penalty now

Drug legalization - don't think i care all that much

Gay rights - "i still don't know what that means" -- jerry seinfeld

Gun control - changed...much more likely to support gun control measures today than I was in the past.

 

Abortion rights* Am firmly against, and have probably hardened my stance in this regard.

Affirmative action / Racial preferences* CHanged. At first blush I supported it because of it's intent, but when I examined it more I saw that, while a step, it was actually a step in the wrong direction; building the walls we want to tear down higher.

Capital punishment* At one point was vaguely against, but over the years have given this serious thought, and now am as conviced it is wrong as I am about almost anything. On so many levels; moral, practical, ethical, social, intellectual, etc. Just plain wrong.

Drug legalization* Changed my opinion about the same time I developed my own. Bought into the 'Drugs are bad." as an end argument as a kid, but as soon as I considered the exceptions, and the status of people involved ( consenting adults) I realized how ridiculous the laws were. Same goes for prostitution, while we're on the subject.

Gay rights* Simply don't get the legal basis for discrimination, and never will.

Gun control* Was probably indifferent as a kid; like everyone else my favorite game was playing 'guns' for quite a while ( " I shot you! You're dead!"..." No, I was behind a tree!"..." That's not a tree, that's a sapling, I could see you!"..." No, I ducked!"...) But living in the US and Canada as I have, it soon became quite apparent to me that guns are a huge part of the problem. A while later I realized the ridiculous nature of trying to sustain the original rationale for the right to bear arms considering what the government posseses these days.

 

Abortion rights - Against. Abortion does not need to be done except in extreme cases (rape, incest). I don't believe it is actually needed besides that.

Affirmative action / Racial preferences - Against. It's hard being against AA knowing that it has probably helped me in the past some how

Capital punishment - Against. There have been many innocent people put to death and put on death row.

Drug legalization - For. I've always been pro-legalization

Gay rights - For. Nobody, NOBODY should be discriminated against for what THEY choose for THEMSELVES.

Gun control - Never been a real big issue with me. No comment I guess.

 

...
..."Exactly 7 of those issues."................. "Well, uh, zero or six. It depends."

 

Like many of you my thinking about abortion rights and gun control, both of which I support to a certain degree, has broadened. I'm much more open to and interested in other points of view.

With respect to capital punishment (against), drug legalization and gay rights (for both), I am more resolute in my positions now than I ever have been.

So I suppose AA is the only point that I can fairly say I have Kerrymandered over. I once strongly supported AA; now I am circumspect in my opposition.

 

Abortion rights -- Pro-choice
Affirmative action -- Yes
Capital punishment -- No
Drug legalization -- Yes
Gay rights -- Yes
Gun control -- Yes.

 

I'm the same way with gun control. A year ago, I was VERY MUCH for gun control. Now, having lived in gun-happy/crime-free Vermont for three years, I'm not so sure.

 

Abortion rights- Against, although it doesn't keep me up at night either way.

Affirmative action / Racial preferences- Against, everyone should be equal.

Capital punishment- For. Eye for an eye.

Drug legalization-indifferent, I guess.

Gay rights- For. Again, everyone should be equal.

Gun control- indifferent. Most crimes are committed with illegal guns anyway, so what does it matter?

I'm a totally different person politically than I was in college.

 

As i learn more, i suppose i continually modify my position. Some I've never really changed, others i think i have:

Abortion: I understand and respect the 'other side' better. (Thanks max). Still pro-choice. Haven't changed my position.

AA: When I was younger, i was primarily against. It's a tough sell to a struggling young white guy in a tough job/school market, that someone else deserves a boost because of gender or race. When it doesn't directly affect me, i'm much more understanding of it. I now see the need -- though don't always agree with the execution.

Cap Punishment: Have never changed my stance. Against. A moral issue to me -- don't support torture or maiming either -- even if the SOB deserves it.

Drugs: This one i frequently waiver on. I fully understand the benefits of 'harm reduction' and theoretically agree with legalization etc -- but as the drug trade seeps into the neighbourhoods in which i work and live -- i pine for stronger enforcement.

Gay Rights -- again --depends what you mean. Was hesitant on Gay marriage -- primarily because i saw it as a means to extend benefits that were originally intended to protect families with a non-working spouse to couples for whom it was not designed -- but have since changed my stance. Now fully support.

Guns -- no change. Was against. Still am. (Against Guns! For Gun control!!) in case that wasn't clear...

So of the 6; 3 i've held steady -- one i've broadened my definition of what a 'right' is, and two i still struggle with -- though my waivering has more to do with how policy is implemented rather than the theory behind it.

 

I used to be extremely pro-choice and I am now extremely pro-life. On all the other issues, my feelings about them haven't changed that much.