Political Affiliation

Off Topic Politics and World Issues
1

Since the last week has been my first posts in a year and a half this is a burning question that may have already been answered. What is your political affiliation and a brief explanation as to why.

I am a conservative REPUBLICAN. 2 words, RONALD REAGAN!! I also served in a liberally decimated military, defense budget cuts and horribly outdated equipment for my deployments(i.e. balkans and somalia) to fight for a draft dodging political opportunist(ole slick willy). Not to mention I just can’t see more of my tax money going to liberally funded(see: socialist like ideas) programs, such as welfare, and socialized medicine. I already see 35% of my check go to taxes. A liberal govt. can not spend my money better than me. Simply stated this is why I am a card carrying Sean Hannityesque Republican.

2

Goofed up.

3

[quote]snipeout wrote:
Not to mention I just can’t see more of my tax money going to liberally funded(see: socialist like ideas) programs, such as welfare, and socialized medicine. I already see 35% of my check go to taxes. A liberal govt. can not spend my money better than me. Simply stated this is why I am a card carrying Sean Hannityesque Republican.[/quote]

You left out inefficient government programs like prisons that could be privatized :wink:

4

Republican and Conservative. Reagan was a big influence.

I became a Neocon without realizing it in the early 80’s. Many do not realize that Neoconservatism started as a reaction. I didn’t until about 1985.

5

I have voted straight ticket Republican since my first Presidential election in 1984.

I was too young to vote in 1980. And I can remember crying when Ford lost in 1976.

I have been a neocon since I was old enough to pay attention.

6

I’m an anachronistic utopian.

That is, an agrarian anarchist. My heroes include Thomas Jefferson and Nestor Makhno, the Ukranian peasant who fought tooth and nail against both rich landlords and Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War.

Since that is a rather impractical and vague position, I call myself a radical libertarian (I’m registered Libertarian) who advocates smaller government and ZERO interference in the market.
And ZERO government interference in the market, would, unfortunately for those who are currently profitting, mean the demise of corporations as well as labor laws. This would open the way to the balancing effect described in the Wealth of Nations as it would free people to pursue small business as well as create their own unions and mutual-aid organizations, free from the bungling of the government bureaucracy. In my experience, the most pervasive and destructive myth in our entire civilization is that of the “other people” who need to be controlled.

Additionally, I’m a fierce and dogmatic supporter of the Bill of Rights: free speech, free association, and heavy firepower (a well armed populace serves to keep the government honest). Reverse the abuse of the Commerce Clause and the erosion of the 2nd Amendment.

I love Jefferson, and I’ve been itching for the proper thread to unleash this doozy of a prophecy on ya’ll. It sums up my attitude towards the bastard offspring of proud revolutionaries (i.e. us modern Americans):

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter. Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless. A single zealot may become our persecutor, and better men his victims. It can never be too often repeated that the time for fixing every essential right, on a legal basis, is while our rulers are honest, ourselves united. From the conclusion of this war we shall be going down hill. It will not be necessary to resort every moment to the people for support. They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded. They will forget themselves in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights. The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will be heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.”

7

I am a conservative, capitalist, REPUBLICAN. I work hard for my money and I resent the government stealing it from me.
I also resent the groups in this country, like the ACLU, which are trying to make secular humanism the national religion.
I am also a gun owner, NRA member and sportsman who resents democrats trying to take away my right to own firearms. (After all, Ted Kennedy?s car has killed more people than any of my guns.)
I could go on forever, but you get the idea (and I hate typing).

8

America Hating, pro-bestiality and polygamy, tree hugging, commie loving, christian hating. LIBERAL!!!

Did I cover all the stereotypes of a Liberal?..probably not.

Who did what and what good it did can be debated forever.

I guess I am for whoever believes in no t polluting our air, water, and food supply, protecting its citizens from criminals foreign and domestic. Follows the constitution as the ONLY source for governing this nation, punishes the guilty while providing fair trials, deports people who are NOT citizens but hate this country and threatens its citizens and their way of life,

Supports EVERYONES right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, stays the fuck outta my life, who I fuck is my buisness.

