I think this would be an interesting discussion. We all obviously believe very strongly in what we believe - I'm curious to know why. Was it how we were raised? Experiences we have had? People we've met? Were our families politically informed or didn't they care?

I was raised in a pretty politically active family. My folks used to attend Labor party rallies when I was younger (yes, my claim to fame as a child was being kissed by Bob Hawke...lol) and I was always raised to be pretty much of a leftie. Not so much as I am now, though. My Dad's quite conservative and my middle brother is certainly a capitalist...lol.

I was reasonably politically aware (in that I made my own decisions about who to vote for) during my 20s but most of that time I was caught up in my miserable marriage and didn't give it much time or thought.

It wasn't until I met the Chesboy and his family and started learning so much from him and his Mum in particular that I really cemented my political ideology and became quite clear in my own mind where I stood. I guess that also happens with age and motivation to learn, but he has probably had the most significant recent impact on my way of thinking.

It wasn't until I joined this site that I decided to quantify my views and so I suppose I would identify most with the ideology of social democracy. When I'm joking around I call myself a socialist but I'm not, really. I have some pretty conservative views on some things (namely, abortion) but certainly not on others.

I'd really like to hear how the rest of you developed your own political identity.

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We've got rules and maps and guns in our backs, but we still can't just behave ourselves. Even if to save our own lives, we are a brutal kind. The Shins

I read Marx, Gramsci, Lenin, Luxemberg in college in Uni, that pretty much formed my political basis.

Since i was very young and i heard a tonne of conversation amongst my elders about labor and poor treatment of the working class. Sprouting ideas of socialism and taking the rich for a ride.

I thought it was disgusting how if i ever earned a decent living the government could just take away my money and give it to others who didn't put the work in that i did! Ideas developed over time without the help of others around me. Saw religion as something you should be wary of and knew never to tolerate extremist religions. Was actually raised a christian but lost it very quickly.

Made the very quick connection between socialism and poverty, oppression, cruelty and persecution. First time i heard the second amendment it made me ponder but after a while i figured out it was (*)(*)(*)(*) right. I felt strongly about drappy 3rd world countries that will probable be that way for the next hundred years so i figured intervention of these countries was needed..

And that led to what you see today.

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Left sucks! so visit our new group! Obama is a Joke!

Raised around enviromental issues in a fairly poor yet dignified background. Raised Catholic but never frightened by religion, encouraged to think freely. Shrugged off belief in god as you would a coat at around 12, due to thinking about time-travel. Read plenty of fantasy novels with enough heros to know that I liked them and studied enough war to know I hate it, and that those who wage it and other terrible things come from any ideology, but above all they follow whatever makes them powerful, and usually rich. Contrasted that with enlightened ideas of democracy and peace, and just seems obvious its best.

I grew up in an extremely conservative religious family, and became interested in the democratic party during high school and college. Worked as a volunteer on several presidential campaigns. Took a series of jobs working in the inner city and learned a great deal about a side of life I'd never been exposed to. My political beliefs are a mixed bag and grew out of my life experiences. For instance:

1) Abortion - I support reasonable safe medically-based limits on abortion after the 24th week. I support expanded use of the morning-after pill. In general, I oppose abortion and consider it as damaging to women and society as it is to fetuses. --This came from being an adopted kid and having two children of my own (plus a miscarriage).

2) Hawkish foreign policy - came from working in the streets with gang members and understanding that violence is an intrinsic part of life for some countries and people...it is the only language that some of them will ever understand (respect and fear are intertwined).

3) Belief that reforming our educational systems is crucial to economic and racial equality - came from working with inner-city schools and kids.

4) Belief that welfare has caused more harm than good - came from working with inner city families.

5) Pro-environmentalist views - came from being raised on a small, responsible family farm where we raised our own cattle and vegetables.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

All my views come from life experience and logic. I learned that certainly things work and other things do not. I came to cherish freedom and liberty over most anything else. That, of course, comes with a heaping teaspoon of personal responsibility. I learned that joining a team generally means blinding yourself to those things not supportive of your team. Hence, I am not a Republican, Democrat or "Patriot". I am a libertarian, but am not a member of the Libertarian party. Because my views are based on facts and experience I am very open to changing my mind.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Also, I forgot to add that Stekim was highly influential to me in regards to my libertarian views about a number of subjects.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

Awww, shucks. I guess that just makes us both wrong!

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Dude, we're so wrong we're right.

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I'll get nicer when you get smarter.

I've been a Conservative since conception.

Is there any other way?