Have you changed your mind on a subject due to the War Room?

[OverCoronavirus Pressure]

Sure!
There are quite a few great posters here and if I'm wrong I can be persuaded so.
Only a fool refuses to change his opinion in the face of better information than he previously had.

 

[Ice That Jaw]

The war room led me to do more research on Bernie Sanders and conclude that even though I'm a centrist swing voter who tends to favor moderates, I now wish I could vote for him. His ultra progressive stuff won't get passed and after that you have a guy who seems genuine about doing something about climate change AND bringing back some manufacturing jobs from these bad trade deals. He also has the balls to call out Wall Street and also call out our banking system for what it is, a monopoly. 5 or 6 banks own nearly everything. I wish he was a little cognizant of our immigration problem but that is the bane of being a centrist. You will never find a candidate that you can completely back because political ideology these days must fit neatly in a box. Bernie still offers the most of the last 3.

 

[Rusk]

Most of my views have changed from realizations and experiences. The only think i can credit directly to the war room is my view on nationalism and patriotism.

I used to be cosmopolitan and now i think fuck that... some groups of people are too different to live in the same country, or even on the same planet.

 

[Social Distance Warrior]

On a serious I have had some great conversations with some knowledgable folks here...

but for the most part, it's my job and personal experiences that have radically changed my views, especially regarding Crime, Criminal Justice, social service programs and the family structure in this country.

I used to be incredibly liberal on all of these subjects.

 

[Final Rehab]

Abortion used to be a gray area for me but now after being part of the warroom discussion I believe late term abortions should be extended up to 30 years out of the womb.

Other than your proposed 30 year limit I'll agree with that.

Seriously I've been put in my place a few times in the WR (not saying by who, you folks know who you are) and I have re-evaluated some of my established positions. I'm not saying that I'm not right about everything, just that the parameters of my correctness have been adjusted in accordance to the incorporation of previously unincorporated data.

 

[tramendous]

i use to think gun supporting americans are normal people now not so much

 

[Jack V Savage]

Jack Savage has convinced me that Hillary Clinton is actually a "non establishment" candidate and that he is an independent and not actually a "liberal democrat."

By mocking independents and clearly identifying myself as a liberal (on multiple occasions, including after you've made this exact same dumb attack), I guess. Good lord are there some dumb posters here...

Before coming the WR, I had *greatly* underestimated the extent to which racial resentments drive political sorting. I should have realized that before, and it was also reading non-WR stuff after coming here that led me to it, but there it is. And the other big thing is that I used to be way more open to the "voting against their interest" criticism. I've come to appreciate to a much greater extent that to status-anxious whites (not necessarily poor, but often), their economic interests aren't the only ones that count and aren't anywhere near the most important ones. I would have been more open to this kind of garbage (quoting Bernie Sanders):

I think if we had a media in this country that was really prepared to look at what the Republicans actually stood for rather than quoting every absurd remark of Donald Trump, talking about Republican Party, talking about hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks for the top two tenths of 1 percent, cuts to Social Security and Medicare, Medicaid, a party which with few exceptions doesn't even acknowledge the reality of climate change, let alone do anything about it, a party which is not prepared to stand with women in the fight for pay equity, a party that is not prepared to do anything about a broken criminal justice system or a corrupt campaign finance system, I think, to be honest with you—and I just don't, you know, say this rhetorically, this is a fringe party. It is a fringe party. Maybe they get 5, 10 percent of the vote.

Conservatives exist. In large numbers. I think they're wrong, but they're passionate about their beliefs and not necessarily unaware of the economic impact of GOP proposals (and not generally enthusiastic about them, either).

There was a recent Atlantic Monthly piece that I think is flawed in some ways, but really important:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/07/how-american-politics-went-insane/485570/

This bit reminds me especially of Hendo, but applies to a lot of people, and would have applied somewhat to me before reading the WR:

Using polls and focus groups, Hibbing and Theiss-Morse found that between 25 and 40 percent of Americans (depending on how one measures) have a severely distorted view of how government and politics are supposed to work. I think of these people as “politiphobes,” because they see the contentious give-and-take of politics as unnecessary and distasteful. Specifically, they believe that obvious, commonsense solutions to the country’s problems are out there for the plucking. The reason these obvious solutions are not enacted is that politicians are corrupt, or self-interested, or addicted to unnecessary partisan feuding. Not surprisingly, politiphobes think the obvious, commonsense solutions are the sorts of solutions that they themselves prefer. But the more important point is that they do not acknowledge that meaningful policy disagreement even exists. From that premise, they conclude that all the arguing and partisanship and horse-trading that go on in American politics are entirely unnecessary. Politicians could easily solve all our problems if they would only set aside their craven personal agendas.

 

[SouthoftheAndes]

The war room led me to do more research on Bernie Sanders and conclude that even though I'm a centrist swing voter who tends to favor moderates, I now wish I could vote for him. His ultra progressive stuff won't get passed and after that you have a guy who seems genuine about doing something about climate change AND bringing back some manufacturing jobs from these bad trade deals. He also has the balls to call out Wall Street and also call out our banking system for what it is, a monopoly. 5 or 6 banks own nearly everything. I wish he was a little cognizant of our immigration problem but that is the bane of being a centrist. You will never find a candidate that you can completely back because political ideology these days must fit neatly in a box. Bernie still offers the most of the last 3.