As long as I pay my taxes and behave as a good and loyal citizen then what I do in my personal life is of my concern.

This is not a complete list of what I think is important but its a few major ones. Of all of them I think personal sponsibility AND Freedom are among the most important.

Not that anyone gives a fuck what I think. Good training guys!

9

I hate both parties and only moderately like the libirtarians ( I still think they are to restrictive. I am a member of the PAT party. I think for myself and only vote on the issues that matter to me, which may be for the greater good, or completely selfish.

10

[quote]hedo wrote:
Republican and Conservative. Reagan was a big influence.

I became a Neocon without realizing it in the early 80’s. Many do not realize that Neoconservatism started as a reaction. I didn’t until about 1985.

[/quote]

Short history of neocon movement.

I consider myself a moderate democrat.

11

Neither. Neither party TOTALLY represents me. I DO vote and I pay attention to the issues that they bring up. Here lately, more of my votes have leaned to the Republican party, but there have been a few Democrats that have gotten my vote in the lower elections.

I feel that the Dems are WAY too liberal and the GOP is WAY too far to the right (I never liked right or left wing. I guess I’m a breast man. I DO like chicken wings, though).

Unfortunately (and I generally LIKE GW, he has made some mistakes like any human), most of the votes for the past decade have been more of a “lesser of two evils” than me really supporting and believing whole heartedly in a candidate.
I’m still waiting for Chris Shugart to throw his name in the hat and run on the “Radical Center” ticket.

12

Elk, could you define a moderate democrat? Like a Reagan democrat? Anyways, been a good discussion so far. I think the 2 political parties are good to balance out this country. I definitely tend to lean far more to the right.

The only issue I lean more towards the center on is abortion, not as a means for birth control though. I think it should remain legal for the mothers safety, rape cases and genetic deformity. I also concur on my right to own a gun or 5 if I want. I don’t need teddy or flip flop telling me I can’t own a gun. I also don’t like people like billary who are political opportunists, a liberal is a liberal, don’t start your charge to the center just to win an election and fall to the left if you win.

13

[quote]Elkhntr1 wrote:
hedo wrote:
Republican and Conservative. Reagan was a big influence.

I became a Neocon without realizing it in the early 80’s. Many do not realize that Neoconservatism started as a reaction. I didn’t until about 1985.

Short history of neocon movement.

I consider myself a moderate democrat. [/quote]

Elk

Interesting link. It hits the major point of Neoconservatism but unfortunately the opinion part reflects the authors distaste for the movement in a not so subtle way. At least he got the names right and in the correct order. That’s more then most of the commentary I read on the Neocon politcal philosophy. Interesting
perspective from the other side.

I’ll summarize what I like about the movement since nobody agrees with 100% of their chosen political philosophy.

  1. The counter culture of the 60’s was
    not the great thing in was made out
    to be. Necon started out as a way to
    redress that. The counter culture had
    limited appeal and the majority did
    not agree with it. It went to far.
    (the music was good though)

  2. Vietnam weakened the US and it’s
    military. We became ineffective and
    frightened to lead. We became
    beholden to those who did not share
    our best interests. We need not feel
    embarassed about leading. Someone
    has too.

  3. Communism was a threat and
    imperialistic. It needed to be
    contained. Reagan took it a step
    further and realized it could be
    defeated.

  4. To effect change you need ideas that
    work. Think tanks could develop
    them. You can’t just be against
    everything. The Dems are seeing that
    now. That’s why it will take a
    cycle or two before the come back.

I wasn’t a liberal before I became a necon. I started out as one. It was closer to how I thought and what I thought was positive about the country.

14

[quote]snipeout wrote:
Elk, could you define a moderate democrat? Like a Reagan democrat? Anyways, been a good discussion so far. I think the 2 political parties are good to balance out this country. I definitely tend to lean far more to the right.

The only issue I lean more towards the center on is abortion, not as a means for birth control though. I think it should remain legal for the mothers safety, rape cases and genetic deformity. I also concur on my right to own a gun or 5 if I want. I don’t need teddy or flip flop telling me I can’t own a gun. I also don’t like people like billary who are political opportunists, a liberal is a liberal, don’t start your charge to the center just to win an election and fall to the left if you win.[/quote]

Snipe

Do you support Concealed Carry in NJ?

