Why are you a liberal? Or conservative? Or somewhere between?

[FrodoB]

I would love to know what issues shape people's political and societal beliefs.

For example... I'm just to the right of center...
1. I believe in limited government because imo that is the highest form of individual freedom. I hate the idea of government forcing me to distribute my earnings through excessive taxes. THere is so much fat to trim. I should be the decision maker in distributing my money to causes that I believe in. I also hate the idea of relying on the government to fullfill my needs rather than self-reliance. There are so many people trapped in poverty because they receive just enough from the government to survive without learning how to self enpower themselves.
2. I am firmly pro-life. The main purpose of the government is ensuring freedom. This early form of life is being robbed of its FREEDOM to develop into a fully functional human being. It's murder. A side effect of this is that it encourages unprotected sex.
3. I believe in freedom of religion. THere are elements on the liberal side trying to impose their form of religion - atheism.

I also share some typically liberal beliefs.
I believe in protecting the environment - recycling, conservation of energy, delopment of alternative energy, and doing what we can do limit pollution in a reasonable manner that will not destroy our economy.
I also believe in health care for every citizen. I have no specific ideas for this, but I'd like to see it happen with very minimal government involvement.

In my experience, people on the far left and the far right are exactly the same... delusional and crazy. I have religious family members that like to impose their beliefs on others. I also have some very liberal friends that blame their job situations on Bush and evil corporatoins rather than making the effort to improve their situations.

 

[Witling]

This thread is flame bait and a half. But, being in early on the thread, the phrase "Tyrolean Butthead" leaps to mind. Let's try a few other issues.

You're against death at the beginning of life, how are you on the death penalty?

Less government control, more freedom. Does that mean you're OK with gay civil unions?

EDITED: And by the way, everyone is "somewhere in between."

 

[sMiLeYz]

I believe you are a moderate, sir.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

There's no such thing as a moderate pro-lifer.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
There's no such thing as a moderate pro-lifer.

oh ok...what is the definition of a moderate?

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Don't have the time or energy to try and type that out, but it's certainly not someone who wants the government involved in a woman's pregnancy.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Don't have the time or energy to try and type that out, but it's certainly not someone who wants the government involved in a woman's pregnancy.

Damn right. That's my job.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Don't have the time or energy to try and type that out, but it's certainly not someone who wants the government involved in a woman's pregnancy.

So no one is a moderate then? Because those who think people should have the right to choose to kill their own creation are certainly not "moderate" IMO.

- just giving the obvious rebuttal of what you posted.

CkG

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: CADkindaGUY

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Don't have the time or energy to try and type that out, but it's certainly not someone who wants the government involved in a woman's pregnancy.

So no one is a moderate then? Because those who think people should have the right to choose to kill their own creation are certainly not "moderate" IMO.

- just giving the obvious rebuttal of what you posted.

CkG

Hey, I'm really no fan of abortion, but it is a social issue. Even though the 'conservatives' have hijacked it to pander to a special interest, government control of social issues is extremely liberal at least in the classic sense of the word.

 

[nutxo]

I'm in the middle. I don't like either party.

Im against the death penalty but for abortion.

I feel the government has no right to impose a sentence that is the same as what it calls a crime.

I'm for abortion. I think it's gonna be mostly future white trash liberals getting killed by abortion anyways.

 

[FrodoB]

Originally posted by: Whitling
This thread is flame bait and a half. But, being in early on the thread, the phrase "Tyrolean Butthead" leaps to mind. Let's try a few other issues.

You're against death at the beginning of life, how are you on the death penalty?

Less government control, more freedom. Does that mean you're OK with gay civil unions?

EDITED: And by the way, everyone is "somewhere in between."

I am undecided about the death penalty. I don't care about gay marriage, but I am firmly against gays raising children.
Not everyone is somewhere in between. You must live in a box.

 

[heartsurgeon]

in my Universe...I define the "center"

therefore I am a Centrist. There are people to the right and left of me, but i speak with the voice of the everyman who yearns to be free.

 

[wkabel23]

Originally posted by: nutxo
I'm in the middle. I don't like either party.

Im against the death penalty but for abortion.

I feel the government has no right to impose a sentence that is the same as what it calls a crime.

I'm for abortion. I think it's gonna be mostly future white trash liberals getting killed by abortion anyways.

I'm for idiots who make stupid generalizations!

I'm left because I feel liberal policies are the best for the total welfare of the country and imo, I don't think the current conservative in office has done a good job all around.

Against privatization, pro-choice, anti-patriot act, etc.

