My Evolving Political Beliefs and The Republican Party

[Jadow]

Ok, this last election caused me to do some introspection and I've re-evaluated some positions I've held for a long time. Hopefully my fellow republicans can do the same.

Taxes - I used to be against any tax increases, I've thrown in the towel on that one, and don't think these changes will kill anyone. Go ahead and expire the Bush tax cuts for households over 250k, and let cap gains go up. Leave dividend rate alone. Eliminate EITC so people can't get a bigger refund than what they paid in.

Healthcare - repealing Obamacare ain't going to happen, let it go. Try to make tweaks, and common sense changes when we can. Still need tort reform.

Gay Marriage - let the states do what they want to do, it's not a federal issue. If it becomes a federal issue, just let the gays marry. I haven't really changed on this point.

Abortion - I'm pro life and will always be, but am ok with it for rape, incest, or LIFE of the mother (not "health" of the mother since that is too vague and they could say anything is for the "health").

Contraception, this was a ridiculous argument all along. people can do whatever they want, I just don't think the tax payer needs to subsidize it. The Repubs did not articulate this position well at all.

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.

Defense - cut spending, reduce the number of flag officers.

Medicare and Social Security - phase in age increases, do not increase payroll tax

Deficit - cutting spending should be the primary method of reducing it, with some tax increases (as mentioned above). All for a balanced budget amendment with a cap on what % of GDP government spending is.

PBS, NPR, and the NEA - eliminate federal funding for them, they are not valuable enough that we need to borrow money to pay for them.

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

 

[DukeN]

LOL neocons would call you an elitist liberal for about 90% of that post.

 

[umbrella39]

I agree with 90% of what you typed and don't feel your ideas should be viewed as radical by any sense of the word. I really like the notion of a less far right platform. It's a loser and always will be. I consider myself 7/8th republican but there have always been a handful of positions I simply can't jive with. Throw a more centrist candidate out there in 2016, one that knows you cannot hold the country hostage if someone dares breech the topic of raising taxes and knows that you have to work with both sides of the aisle if we are going to fix the problems were are facing.

Sadly, though, I don't think the GOP is quit yet ready to abandon the ever progressing to the far right message they are sending, nor do I think the most ardent fanboys posting here have any plans on compromise. The further to the right the better...

 

[3chordcharlie]

This is probably a good platform for a Republican revival. To capture the small-c conservative vote, Republicans need to severely dial down on the social rhetoric.

Abortion, for the moment is a dead issue. It needs to be treated as such, as much as possible. If nothing else, some party discipline so that no 'off the cuff' remarks scuttle campaigns.

Contraception is a good place for a utilitarian approach - it would be much cheaper to pay for contraception (income-tested?) than to one way or another, end up supporting unplanned children with parents who can't support them. There's no right/wrong argument here, it's more of a numbers game.

 

[Jadow]

LOL neocons would call you an elitist liberal for about 90% of that post.

I read Bill Kristol's piece over the weekend, and he sounded pretty close to what I'm saying.

My overriding political stance is reduce the size and scope of government. Neither party has even attempted to do that historically, so I know I'm kinda screwed there.

 

[soulcougher73]

I agree with most of what you said. I think what is killing republicans the most are social issues (let them go already) and not wanting to raise taxes on the wealthy. Why they dont want that is beyond me since most GOP are middle class to lower class and will never see $250k in their life times. So the tax increase wont affect them just as it wouldnt affect me.

 

[soulcougher73]

I read Bill Kristol's piece over the weekend, and he sounded pretty close to what I'm saying.

My overriding political stance is reduce the size and scope of government. Neither party has even attempted to do that historically, so I know I'm kinda screwed there.

Yeah neither side wants to reduce their powers, but one side (GOP) loves to talk as if they do. Makes them hypocrits, which there is nothing worse in life than a hypocrit. GOP needs to start walking the talk on fiscal responsibility.

 

[Juddog]

Ok, this last election caused me to do some introspection and I've re-evaluated some positions I've held for a long time. Hopefully my fellow republicans can do the same.

Taxes - I used to be against any tax increases, I've thrown in the towel on that one, and don't think these changes will kill anyone. Go ahead and expire the Bush tax cuts for households over 250k, and let cap gains go up. Leave dividend rate alone. Eliminate EITC so people can't get a bigger refund than what they paid in.

Healthcare - repealing Obamacare ain't going to happen, let it go. Try to make tweaks, and common sense changes when we can. Still need tort reform.

Gay Marriage - let the states do what they want to do, it's not a federal issue. If it becomes a federal issue, just let the gays marry. I haven't really changed on this point.

Abortion - I'm pro life and will always be, but am ok with it for rape, incest, or LIFE of the mother (not "health" of the mother since that is too vague and they could say anything is for the "health").

Contraception, this was a ridiculous argument all along. people can do whatever they want, I just don't think the tax payer needs to subsidize it. The Repubs did not articulate this position well at all.

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.

Defense - cut spending, reduce the number of flag officers.

