Moderate?

[Corn]

Seems like everyone these days state they are "moderate" as if it were something to be proud of.

To me, "moderate" means really not having a passionate opinion about something. I'm not a "centrist", "rightie", or "leftie" either. If anything, I am "extreme" in my opinions--however; some falling to the left, other's to the right.

So, what are you, and what pushes your buttons?

I'll start. Here's a couple things I posted in another thread that I'm passionate about:


I'm for equal rights for all, including gay "marriage", so long as religious institutions are not required to perform these marriages against their will.

I believe it is futile to fight the "war on drugs". Decriminalizing personal consumption of street drugs is a good start--so long as driving/operating heavy machinery remains severly punished.

I'm personally opposed to abortion and if you've had an abortion, please dont tell me about it, because if you do I would never be able to not see you as anything other than a murderer........but it's your right to have one.

I believe that men's clubs should stay men's clubs, unless they decide for themselves to become inclusive of women. I hate Michigan winters because there's no place I can go smoke my cigars and "man act" and gossip without being sensitive to the ears and eyes of nosy up to no good females. [/soapbox] (All because I'm not man enough to insist on a man room in my own home. But since I remain unsuccessful at finding the location of where my wife has buried my balls out in the back yard, wtf am I supposed to do?)

....and most of all, damnit, I'm not a moderate. Call me one and you get the finger.

 

[Stunt]

see my post in other thread

 

[Corn]

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[Gaard]

I've never had an abortion. I'm thinking about having my bunyon shaved, though.

And I hate Michigan winters, also.

 

[DealMonkey]

Corn, yes you're right, you're hardly a social conservative. I meant we tend to butt heads on other stuff. Sometimes I also get you and alchemize confused. He probably riles me up more than you do. And even Al doesn't hold a candle to some of the real social conservobots around here. You know, the ones who just won't shut up in all of the abortion threads.

 

[Corn]

Um, yeah, get that bunion taken care of Gaard.......could be worse, you could have a corn on your toes.

Didn't know you were a Michiganian (hate the term "michigander"). Live in/around Detroit?

 

[Gaard]

Grand Rapids. The dumbest name for a city in the whole country. Why can't I live in PawPaw...now that's a cool name.

 

[Corn]

Ughhhh, Paw Paw......

For 4 years my fundamentalist parents sent me to a 2 week summer camp there: Camp Kaskatowa (probably misspelled). Nothing like summer camp with a fundamentalist christian bent.

Although it wasn't without it's entertaining moments like the one year I had a front row seat to view my little brother breaking his arm. OUCH!!!! I think he still resents our parents for making him stay there for the rest of the trip in a cast, LOL.

That was the 2nd time I got to watch him break that arm. As far as breeding is concerned, I managed to inherit the good coordination, good looks, and highly intelligent genes........my brother.....well he just got the shaft

 

[Gaard]

managed to inherit the good coordination, good looks, and highly intelligent genes........my brother.....well he just got the shaft

Um...it may be that your brother got all that a man needs in life.

 

[Moonbeam]

Seems like everyone these days state they are "moderate" as if it were something to be proud of.
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People eschew extremes as a matter of conditioning, the theory being that you wonder too far from the flock and you get picked off.
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To me, "moderate" means really not having a passionate opinion about something. I'm not a "centrist", "rightie", or "leftie" either. If anything, I am "extreme" in my opinions--however; some falling to the left, other's to the right.
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Seems to me that moderate is just the big part of the bell curve. Nothing really to get wound up about.
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So, what are you, and what pushes your buttons?
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Buttons are just the presence of feelings we are unconscious we are feeling and are shocked to discover when they explode into consciousness through and accidental crack in our armor. To be conscious is to be button free.
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I'll start. Here's a couple things I posted in another thread that I'm passionate about:

I'm for equal rights for all, including gay "marriage", so long as religious institutions are not required to perform these marriages against their will.
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Me too.
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I believe it is futile to fight the "war on drugs". Decriminalizing personal consumption of street drugs is a good start--so long as driving/operating heavy machinery remains severly punished.
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It's so obvious and so far from happening. We are surrounded by morons, Corn.
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I'm personally opposed to abortion and if you've had an abortion, please dont tell me about it, because if you do I would never be able to not see you as anything other than a murderer........but it's your right to have one.
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The fact of your maleness helps you to be extreme here. Carrying Bubba's child of rape for 9 would lend perspective here.
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I believe that men's clubs should stay men's clubs, unless they decide for themselves to become inclusive of women. I hate Michigan winters because there's no place I can go smoke my cigars and "man act" and gossip without being sensitive to the ears and eyes of nosy up to no good females. [/soapbox] (All because I'm not man enough to insist on a man room in my own home. But since I remain unsuccessful at finding the location of where my wife has buried my balls out in the back yard, wtf am I supposed to do?)
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In marriage a man must be either a man of a zero. You have chosen one of the two viable options. I doubt that makes you extreme. But then zero is an extreme lack of number, I suppose.
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....and most of all, damnit, I'm not a moderate. Call me one and you get the finger.
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Probably you are more like typical secular conservative. But there is always hope. You can start by giving up the cigars. Kids don't like watching their beloved, hopefully beloved, parents commit suicide before their eyes. And you are supposed to set a good example. Just because your brother got the shaft doesn't mean you need an ersatz one.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Corn
Seems like everyone these days state they are "moderate" as if it were something to be proud of.

To me, "moderate" means really not having a passionate opinion about something. I'm not a "centrist", "rightie", or "leftie" either. If anything, I am "extreme" in my opinions--however; some falling to the left, other's to the right.

So, what are you, and what pushes your buttons?

I'll start. Here's a couple things I posted in another thread that I'm passionate about:


I'm for equal rights for all, including gay "marriage", so long as religious institutions are not required to perform these marriages against their will.

I believe it is futile to fight the "war on drugs". Decriminalizing personal consumption of street drugs is a good start--so long as driving/operating heavy machinery remains severly punished.

I'm personally opposed to abortion and if you've had an abortion, please dont tell me about it, because if you do I would never be able to not see you as anything other than a murderer........but it's your right to have one.

I believe that men's clubs should stay men's clubs, unless they decide for themselves to become inclusive of women. I hate Michigan winters because there's no place I can go smoke my cigars and "man act" and gossip without being sensitive to the ears and eyes of nosy up to no good females. [/soapbox] (All because I'm not man enough to insist on a man room in my own home. But since I remain unsuccessful at finding the location of where my wife has buried my balls out in the back yard, wtf am I supposed to do?)

....and most of all, damnit, I'm not a moderate. Call me one and you get the finger.

Ok, so to say that both camps have some good points and a combination would be the best means that you have no balls?

Don't worry though, i am sure most people here will call you what you are, a right wing extremist and a fundamentalist.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Corn, yes you're right, you're hardly a social conservative. I meant we tend to butt heads on other stuff. Sometimes I also get you and alchemize confused. He probably riles me up more than you do. And even Al doesn't hold a candle to some of the real social conservobots around here. You know, the ones who just won't shut up in all of the abortion threads.

LOL wooo! I'm better than Corn I'm better than Corn! Hmm let's draw my positions that Corn mentioned, along with a few others...

1) Gay Marriage: I probably differ than Corn on this one, I'm personally against it. If an amendment was placed out for vote, I'd vote my conscience and vote for it. Am I going to freak out if a state legalizes it? No, I don't really care much about the issue. Gays are less than 10% of the population, and they certainly inspire less than 10% of my interest.

2) War on Drugs: Decrminialize, medicalize, and tax. Cure the addicts, or at least supply them with clean needles and cheap drugs. Keep it out of our kids hands, make booze harder to get for kids.

3) Abortion? I'm a little softer on Corn than that. I wouldn't consider someone a murderer if they had an abortion. I would think they made a terrible moral decision. I strongly believe that children under 18 have no right to an abortion without their parents consent. I strongly support stem cell research. That was the first thing Bush did that pissed me off.

4) Man's club: about the same as corn. Same problem with balls, back yard and all.

Other social issues:
Social Security/Welfare: Should be a saftey net. Shouldn't be a handout. I think we could save tons of money that we shell out to perfectly healthy and able people and give it instead to homeless and mental health programs.

Gun control: I support tightening gun control. Guns are dangerous, I don't mind waiting, or registering. I think it is reasonable to limit machine guns, hand grenades, etc. But the "assualt bans" are silly and useless. I support concealed carry licenses as long as you go through a rigourous training course.

Crime: I don't support the death penalty. Let me rephrase. My heart supports the death penalty. My mind does not. Usually my mind wins.

Any requests?

I often try to logically argue the conservative side of the issue on this forum. It doesn't mean I support that position, it means I'm examining its merits.