Bernie is not open borders. He just had to make sure to not upset the far left idiots who are all pro immigration. His record and comments shows he is against mass open border immigration. He likely knows that it dilutes wages, aid's the capitalist in their class warfare tactics and divided people and then takes advantage of immigrants.

Oh and 5 to 6 banks don't own everything. But yeah they are pretty big.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Balancing the budget has become a low priority for me.

Single-payer and UBI are the way of the future.

Bans on particular weapons are ineffective and ignorant cowards worry more about "assault weapons" than handguns.

 

[Chinballs]

Of course it has. Many posters here that are much much more knowledgeable on subjects than I am (shocker I know).

Interesting bits and pieces here and there has made look into various stuff more on my own and it has made me change viewpoint in some subjects.

That's how learning goes I guess.

 

[irish_thug]

The one that stands out is Israel, I used to be vehemently opposed to them, but over time have came to soften my views on them. I still don't agree with a lot of what they do, but now I recognize that a lot of it out of necessity. Or at least the perception of it.

 

[sickc0d3r]

Happens a lot that I'm persuaded enough at least to reconsider my position, although to be fair I'm seldom 100% convinced of any position to being with.

The item that stands out for me is state's rights. I used to be in the camp that believes the term is just a smokescreen for violating civil rights, but now I think most programs should be administered at the state and local levels, with block grant funding and minimum guidelines originating at the federal level only when needed. Granted, being from Colorado also provides a new perspective thanks to a very successful MJ legalization, but I now think the country really benefits when states are laboratories for policy, and I think people's lives are enriched when programs can be tailored more specifically to their varying lifestyles, demographics, and overall wants and needs.

Quick note on that MJ deal... just this week our dog had a tumor removed from her arm and it turned out to be a grade 2 cancerous mast cell tumor. Suddenly I became very interested in ways to prevent cancer from spreading and there is an overwhelming amount of anecdotal evidence in favor of MJ treatment for tumors in dogs. Thanks to my wonderful state I have at my disposal all the high CBD content MJ I could ever ask for, and knowledgeable people to guide me.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

somewhat, sort of, kind of, soften my stance on some downward wealth transfers.

Very much hardened my disdain, skepticism of taking in middle eastern refugees / muslims. Also well as restructured immigration policy.

 

[Ice That Jaw]

Bernie is not open borders. He just had to make sure to not upset the far left idiots who are all pro immigration. His record and comments shows he is against mass open border immigration. He likely knows that it dilutes wages, aid's the capitalist in their class warfare tactics and divided people and then takes advantage of immigrants.

Oh and 5 to 6 banks don't own everything. But yeah they are pretty big.

Dude, I think you need to wind down your defenses. You are reading into things that aren't there.

I'm just making an observation but it's a bit alarming that you deciphered the following...

"I wish he was a little more cognizant of our immigration problem" = supports open borders

"5 or 6 banks own nearly everything." = 5 or 6 banks own everything

 

[HomeRun916]

Def get a lot of different pov's in here. I like the variety.

 

[MiniCraque]

I used to be a pseudo-libertarian, lightweight Ron Paul enthusiast.

I don't think the War Room had that much to do with it though, most of it was just growing up (19 year olds will believe the most bizarre shit).

 

[MiniCraque]

Conservatives exist. In large numbers. I think they're wrong, but they're passionate about their beliefs and not necessarily unaware of the economic impact of GOP proposals (and not generally enthusiastic about them, either).

This. The good thing about interacting with people who hold views vastly opposed to yours is you get a lot of perspective. You learn to weigh ideas (as opposed to people) against each other. Perhaps some people just don't look at the world the same way you do (for a wide variety of reasons, none of which makes them lesser individuals) and that's ok. Engaging them with an open mind can even help cement your previously held stances as you're pushed to reflect on them.

Obviously this doesn't apply to interacting with crazies, which this place is unfortunately full of. All they do is alienate you against intellectually honest people who hold views similar to theirs. At that point you're no better than evangelicals (all who oppose me are evil or just incompetent).

 

[Rygu]

When I joined Sherdog a year ago, I wasn't a huge fan of Islam. Now, a year later, I hate it and wish it would evaporate off this planet.

 

[Phelly2]

Change my mind? Yes, but not all at once.

I *do* often hear viewpoints and facts I had not previously considered. At the end of the day, I still need to time to process those facts and double check them, as well as time to "sleep on it" and re-visit the issue with a clear mind, a fresh perspective, armed with those new facts/opinions I've heard from the War Room before I come to a new conclusion.

But to answer the question more simply, yes. The War Room has changed my mind on certain issues. Maybe not a complete 180, though. Like, I don't go from full pro-gun to full anti-gun, but perhaps I might land somewhere in between.

I'm slowly starting to develop a deep distrust for Islam and its followers, for example.

But don't ever expect me to change my mind on the spot. That would be silly and short sighted of me, in my opinion.

 

[no fat chicks]

The war room led me to do more research on Bernie Sanders and conclude that even though I'm a centrist swing voter who tends to favor moderates, I now wish I could vote for him. His ultra progressive stuff won't get passed and after that you have a guy who seems genuine about doing something about climate change AND bringing back some manufacturing jobs from these bad trade deals. He also has the balls to call out Wall Street and also call out our banking system for what it is, a monopoly. 5 or 6 banks own nearly everything. I wish he was a little cognizant of our immigration problem but that is the bane of being a centrist. You will never find a candidate that you can completely back because political ideology these days must fit neatly in a box. Bernie still offers the most of the last 3.

We don't deserve him.