Medicare and Social Security - phase in age increases, do not increase payroll tax

Deficit - cutting spending should be the primary method of reducing it, with some tax increases (as mentioned above). All for a balanced budget amendment with a cap on what % of GDP government spending is.

PBS, NPR, and the NEA - eliminate federal funding for them, they are not valuable enough that we need to borrow money to pay for them.

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

Your post makes too much sense - be prepared to be cast out from the Republican base.

 

[techs]

Two years ago when I said a majority of Republicans would vote to ban contraception if they could be sure of a victory I got laughed at.

 

[yllus]

Very reasonable, logical positions. I hope you engage your state and federal politicians and ask them to push each of them.

 

[bignateyk]

Disagree on the contraception. It's a hell of alot cheaper to subsidize contraception than it is to pay for 18 years of welfare.

Republicans just stick their head in the sand and try to claim that they shouldn't have to pay for anything. Meanwhile back in reality, those of us with a brain realize that in a first world country you are going to have to pay for it in one way or another. Subsidizing contraception and funding sexual education (NOT ABSTINENCE EDUCATION) is the only logical choice.

 

[Moonbeam]

I don't give a shit how big government is so long as it's effective and fast acting. One major problem with conservatives what to slow everything down in a time when change is ever accelerating. With conservatives in power we will be preserving steam ships while the rest of the planet will be harvesting asteroids in space. We need technocrats not Luddites running the country. You folks just can't keep up.

 

[zanejohnson]

i could go for that

 

[Engineer]

Ok, this last election caused me to do some introspection and I've re-evaluated some positions I've held for a long time. Hopefully my fellow republicans can do the same.

Taxes - I used to be against any tax increases, I've thrown in the towel on that one, and don't think these changes will kill anyone. Go ahead and expire the Bush tax cuts for households over 250k, and let cap gains go up. Leave dividend rate alone. Eliminate EITC so people can't get a bigger refund than what they paid in.

Healthcare - repealing Obamacare ain't going to happen, let it go. Try to make tweaks, and common sense changes when we can. Still need tort reform.

Gay Marriage - let the states do what they want to do, it's not a federal issue. If it becomes a federal issue, just let the gays marry. I haven't really changed on this point.

Abortion - I'm pro life and will always be, but am ok with it for rape, incest, or LIFE of the mother (not "health" of the mother since that is too vague and they could say anything is for the "health").

Contraception, this was a ridiculous argument all along. people can do whatever they want, I just don't think the tax payer needs to subsidize it. The Repubs did not articulate this position well at all.

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.

Defense - cut spending, reduce the number of flag officers.

Medicare and Social Security - phase in age increases, do not increase payroll tax

Deficit - cutting spending should be the primary method of reducing it, with some tax increases (as mentioned above). All for a balanced budget amendment with a cap on what % of GDP government spending is.

PBS, NPR, and the NEA - eliminate federal funding for them, they are not valuable enough that we need to borrow money to pay for them.

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

I'm Engineer and I approve this message (i.e. I agree on most of it )!

:thumbsup:

 

[techs]

Well, to be fair the Republicans had a plan for all the children born from failed abstinence, no contraception and criminalizing abortion.
They called it repeal of child labor laws.

 

[Jadow]

Disagree on the contraception. It's a hell of alot cheaper to subsidize contraception than it is to pay for 18 years of welfare.

Republicans just stick their head in the sand and try to claim that they shouldn't have to pay for anything. Meanwhile back in reality, those of us with a brain realize that in a first world country you are going to have to pay for it in one way or another. Subsidizing contraception and funding sexual education (NOT ABSTINENCE EDUCATION) is the only logical choice.

disagree, but it's not an issue I feel that strongly about, so I won't go to the mat on this one.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

While I don't agree with all of it (the abortion and public broadcasting in particular), it's a very sound platform, and I certainly wouldn't call any of it "radical'. Heck, outside of Big Bird, abortion and the balanced budget amendment, a lot of this sounds like Obama's platform.

 

[nehalem256]

Disagree on the contraception. It's a hell of alot cheaper to subsidize contraception than it is to pay for 18 years of welfare.

Republicans just stick their head in the sand and try to claim that they shouldn't have to pay for anything. Meanwhile back in reality, those of us with a brain realize that in a first world country you are going to have to pay for it in one way or another. Subsidizing contraception and funding sexual education (NOT ABSTINENCE EDUCATION) is the only logical choice.

Just legalize prostitution. Its basically the same thing. You just cut out the middle man.

EDIT: Not to mention that a minimum of 20% of all births in the US are to women who planned to get pregnant, but cannot feed their baby.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Ok, this last election caused me to do some introspection and I've re-evaluated some positions I've held for a long time. Hopefully my fellow republicans can do the same.

Taxes - I used to be against any tax increases, I've thrown in the towel on that one, and don't think these changes will kill anyone. Go ahead and expire the Bush tax cuts for households over 250k, and let cap gains go up. Leave dividend rate alone. Eliminate EITC so people can't get a bigger refund than what they paid in.