 

[Orsorum]

Link



Cheers!
Nate

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Two of the biggest Bush supporters on this board posting their opinions and I find I agree with them much, much more than disagree on all points. Yet somehow we are on polar opposite ends when it comes to support of Bush and his presidency.

 

[leeboy]

Originally posted by: Corn
Um, yeah, get that bunion taken care of Gaard.......could be worse, you could have a corn on your toes.

Didn't know you were a Michiganian (hate the term "michigander"). Live in/around Detroit?

I live in Dearborn and Luzerne and never "switched" when "they" told us 20 years or so ago to start calling ourselves Michiganians

I agree with all your points save the abortion issue BTW. Time for legal pot, that is for sure. That or bring back prohibition. I don't drink

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Two of the biggest Bush supporters on this board posting their opinions and I find I agree with them much, much more than disagree on all points. Yet somehow we are on polar opposite ends when it comes to support of Bush and his presidency.

That's because we've only dicussed Social Policy. If we go into Foreign policy, then things get yucky.

PS I assume you are referring to me as a Bush supporter? I do challenge you to find a single thread or quote I've posted that directly "supports" Bush. You might find quite a few Kerry bashes, you'll find me talking about policies I agree with, and questioning others opinions, but you won't find any/many "Bush Supporter" posts.

There is a difference, you see Moonbeam is going to vote for Kerry, even though it befouls his conscience to do so.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Corn
Seems like everyone these days state they are "moderate" as if it were something to be proud of.

To me, "moderate" means really not having a passionate opinion about something. I'm not a "centrist", "rightie", or "leftie" either. If anything, I am "extreme" in my opinions--however; some falling to the left, other's to the right.

Yep. Moderates are eunuchs, plain and simple.

So, what are you, and what pushes your buttons?

My political affiliation is anarchist libertarian, my economic affiliation is Austrian/anarcho-capitalist.

I'll start. Here's a couple things I posted in another thread that I'm passionate about:


I'm for equal rights for all, including gay "marriage", so long as religious institutions are not required to perform these marriages against their will.

You fail to realize that the government shouldn't be involved in marriage at all.

I believe it is futile to fight the "war on drugs". Decriminalizing personal consumption of street drugs is a good start--so long as driving/operating heavy machinery remains severly punished.

I agree, the war on drugs has simply been a vehicle for the government to have an excuse to intrude upon our financial privacy.

I'm personally opposed to abortion and if you've had an abortion, please dont tell me about it, because if you do I would never be able to not see you as anything other than a murderer........but it's your right to have one.

I'm against abortion as well, but I certainly do not believe the government should be involved in this aspect of women's lives.

I believe that men's clubs should stay men's clubs, unless they decide for themselves to become inclusive of women. I hate Michigan winters because there's no place I can go smoke my cigars and "man act" and gossip without being sensitive to the ears and eyes of nosy up to no good females. [/soapbox] (All because I'm not man enough to insist on a man room in my own home. But since I remain unsuccessful at finding the location of where my wife has buried my balls out in the back yard, wtf am I supposed to do?)

I can't claim to have any idea what you are talking about here.

....and most of all, damnit, I'm not a moderate. Call me one and you get the finger.

 

[Perknose]

Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

You should change your screen name to Brownnose.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Two of the biggest Bush supporters on this board posting their opinions and I find I agree with them much, much more than disagree on all points. Yet somehow we are on polar opposite ends when it comes to support of Bush and his presidency.

You probably don't want me to post mine then

I differ from alchemize on one issue. Death penalty - no internal struggle with that one. There are crimes which I feel it's justified to end the life of someone who destroys another's life.

I may be a bit more "hard-line" on the "gay" issue and possibly he Abortion issue too, but I'm definately not one who spends my time worrying about either of those issues. I will vote if it comes up - but I'm far from being an activist about the issues. They aren't central issues to me. Important - yes. Central - not really.

Oh, make that two things....I have my own "man" room. It's full of computers and parts but it's all mine She won't step foot in it if she doesn't have to.

CkG

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: Perknose
Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

You should change your screen name to Brownnose.

I don't kiss anyone's ass anywhere anytime, but if you doubt that fact, just pull down your pants and bend over and we'll see what happens.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: Perknose
Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

You should change your screen name to Brownnose.

I seriously feel a group hug coming on here

Corn, I disagree with your definition of a moderate. Many of us are moderates. Being a moderate doesn't mean your opinion is moderate, but rather you are willing to understand and see both sides of an issue. When you truly close your mind 100% to new information, new data, new arguments, then you've joined the right or left...

