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Anandtech Political Demographics (Poll)

W

WooDaddy

Senior member
Ok.. I'm just curious here.

I see people taking sides - Liberal, Conservative, Neocon (wtf?) but I wonder what you feel makes you part of that group. See, I think people here who are part of one group have a hard time understanding why someone is of another.. hell, you might even have a hard time figuring out who you are.

Liberal means the following and I quote liberalism from the meriam-webster dictionary:

a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard
a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties
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Now here is conservatism

disposition in politics to preserve what is established
a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
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I could not find a clear defination of moderate but here goes:

professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
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Edit: Here's the definition of neoconservatism from Wikipedia

Neoconservatism refers to the political goals and ideology of the "new conservatives" in the United States, characterized by hawkish views on foreign policy and a lesser emphasis on social issues and minimal government than other strains of American conservatism.
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So here's the request. Say who you are and why. Give reasons such as neighborhood, upbringing, life experiences, career/profession, age, etc. Not all, just what you think is defining enough to classify yourself.

I will make no comments until after this post.

..and PLEASE keep the personal attacks to a minimum. Let's not get this thread locked.
 
Shoot, I vote before I read your definitions.

I chose liberal, based on the fact that I support the Rawlsian beleif that every policy should be informed by the goal that it should maximize the benefits and/or opportunities afforded to those with the worst initial allocation of resources, tempered with a fundamental belief in certain universal human rights.
 
Originally posted by: Kibbo
Shoot, I vote before I read your definitions.

I chose liberal, based on the fact that I support the Rawlsian beleif that every policy should be informed by the goal that it should maximize the benefits and/or opportunities afforded to those with the worst initial allocation of resources, tempered with a fundamental belief in certain universal human rights.
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Edit: This is sort of the modern definition of liberalism. Your definition is closer to the Neo-liberal view, in that it is closer to the original definition. I think that the Gold standard is something even most old-school liberals would not support, as long as they could guarantee an independant Central Bank.

Given those definitions, there would be no room for someone who believed in redistribution or economic equity as a moral "good" in itself. The closest would be the conservatives, who traditionally would support some measure of social programs in order to maintain political stability. This is why Bismarck instituted the first modern welfare state, and (arguably) why Roosevelt significantly expanded the US welfare state. Give to the poor in order to make it safe to be rich.

Sorry for the DP, pressed the wrong button. It doesn make my post seem less long-winded, though.
 
Great post.

I had to read it twice. I actually wasn't expecting that defined of an answer but I'm glad you did. I was expecting a billion posts of people saying "I'm a liberal because we need to help the poor" and that's it.

Your point on conservatism with reference to Bismark and Roosevelt is very intuitive and makes a lot of sense. Does that mean liberal thought is converse?

Also, I agree that the Gold standard is out of date. I'll edit that. Can you give me a link to a place that has a (concise) version of liberalism that is more modern?

Thanks
 
Who's the guy that said you have to look at issues through the veil of ignorance where you suppose everyone could be popped at any status-level in society?
 
Wow... I was going to say I was a liberal, but after checking out Wikipedia, I'm not sure. Self-discovery... hopefully I'm not the only one here going through this.
 
Originally posted by: Infohawk
Who's the guy that said you have to look at issues through the veil of ignorance where you suppose everyone could be popped at any status-level in society?
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John Rawls, dude.

Quit going off topic. *snicker* What's your position?
 
Oh man the moderate option was a cop-out. Have you ever noticed how people who call themselves moderate never are? Pretty much eveyrone leans at least a little bit to one side or the other. Sure, on some issues you'll side with teh other party (like I do with affirmative action), but I just don't buy people who call themselves moderates.
 
Originally posted by: Infohawk
Oh man the moderate option was a cop-out. Have you ever noticed how people who call themselves moderate never are? Pretty much eveyrone leans at least a little bit to one side or the other. Sure, on some issues you'll side with teh other party (like I do with affirmative action), but I just don't buy people who call themselves moderates.
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First of all, the parties in the US are hardly representative of the political spectrum. They are both basically liberal, with a (relatively) minor difference of opinion on how much and what kind of interference in the economy. The Republicans are only truly conservative in thier support of religious guidence in political affairs.

Also, the Democrats have broadened their tent in order to include some social liberals.

A moderate is not someone who flipflops between the parties, it is someone who adopts a centrist, pragmatic view. In a way, both US parties are centrist. Though each must ocdcasionally espouse policies from their extreme ranks in order to maintain their suppot on those magins.
 
I can think for myself and have come to realize that there is a right and a wrong, in most cases. I do not live in a delusional world where everything is butterflys and flowers and I do not need some kind of esoterical phoney baloney definition produced by some socially minded psycho idiot with more education than common sense.

In the USA we have tried for years to make life better for the poor and the underprivlidged, but life for them is worse because of it. When you pay a woman to have a child it just promotes more unwed women to have children, which in turns breaks down the structure of the family and makes people dependent on the government. I would rather spend money to keep families together the way they are suppose to be. Liberal ideas that degrade and destroy family values are just wrong.

When you pay a woman to have sex outside of marriage that is called prostitution. Welfare is prostitution. Women can be better served by teaching them that they need to have respect for themselves and their bodies. There is no constitutional right to a free ride.

Dont ask what the country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.
 
I am a moderate who leans slightly to the left. I think you can be a moderate if you admit you do lean a bit one way or the other.

I was once very liberal but then I had children, which changed me quite a bit. So, I am the sum total of my life experiences... and that has led me to be about as moderate as one can be, given we all do have biases.
 
Originally posted by: Infohawk
Oh man the moderate option was a cop-out. Have you ever noticed how people who call themselves moderate never are? Pretty much eveyrone leans at least a little bit to one side or the other. Sure, on some issues you'll side with teh other party (like I do with affirmative action), but I just don't buy people who call themselves moderates.
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we agree on something. i think this poll should be remade without the moderate option
 
I like this thread, and the Wikipedia link. That is very informative, and taught me alot about both liberalism and conservatism. I hope this can continue to be a fair discussion about the philosophy behind political theory, and not resort to name calling (like the flaming liberals tend to do). :laugh: HA, just kidding!
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: Infohawk
Oh man the moderate option was a cop-out. Have you ever noticed how people who call themselves moderate never are? Pretty much eveyrone leans at least a little bit to one side or the other. Sure, on some issues you'll side with teh other party (like I do with affirmative action), but I just don't buy people who call themselves moderates.
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we agree on something. i think this poll should be remade without the moderate option
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Yeah yeah.. I know... Lemme see if I can do that.

Hows about I add insane to fit the Keyes supporters? 😉
 
Originally posted by: piasabird


In the USA we have tried for years to make life better for the poor and the underprivlidged, but life for them is worse because of it.
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Actually, the standard of life for the poor in the US has gotten significantly better in the past 50 years.

The standard of life for the poor in other developped nations with stronger welfare states is even better.

Speak with facts, not impressions gained from the media.
 
Originally posted by: heartsurgeon
conservative

why?

i'm an adult and a taxpayer...that's why.
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I rate your troll as a 2/10. Nice try though.

OP, you can solve the moderate option by adding a new question asking, if you voted moderate, which one do you lean most towards: left or right.
 
In the USA we have tried for years to make life better for the poor and the underprivlidged, but life for them is worse because of it.
Click to expand...

we are the only country in the world where "poor people" are fat.

unless you've been to a third world country...you've got no idea of what poor is...
 
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