Healthcare - repealing Obamacare ain't going to happen, let it go. Try to make tweaks, and common sense changes when we can. Still need tort reform.

Gay Marriage - let the states do what they want to do, it's not a federal issue. If it becomes a federal issue, just let the gays marry. I haven't really changed on this point.

Abortion - I'm pro life and will always be, but am ok with it for rape, incest, or LIFE of the mother (not "health" of the mother since that is too vague and they could say anything is for the "health").

Contraception, this was a ridiculous argument all along. people can do whatever they want, I just don't think the tax payer needs to subsidize it. The Repubs did not articulate this position well at all.

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.

Defense - cut spending, reduce the number of flag officers.

Medicare and Social Security - phase in age increases, do not increase payroll tax

Deficit - cutting spending should be the primary method of reducing it, with some tax increases (as mentioned above). All for a balanced budget amendment with a cap on what % of GDP government spending is.

PBS, NPR, and the NEA - eliminate federal funding for them, they are not valuable enough that we need to borrow money to pay for them.

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

I consider myself a moderate conservative as I believe in being fiscally conservative and socially moderate so I'm on the same page with your recommendations above. Let me add the following:

I also agree we need to have a path to legal immigration while also reducing the time for family members waiting to get into the US. (It took 18 months for my wife and daughter to get immigration visas/green cards in 2008/2009).

I think PBS, NPR, and the NEA can seek donations from the masses that would be tax free to maximum of $1,000 (person or business).

 

[nehalem256]

I agree with most of what you said. I think what is killing republicans the most are social issues (let them go already) and not wanting to raise taxes on the wealthy. Why they dont want that is beyond me since most GOP are middle class to lower class and will never see $250k in their life times. So the tax increase wont affect them just as it wouldnt affect me.

What is killing the Republican party is their unwillingness to raise taxes on those making $250k+. Even if they get 95% of everything else they wanted.

After they took the house in 2010 they could have done this and then gone into the 2012 election having shown they can actually govern and having a vision beyond not-Obama. Combined with banning all use of the r-word they would have easily taken over Congress. And if Obama still won he would have been little more than a Republican puppet.

 

[nehalem256]

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.
.

All illegals should be permanently barred for US citizenship. If we cant deport them grant them legal residency, but not citizenship.

 

[RabidMongoose]

THey should cut defense spending, raise taxes on the wealthy, and then send all of the money to PBS to piss off the Republicans. Broadcast Big Bird in 3D.

 

[monovillage]

Ok, this last election caused me to do some introspection and I've re-evaluated some positions I've held for a long time. Hopefully my fellow republicans can do the same.

Taxes - I used to be against any tax increases, I've thrown in the towel on that one, and don't think these changes will kill anyone. Go ahead and expire the Bush tax cuts for households over 250k, and let cap gains go up. Leave dividend rate alone. Eliminate EITC so people can't get a bigger refund than what they paid in.

Healthcare - repealing Obamacare ain't going to happen, let it go. Try to make tweaks, and common sense changes when we can. Still need tort reform.

Gay Marriage - let the states do what they want to do, it's not a federal issue. If it becomes a federal issue, just let the gays marry. I haven't really changed on this point.

Abortion - I'm pro life and will always be, but am ok with it for rape, incest, or LIFE of the mother (not "health" of the mother since that is too vague and they could say anything is for the "health").

Contraception, this was a ridiculous argument all along. people can do whatever they want, I just don't think the tax payer needs to subsidize it. The Repubs did not articulate this position well at all.

Immigration, Secure borders, create a path to citizenship for illegals, but put them in the back of the line. The first step on the path is getting them SSNs and into the tax system so they aren't part of a cash based labor black market. Don't make them leave the country like Romney said.

Defense - cut spending, reduce the number of flag officers.

Medicare and Social Security - phase in age increases, do not increase payroll tax

Deficit - cutting spending should be the primary method of reducing it, with some tax increases (as mentioned above). All for a balanced budget amendment with a cap on what % of GDP government spending is.

PBS, NPR, and the NEA - eliminate federal funding for them, they are not valuable enough that we need to borrow money to pay for them.

Are any of these radical right wing ideas? I think this would be a winning platform for repubs, and most of them are not to far off from what most repubs believe, they just need to do some tweaking IMO.

Well said, I'm more pro-abortion than you are, but reasonable people disagree all the time. I'm also more of a fair trader that a free trader, but an excellent Republican/conservative platform. We need to make lower levels of healthcare cheaper and more accessible to everyone.

 

[sandorski]

Reasonable positions.

 

[zinfamous]

Disagree on the contraception. It's a hell of alot cheaper to subsidize contraception than it is to pay for 18 years of welfare.

This and PBS/NPR. They are indeed extremely valuable resources. They are for the public good in terms of education and keeping the citizenry informed. The cost of PBS/NPR for the feds is so negligible that it warrants little discussion.

It is the only truly unbiased news source that we have, and the content is so varied and unimaginably useful to anyone that engages it, that it should be recognized as a valued national resource.