When I was younger I got into shooting. This was also the time when anti-gun hysteria really took off. At the time, I also was in favour of capital punishment. Since I was just starting out, I didn’t like the taxes being taken from my paycheck. As an off-road motorcyclist who kept to establish trails, I objected to politicians who wanted to close areas to riders.
Now I’m older. I still like to shoot (though it’s kind of boring without friends to shoot with), but there are more important things to me. I was never one of those ‘We have to be armed to protect ourselves from tyranny!’ people. But gun control is way down on my list when it comes time to vote. Not being religious person, the finality of death is uncomfortable. Knowing you will be killed by the State, and when it will happen, just creeps me out. And we don’t need it. We can keep people locked up (more cheaply), and it’s not a deterrent anyway. I see off-road enthusiasts who are not as conscientious as I was, and I see the need to protect certain areas. And I see the benefits of taxes instead of just the personal costs.
I’ve always been anti-war, unless it’s necessary; and I feel a strong military is essential to the country’s interests. But military spending is, IMO, way too high. I’ve always felt that people should receive help when they need it. I used to object to people who ‘would not’ work, but I grew up with ‘They’re not looking for a hand-out; just a hand.’ My thinking has become refined in that I know that some people (some of whom I know personally) will game the system. But social programs are a net benefit, and the deadbeats are just a cost of doing the greater good. I’d be happy to have my taxes go to UHC, as I am happy that some goes to education and infrastructure.
When I was younger I guess I was a ‘moderate’. My anti-war and anti-nuclear weapon stance would lean me toward being a liberal, but my stance on guns and capital punishment would lean me toward being a conservative. Nowadays I’m very liberal. I want a single-payer health care system. I want homosexuals to be able to be married. I want those of great means to support, through their monetary contributions (taxes) the country that allowed them to become so successful. I want people of lesser means to have the resources to improve their lot. I want religion out of our schools, and I want more science in. So in my case, I’ve become more liberal as I’ve aged.
Perhaps then, I have no brain. But I’m happy with a heart.