Since no one else is posting about actually changing political stances I'll post mine even though it doesn't fit the extreme categories.

On abortion I was pro choice: the government has no buisness meddling in that decision. But listening to Ben Shapiro I realized that there is a strong argument that the government has an obligation to protect the life of defenseless children the same as it protects kids from being raped by thier own parents. He makes a lot of good points with regards to a lot of the arguments surrounding the issue, but I was never dumb enough to buy into any of those anyway, so it really just came down to that one point.

With regards to inequality, having gone through chicago public schools I was heavily brainwashed with what is now called critical race theory. As a child the disparities of intelligence, character, integrity, ambition, and work ethic all easily overlooked. The disparities were obvious but seemed so minor, especially when grades were adjusted by teachers and most kids were immature unambitious and preoccupied with games. So it was easy to accept the claims that were made about why there are racial attainment disparities.

Then I grew up and they didn't. I realized at some point that they weren't going to. I watched my extremely diverse group of friends and acquaintances play out thier stereotypes to a T, and I had to accept that stereotypes exist for a reason. I watched as thier decisions shaped thier future. I realized that everything I was told about racist forces determining success was not only wrong but literally the opposite of what was claimed. Minority status afforded horrible people endless second chances, undeserved promotions, and unending leeway for incompetence. The workplace was in fact filled with racism, but it was anti white racism. And despite this racism at every turn white people still outperformed non white peers.

With regards to socialism, it went without question that if I just had the money I could start a buisness and be rich like all the other privileged rich people. Obviously the thing that holds all us poor people back is the oppression of poverty. But when I finally saved enough money to start my own buisness I realized it just isn't that easy. Having grown up poor I never realized how much money average people have. But being a grownup I realize that people regularly buy brand new cars. They go to the movies, buy new clothes, regularly eat at restaurants. The amount of money people spend on alcohol and entertainment is fucking embarrassing.

Every single middle class person makes enough to start thier own buisness. But they don't. It was never about not having enough money. If they had more money they would just buy more toys.

I realized that no amount of redistribution can change peoples nature. Every bit that is redistributed is take from the doers and given to the consumers. Every bit slows down progress and advancement to the detriment of everyone.