While I was active duty I never knew the political views of my fellow Airmen, we were all just blue. What’s changed?

I think access to information combined with the evolution of the internet and social media has changed the world to include the Military. This along with smart phones speeds up how quickly word travels, how quickly information can be process/consumed and also it creates a massive shortcut where people can go online and voice their opinion. Alot of old timers like to rant that kids today are different but they are in alot of ways. There are kids today who can drink but were born in the year 2000. They weren't exposed to so many things that we were and in reverse they have things availible that we never did. These kids probably never had to worry about never having the internet, never drinking from a well, never having to worry about where their food came from and so many other things.

Social media is one aspect but I also pose that reality TV has also played a part. It seems that people today don't believe they need to have a filter or that conscience on their shoulder telling them that something is TMI or nobody's business. e.g. who you voted for.
Before all this changed, the discussions in the motor pool were about sports, music, cars, video games, and what we were doing this weekend. We never talked much about current events until 9/11.

Perhaps there is a generational aspect to your question. Those of us who resisted running to Canada, and were in DaNang during Tet have clear memories of Uncle Ho Rather, Commie Cronkite and Pinko Peter Arnette explaining what losers we were. Politics was huge, as was our dislike of Johnson and Westmoreland. They were actively trying to kill us. At home, riots in the streets, Weathermen, Black Panthers and Symbionese Liberation Army running amok. National Guard on the streets and in universities. Black Panthers leading mutinies aboard the Constellation and Kitty Hawk. No one lacked opinion. No artificial PC restrictions. Moving forward, quisling Carter, Ronnie Raygun and old "Bush who? " all contributed to spirited conversations. As the saying goes " a bitching sailor is a happy sailor" Of course, in those days, skepticism or a difference of opinion did not make you an extremist. Whatever the hell that is.