re: Top 3 people who have shaped the way you see the world

Politically, if I'm being honest, it's probably Jon Stewart and Bill Maher. I've been watching both for a decade, and was more or less receptive to their views. On the conservative side, probably the ubiquitous George Will or Nick Gillespie at Reason, who along with Ron Paul, made me more open to aspects of libertarianism.

I'm going well beyond your 3 person suggestion now, but I think I absolutely have to include George W Bush, and the blowhards at Fox, for living up to every negative conservative stereotype.