Oddly the first poster wants more individual freedom yet he probably supports the Patriot Act.

Of course my views are open minded, if I see a conservative policy that has helped the nation greatly I will accept it as a good idea, and not bash it simply because it's conservative.

Too many people are basing their decisions on the label of Republican and Democrat, not enough are ignoring the labels and thinking about how something will affect the country now and in the long run.

 

[Genesys]

Originally posted by: Whitling

You're against death at the beginning of life, how are you on the death penalty?

well, thers only one problem i see with this statement. to be given the death penalty, you have commit a crime, or otherwise be found deserved of the death penalty. however, if you're a fetus, you havent done anything except try and live. how is that deserved of death?

 

[ScottyB]

I believe in:
Higher taxes for those who can afford it (i.e. the rich)
Pro-choice
Limited military, if any
Freedom of religion, but it shouldn't be involved in Gov't
Universal health care
A large space program
Protecting the environment
No death penalty
Prison sentences up to 25 years, no longer
Less censorship, if any
Greater union support
Corporations are NOT individials and should have a lot more regulations put upon them
etc., etc.

 

[FrodoB]

Originally posted by: Genesys

Originally posted by: Whitling

You're against death at the beginning of life, how are you on the death penalty?

well, thers only one problem i see with this statement. to be given the death penalty, you have commit a crime, or otherwise be found deserved of the death penalty. however, if you're a fetus, you havent done anything except try and live. how is that deserved of death?

Great point! This is sound logic. Abortion is murder.
Heartless unevolved narrow-minded people use it as birth control.

It only makes sense if the woman's own life is in real danger.

 

[FrodoB]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
I believe in:
Higher taxes for those who can afford it (i.e. the rich)
Pro-choice
Limited military, if any
Freedom of religion, but it shouldn't be involved in Gov't
Universal health care
A large space program
Protecting the environment
No death penalty
Prison sentences up to 25 years, no longer
Less censorship, if any
Greater union support
Corporations are NOT individials and should have a lot more regulations put upon them
etc., etc.

I'd like to know your justification for limited or no military.
Prison sentences.... what about the mass murderers? Limiting their terms to 25 years is extremely dangerous.
Greater union support... unfortuntately many unions are now corrupt. I recognize their immense importance in our history, but they really need to be cleaned out.

 

[b0mbrman]

I have a feeling this is going to turn into the broadest political thread ever

People concurrently discussing abortion, death penalty, prison terms, military, taxes, etc....it's like the whole of P&N stuffed into one thread

 

[DragonMasterAlex]

This is too silly of a topic to bother with, but since it seems to be discussing Abortion somewhat, you should check out the debate going on between Tim Sandefur and his guest-blogger this week at Http://sandefur.blogspot.com .

Jason

 

[Orsorum]

I am an educated citizen of this country, with views on specific issues spanning the entire spectrum. The day I start adhering strictly to an ideological line or party without thinking is the day I cease to be an effective citizen in this democratic republic.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
I believe in:
Higher taxes for those who can afford it (i.e. the rich)--- Very against, nothing like legalized theft
Pro-choice---I agree
Limited military, if any---Not smart
Freedom of religion, but it shouldn't be involved in Gov't----Agree with, but people should be able to tolerate other religions.
Universal health care---Disagree
A large space program---Agree to a point
Protecting the environment---Need to see the whole picture, we need the environment to survive but I'm not going to cry if we lose an owl here of there
No death penalty---We need this for a deterent
Prison sentences up to 25 years, no longer---This is the stupidest thing I've heard. Maybe if someone killed your family you'd think differently.
Less censorship, if any----agree
Greater union support----Unions are mostly not needed in this age
Corporations are NOT individials and should have a lot more regulations put upon them----They do have more
etc., etc.---etc., etc.

 

[sMiLeYz]

I'm currently left of center.

I believe in:
Higher taxes for those who can afford it: Only fair. How else does government function? Don't like taxes or think taxes are too high? Tough.
Pro-Choice: Women should be able to make their own decisions on what to do with their bodies not what government or extreme right wingers.
Limited Army: Not limited army, but limited Engagement. Co-operate with UN to maintain peace in the world.
Universal Health Care: I believe we shouldn't be the only modern industrialized nation without healthcare.
Welfare: Desperately needs to be reformed.
Freedom of Religion: Includes freedom from religion.
Environment: We ABSOLUTELY must protect our natural resources. Clean air, clean water is good for everyone. We should punish corporations that break our environmental laws, not reward.
Corporations: There should be less regulations, but ALOT more reinforcing of regulations. We should Fine companies that break our laws.