Not that it will ever happen but I am curious about the LE opinion on the issue.

15

[quote]Jersey5150 wrote:
America Hating, pro-bestiality and polygamy, tree hugging, commie loving, christian hating. LIBERAL!!!

Did I cover all the stereotypes of a Liberal?..probably not.

Who did what and what good it did can be debated forever.

I guess I am for whoever believes in no t polluting our air, water, and food supply, protecting its citizens from criminals foreign and domestic. Follows the constitution as the ONLY source for governing this nation, punishes the guilty while providing fair trials, deports people who are NOT citizens but hate this country and threatens its citizens and their way of life,

Supports EVERYONES right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, stays the fuck outta my life, who I fuck is my buisness.

As long as I pay my taxes and behave as a good and loyal citizen then what I do in my personal life is of my concern.

This is not a complete list of what I think is important but its a few major ones. Of all of them I think personal sponsibility AND Freedom are among the most important.

Not that anyone gives a fuck what I think. Good training guys![/quote]

I care what you think. As far as your list goes I know it’s a sterotype (as you stated). However, I started a thread several months ago and asked not only which political party you are affiliated with, but if you are a Christian as well. I don’t think more than one or two claimed to be liberals and also claimed to be a Christian.

Now I know that that poll was in no way scientific. However, I think there is a trend. I would bet that a very small amount of those who consider themselves as liberals also claim they are Christian.

16

[quote]mica617 wrote:

I feel that the Dems are WAY too liberal and the GOP is WAY too far to the right (I never liked right or left wing. I guess I’m a breast man. I DO like chicken wings, though).

[/quote]

I think the “Left/Right” political spectrum is getting confused here. Both Democrats and Republicans are shifting to the left.

I’m not sure how you can make the statement that the GOP is WAY too far right. Please explain…

My biggest problem with GWB is his left-leaning tendencies (ie: spending). Today’s Republican party is where the Dems of 50 years ago were. As time rolls on, I feel that the GOP is falling further and further from what they should be (ie: on the right). If anything, I’m a Libertarian.

Nick

17

[quote]rainjack wrote:
I have voted straight ticket Republican since my first Presidential election in 1984.

I was too young to vote in 1980. And I can remember crying when Ford lost in 1976.

I have been a neocon since I was old enough to pay attention. [/quote]

How do you feel about Strauss?

To you disregard relativism as much as Strauss does?

I have never actually had the oppertunity to meet an authentic NeoCon.

Are you still a member of the Likkud party?

I thought you had to be a ‘reformed’ liberal to be a NeoCon?

What am I missing?

18

As long as DC keeps the left vs. right ‘war’ going then they win and the American public loses.

19

I’ve been a staunch conservative since I read Adam Smith at age 17, even though I come from a very left wing background, married into a left wing family (although my husband is now a conservative), and I live in a very left wing country.

I am a member of the federal Conservative Party and a member of the BC Liberal Party (a very unfortunate name for a very conservative party). Inside both parties I am to the very right. If I were an American, I would be a Republican but I would agree with ntroych that the party has moved too close to the centre.

20

Snipe, no I wouldn’t consider myself a Reagan dem. I mean moderate in terms of not having extremist liberal views. I do believe in the democrat ideals of helping your fellow man through some social programs not bailing people out or giving handouts, but not letting people sink into oblivion either.

I don’t really care for religion mixing with politics so, I am far from conservative in that manner. I believe in the right to bear arms and I also think it’s a women’s right to have an abortion, but I think proper sex education could lower the number of women who use that option.

I just don’t really care for hard core conservative beliefs or the methods that party has taken in order to reach their objectives. It doesn’t sit right with my beliefs in how human beings should treat each other.

Hedo, I found the history of the neocons very interesting and you being a warrior it’s not surprising you hold fast to that ideology. The dems better learn quick from their example or they will continue to be beaten by them. The sad thing is we (dems) will have to adopt less then honorable tactics like they have to be able to be competative with them.