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Perknose
Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

Now we should all sit down and sing Kumbaya, pass the waterpipe man.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: Perknose
Corn, (and alchemize, too) are examples of guys who are far more reasonable, warm, intelligent, likable, grounded and well rounded than any cursory reiveiw of a few of their more extreme political posts might lead a person who doesn't otherwise know them to believe.

Sure, they both take no guff and will quickly take you to the mat in a flame war, but neither really takes the whole thing that seriously in the scheme of things. I genuinely like 'em both, and am damned glad I took the time to get to know them a little better outside of the confines of this political gladiator forum.

Oh, and I'd like you all to know that Format C: is a hell of a good guy as well. We've known each other going back to the days of AGN and long before ATOT existed, let alone P&N. I hope the Mods weren't too harsh on him, he's given a lot to this site over the years. :beer:

You should change your screen name to Brownnose.

I seriously feel a group hug coming on here

Corn, I disagree with your definition of a moderate. Many of us are moderates. Being a moderate doesn't mean your opinion is moderate, but rather you are willing to understand and see both sides of an issue. When you truly close your mind 100% to new information, new data, new arguments, then you've joined the right or left...

I'm not a "moderate" and it seems we have similar stances on the issues posted so far. I guess it's all in how one looks at themselves. I know I'm a Conservative, but I'm not too stubborn to realize that there are issues which I break the stereotypical "mold".

Perk - yeah it's too bad that formatC: was yanked. There have been similar posts made by others - he just seems to be the arbitrary "catch" I guess.

CkG

 

[DealMonkey]

Guess I forgot to answer the questions...

Originally posted by: Corn
I'm for equal rights for all, including gay "marriage", so long as religious institutions are not required to perform these marriages against their will.

No problem with gay marriage.

I believe it is futile to fight the "war on drugs". Decriminalizing personal consumption of street drugs is a good start--so long as driving/operating heavy machinery remains severly punished.

I agree.

I'm personally opposed to abortion and if you've had an abortion, please dont tell me about it, because if you do I would never be able to not see you as anything other than a murderer........but it's your right to have one.

Here's where we disagree. I have no problem with the current legalities concerning abortion. Restrictions in the third trimester seem like a reasonable compromise. I'm certainly not going to look down my nose at you for making a personal decision. Nor do I believe it's murder or any such thing.

I believe that men's clubs should stay men's clubs, unless they decide for themselves to become inclusive of women. I hate Michigan winters because there's no place I can go smoke my cigars and "man act" and gossip without being sensitive to the ears and eyes of nosy up to no good females. [/soapbox] (All because I'm not man enough to insist on a man room in my own home. But since I remain unsuccessful at finding the location of where my wife has buried my balls out in the back yard, wtf am I supposed to do?)

I don't really have a problem with this per se. I can certainly see the need for men (AND women) to segregate themselves voluntarily for one reason or another. Women-only health clubs as only one example. I guess it depends on the situation.

....and most of all, damnit, I'm not a moderate. Call me one and you get the finger.

Well, as bad as you make moderates out to be, the word "liberal" has become something of a four-letter word politically. I have no compunctions about being a liberal. Although on various political tests, I usually test out as a "moderate liberal." Somehow that sounds like a double-whammy in this thread at least.

In terms of fiscal issues, I tend to lean more moderate. I really want low taxes AND low spending. Who knows, maybe that makes me a fiscal conservative? I'd rather see our gov't tax and spend, rather than spend and borrow, so who knows where that places me in the fiscal spectrum?

Someone mentioned the death penalty. I'm really anti-death penalty. I have a hard time rationalizing the idea of killing another person to teach people a lesson about killing people. I really feel Europe has the right idea when it comes to the death penalty. It just brings us, as a state, down to the same barbaric level as the killers and other criminals we're trying to punish.

Gun control. I believe that a background check is appropriate to ensure felons don't get their hands on weapons, but I've long since dismissed the idea that guns are responsible for the murder rate in this country. I really feel there's something intrinsically wrong with us as Americans, that we're either a violent people by nature, or perhaps it's a top-down thing, and we've simply learned a poor lesson by watching our own violent government.

Welfare Programs: I believe in a strong safety net. Everyone falls on hard times at some point or another and there should be some method of catching these people before they end up on the streets. Programs designed to get people back to being self-sufficient are great, but I'm by no means in favor of hand outs for those simply too lazy to work. A strong economy and vibrant job market is the best defense against escalating social programs.