You’re Allowed To Change Your Mind

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Sometimes, politicians do that thing where they decide that something they once believed is no longer worth believing. A good example is Hillary Clinton changing her views on same sex marriage. Or rather, “evolving” her views, as some like to say. The problem with this specific example is that no one is sure whether her views actually changed or whether she was bending to political or societal pressure. I’m inclined to believe it doesn’t necessarily matter why she changed her mind, so long as her new views/policies support gay rights.

Politicians have been “changing their minds” since the beginning of politics. Hundreds of politicians have changed party lines, included Hannibal Hamlin (Abe Lincoln’s first VP), John Connally, Mike Pence, etc., who all swung Democrat to Republican. Conversely, Henry George (author of Progress and Poverty), Jay Rockefeller, Hillary Clinton, Harley Rouda, etc., have all swung Republican to Democrat. The list of party changers is extensive, which simply underscores the fickle nature of people and all the things we create, like political structures, and the very imperfect two-party system.

Politicians, we should remember, are people and people are incredibly fickle and prone to changing our minds, which is why it can be difficult to assume an opinion or…