What Is Your Political Tilt?

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: ShadesOf"Grey"

Originally posted by: Bowfinger
Good examples. Both are examples of why I consider myself a moderate. I'm probably a bit farther to the "left" on abortion. I personally think even first-trimester abortions should be a last resort, but -- and this is a big but -- my libertarian side says I have no right to impose my views on others. Therefore, as a matter of law, I think abortion decisions should rest with a woman and her doctor. The State should butt out.

Re. gun ownership, I'm perhaps a little more to the "right". I agree with current laws about background checks and registration of handguns, but I acknowledge that this starts us down a slippery slope. Pragmatically, I think it's a good compromise, but not without valid concerns about how it could be abused in the future.

I have a similar mix of ideological beliefs on a host of other issues, some falling to the "right" side of the spectrum, others to the "left". That's why I think it's so ludicrous to insist there's no such thing as a moderate or middle. Many, many people simply do not have such simplistic, predictable, black and white ideologies. The real world is painted in infinite shades of grey.

So if have the exact same positions as you just posted, I am a "moderate" and "middle" too? Call Russert, Rather, and Matthews - I'm in their "important" category. :laugh:

First of all, the "important" category you resent is independents, not necessarily moderates. There is a difference.

As far as you being moderate, if you have a similarly wide-ranging mix of ideological beliefs on a wide variety of issues -- not just two -- then you could also be considered a moderate. If you predominately hold beliefs associated with the "right", then most people would consider you to be on the right. It is the mix on a wide variety of isses that is key, a point I've made and you've ignored many times.

Anyway, I think someone(if not others) seem to be misunderstanding what I have said here. No where did I say there weren't degrees of left or right so this charge of "black and white" is baseless. However, the issue I brought up is what the definition of "middle" is(not what I think right or left is). If it is a stand alone option then it's not a band of left and right or a degree of. Also, to repeat, taking a few issues and saying you are on one side and then on another only makes for "middle" in your head. It may not be the case for others since each person weighs each issue differently. I may not give as much weight to the abortion issue so it only counter-acts a slightly right position on another issue. I don't understand why this is so hard for you to understand Bowfinger, but since you keep arguing it, it is clear you don't.

Echo ... echo ... echo. Yeah, we get it. You don't need to keep repeating your opinions endlessly. I seriously doubt there is anyone here who doesn't understand. It's just that some (many? all?) of us think your opinions are poppycock. We disagree with you. Deal with it. Get over yourself.

Once again, I've offered you two working definitions of "middle". You continue to ignore them, and to evade defining "left" and "right", two terms that are just as subjective and relative. Your continued yammering about me providing yet another definition of "middle" for you to ignore anyway is empty, hypocritical bluster given your repeated failure to define your terms. Either offer something we can discuss or shut up and crawl back under your bridge.

Good night.