Thanks for admitting your YUGE life mistake--that of conservatism--Ron Michelson.  However, it's really not all that unusual as men and women grow older and weaker with age, and begin to feel more vulnerable and thus insecure, to suddenly decide to become conservative.  They want to maintain their comfort level, everything must remain the same because new ideas and changes are scary.  Facts and reason have nothing to do with it--it's all about fear,  distorting reality and coming to grips with ones mortality.  I'm sorry you're so afraid.