My Politics Didn’t Change. Reality Did.

The most dangerous shift isn’t left or right — it’s losing what’s true. See the answer at the end.

How Have My Political Views Changed Over Time?
(Short answer: they really haven’t.)

People like to think we all go through these big political transformations in life — we start young and liberal, then somewhere along the way we buy a lawn mower and suddenly become conservative. That’s the stereotype, right?

Not me.

I’ve always sat in the same place — what I call a compassionate conservative. Not left of center. Not center. Not far-right. And definitely not in the fantasy land of libertarians who think we could abolish roads, fire departments, and every regulation and somehow society would run smoother. I live in the real world with real people, where common sense actually matters.

I grew up in a post-WWII America where we were proud of our country, where neighbors looked out for each other, where we helped the poor without pretending money grows on trees. We taught responsibility, rewarded effort, and believed a rising tide should lift all boats — not just the yachts.

And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned something else that strengthened those beliefs: not everyone has the same opportunities, health, support system, or life circumstances that I did. Some people struggle through no fault of their own. They aren’t lazy or “making bad choices” — life just hits harder sometimes. These people deserve a safety net, real help, and compassion that gives them dignity, not judgment. I would rather see increased minimum wage than handouts — we should reward self-sufficiency, work ethic, and strong families.

At the same time, I believe large corporations need rules, oversight, and accountability. Without laws and guardrails, the powerful tend to take advantage of everyone else. The free market works best when it’s fair — when competition lifts people, not crushes them. I’ve seen what happens when one company owns the entire chain — from production to distribution to sales. That’s how monopolies form, and when that happens, prices rise, quality drops, and the consumer gets squeezed. No single company should control an entire industry or dictate the rules that everyone else must follow.

And while the private sector is better than government at running most things, history has shown that certain essential resources simply cannot be left entirely to profit motives. Energy, communications, the airwaves, roads, water and sewer systems, and even healthcare require strong government oversight — or in some cases, direct control — to protect the public interest. I am not a socialist by any stretch, but some public institutions must be safeguarded so they serve people, not just shareholders.

And I believe people should have the freedom to live the life they want — love who they love, work how they work, worship how they worship — as long as they don’t force their beliefs or choices onto others. Freedom is a two-way street: you live your life, I’ll live mine, and we respect the line between.

And being a third-generation immigrant, I understand firsthand how important immigration is to this country. My grandfather arrived here from Italy at the turn of the 20th century as a stone mason. He worked hard, built a life, and loved this country that gave him opportunity. We absolutely need immigrants — America has always been built by them — but immigration must be legal, controlled, and beneficial to the nation. We should welcome those who want to contribute, obey our laws, chase the American dream, and take pride in being a part of this great country.

I still believe in:

• Law and order
• Fiscal responsibility — the government shouldn’t spend money like it’s on a casino run
• Helping those who truly need help
• Borders that are strong but fair
• Opportunity earned through hard work
• Respect for America’s values and traditions
• Fair rules so the powerful don’t run the show unchecked

Those principles guided my parents, they guided me when I became a father, and they guide me now as a grandfather watching a world that seems determined to forget what worked.

Politics today feels like a circus — shouting instead of solving, scoring points instead of fixing problems. And somehow the sane middle ground got erased. You either get labeled a radical or a traitor depending on which team is yelling louder that day.

And the one thing that has changed for me is how social media — and now AI — can twist reality at lightning speed. We are constantly fed misinformation, false narratives, and manufactured outrage. Suddenly we’re told “everyone” believes something, when in truth it’s a loud minority with a megaphone. This creates a fake picture of what America actually thinks. And that’s dangerous — elections can be swayed, wars can start, economies can panic, and massive protests can erupt based on lies. The rules have changed. We are being manipulated by algorithms designed to provoke, not inform. It has never been easier to fool the public — or harder to know what’s real.

So when someone asks how my political views changed over time… they didn’t.

The world changed — I stayed steady.

I still believe in compassion without chaos. Strength without cruelty. Freedom with responsibility. America at its best.

That’s where I’ve always stood — and that’s where I’m staying.