I like how the child in the first panel grows up to be the protester in the second panel, and the child in the second panel grows up to be the protester in the third panel.
I think I've gotten more conservative in that I now think a democratic system of law and slow progress for a better future is possible via peaceful means, which technically means I'm no longer for radical reform progressivism, and also I've been considering arming myself to protect my family (from Maga terrorists in the event of a civil war). But I'm still left as fuck, bro.
Conservatism the political stance isn't exactly compatible with some aspects of "democratic" or egalitarian ideals. It would be more accurate to say that maybe you consider yourself less progressive but the main throughline of "Conservative" political philosophy since it's establishment as "the right" has been one that has argued that power should not be entirely egalitarian and that the only the "right" people are the only ones who should weild authority. In a monarchist society it's the nobility, in a post monarchist society it means the wealthy intelligencia or the landlords, in a capitalist society it favors the rich and business elite and in a facist society it favors an "us" as opposed to a "them". Another feature is that It also tends to attempt to empower select individuals and focuses on expanding the executive command at the top.
While the right constantly apes the language of the left and it's tactics regularly change when you lay open the very core of the thing it's always got the same authoritarian objective. I posit that "conservative" meaning 'not prone to excess' and "Conservatism" the branch of politics really should stop being conflated at all as everyone and their dog believes that they are rational and not prone to excess and gives the false impression that one endorses the objectives of Conservatism. Since Conservatives thrive on the idea of being a moral majority depriving them of any notion that you actually endorse them is kind of nessisary to combat them.
You should, firearms aren't just for the lunatic conservatives and the more liberal minded people who are willing to learn to defend themselves the better off society will be.
The conservative side loves to pretend they're the only ones willing to fight for something, and I'd rather them not be correct if they ever tried something large scale.
I've seen a few people go from brown nosers, to union men, to "mad about capitalism". Some of them even graduated to "this guy's been reading books", I know only one who's begun pitifully stockpiling arms and ammo and another who joined mutual aid. I'm still quite young, but most lefties of my early adulthood bourgeios white educated American caste are only considering action as a result of Israeli Imperialism and fear of a another world imperial struggle. The vast majorities of these are still socially tolerant neoloberals.
Maybe "becoming conservative" as one grows older means differently to other people. Personally for me, as i grow older, I think it means looking for more stability. Which i can get behind but it doesn't mean i will vote to cut taxes for the rich and austerity. Same as you, I'd stay leftie because i support social justice.
In previous generations, people did on average become more conservative as they got older; people like Bernie Sanders are the exception.
It's less true with newer generations because we aren't accumulating wealth like our parents and grandparents did, and it's the accumulation of wealth that encourages conservatism
My rule of thumb is that sidevolving is easier than improving or degrading.
If you became a dumb conservative, you are statistically more likely to have been a dumb liberal. The problem was with you in the first place and the value you came to represent in the society as a citizen of political sway.
Once you are a radicalized leftist you're not going back to (neo) liberalism. You could downgrade to a social democrat, though. Its unlikely a politically active liberal is going to be so disenfranchised they become reactionary... And your explanation is exactly the reason why. If the political activity is coming from self-centeredness, then that person may resort to reactionary politics at some point.
I don't think it's necessarily succumbing to it. Usually it's more of the fact that you're well established and have money and a house, so you feel that things don't need to change anymore so you end up voting conservative. However since it's seeming more and more likely home ownership and even retirement are too far away to ever be achievable for young people this shifting to conservative as you get older might not happen anymore.
I'm thinking more socially. I grew up learning about the counterculture and hippy movement. And yet, the same generation, i.e. Boomers, that brought those activism now have become (and being stereotyped as) conservative.
I came from a conservative culture. The media from the boomer generation teaches to question authority figures (there was dictatorship at the time). Despite that, many boomers demand unquestionable loyalty respect from younger folks.
Now that I mentioned it, maybe people become conservative once they get to be in position of power.
Exactly! I've seen it in the workplace over the years. Most give up and go-along-to-get-along or face shitty jobs and get passed over for advancements.