Jamsco admits to traveling at least part way down this process with regards to libertarianism:
Changing Your Mind: The Steps
(One route – in 16 parts)1. Experience pride that you have your mind made up on the issue at hand
2. Hear the differing opinion of a person with whom you disagree (the ‘opponent’) and disregard it as crazy
3. Hear the differing opinion of the opponent – think ‘Okay, valid points, but still wrong’
I always find it interesting to watch as conservatives gradually move towards libertarianism. They say that a conservative is a liberal who has been mugged; in like manner, a libertarian is a conservative who realizes that the government is the biggest mugger of all.