What is Your Political Philosophy?

Zkribbler · May 11, 2003, 00:57

Fez asked me this is a different thread. I started to answer him there, but feared it would lead to a thread jacking. So I moved my response topic over here...

Quote:

I started out as a conservative Republican but have been a liberal Democrat since I was twenty.

I still hold some traditionally conservative values, such as balanced budgets and personal responsibility. I exault small businesses but, while recognizing the contribution of large corporations, I am highly suspecious of them. I see government as a necessary counterbalance to the abuses of big corporations.

I expouse demand-side economics and wonder if there's anything valid about supply-side economics. Concentration of great wealth is a very bad thing, while a social program which provides a way of succeeding to those who work hard and work smart is a very good thing. Government's job is not to give handouts but rather to level the playing field in order to give those who wish to succeed the chance to succeed.

I tend to be pacifistic, but I was pro-Gulf-War-I and pro-Afghanistan. While slow to pull the trigger, I'm a big supported of the best equipment and training for our troops. When I hear Lancer talk about the shoddy equipment he had when he was first stationed in the Fulda Gap, or when I hear about the families of our troops being on food stamps, I tend to go a bit psycho.

I'm pro-ecology, but I defined ecology as humanity living harmoniously within the enviroment, not as we see in places like the huge Alaskan preserves, excluding humaniity from the environment.

What about you guys?

JohnT · May 11, 2003, 01:10

I just agree with whomever I'm speaking to. I guess you could call me a Clintonista.

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 01:11

I've been consistently a fascist...

Moderate Capitalist... more along the lines of Corporatism... I think there should be close relations between business and government (tariff walls, business loans, etc.) so that American businesses may flourish and Americans may have job security. There should be a re-vitalization program in urban areas, consisting of small business loans, businesses should get tax breaks for coming into urban areas, etc. there should also be tax breaks for businesses that hire ex-felons.

as for moral issues... social conservatism along Republican lines is a must. abortion is genocide, etc. the war on drugs needs to be re-organized to target middle america... there's no point in arresting the typical small urban drug dealer who, now with a criminal record preventing employment, will go straight back to slanging. **** that... suburban drug users should be arrested en masse

economic criminals such as muggers or drug dealers should also be released on parole upon promising to attend college or job training courses. they should be monitored of course but educational oppurtunities must be maximized.

tax cuts for the lower middle class are a must... it disturbs me that those who work hard and got alright jobs end up getting taxed out of their money to support welfare and what not.

I care little about environmentalism or foreign affairs or whatever other issues... my main concern is improving the lives of the lower middle class chiefly in urban areas.

thanks

Oerdin · May 11, 2003, 01:12

Socially progressive Democrate who is a strong budget hawk and believes in the lowest progressive tax system possible.

Lancer · May 11, 2003, 01:19

I'm an extreme centrist.

Imran Siddiqui · May 11, 2003, 01:20

In as few words possible: Moderate Libertarian (ie, Economically to the right, Socially to the left, but in both cases not extreme).

Lancer · May 11, 2003, 01:22

I believe in tropical breezes.

GePap · May 11, 2003, 01:22

I am all over the place.

I would call myself a radical humanist and quasi-utalitarian. I support a free market, but believe that the notion has some inherent flaws and that it is too fundamentally political to make unregulated markets possible.

I abhor any politics that believes it has universal answers, and thus I am a social liberal, if only because this position allows for variations.

I guess the best way to put my world view is this: I don;t believe in any sort of absolute, or that there are any inherently "true" values. As such, more important to me than the answers are the rules of the game by which you will attempt to reach an answer to whatever game we mankind have set out to play.

Nubclear · May 11, 2003, 01:23

I'm an evil kommunist.

Jaguar · May 11, 2003, 01:34

1. Government shouldn't take my money from me.
2. Oppress the oppressive.
3. Government can watch people all it wants, as long as it doesn't **** around with people's stuff.
4. Rule #2 is the exception to rule #3.
5. If someone deserves to get their ass kicked, they should get their ass kicked.
6. Nobody gives a **** if some rare Californian fly is going to go extinct if a construction project goes through. Bring on the 'dozers!

7. The DH has got to go.
8. It's "Land for Peace," implying that we will give up our land when Palestine is peaceful, but we do not have to until they are.
9. Any law that is disobeyed by a massive number of people (40% or something like that) is unjust. Drinking under 18, for example.
10. All lists should be required, by law, to have a number of items that is a multiple of ten. 5 and 25 are the only exceptions.

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 01:38

Quote:

8. It's "Land for Peace," implying that we will give up our land when Palestine is peaceful, but we do not have to until they are.

say what?

Imran Siddiqui · May 11, 2003, 01:40

Didn't you hear? Palestinians are about to take Maryland!

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 01:43

They can have it! except we'll have to keep B-more

Boris Godunov · May 11, 2003, 01:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Albert Speer
They can have it! except we'll have to keep B-more

Considering Baltimore is the least-desirable spot in Maryland, I doubt there will be objection.

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 01:46

hey baltimore got that ESPN store, dont it? thats enough to make it worth it

Jaguar · May 11, 2003, 01:49

Hehe I love this sort of tangent.

Let's give Palestine Baltimore, Trenton, Newark, and Chernobyl. That ought to keep them happy.

GePap · May 11, 2003, 01:52

Then we give the Israelis Arkansas and create a big, giant waterpark for the masses in the middle of the ME!

The world's greatest water slide!! Weeeeeee....!!!

Boris Godunov · May 11, 2003, 01:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Albert Speer
hey baltimore got that ESPN store, dont it? thats enough to make it worth it

If you don't get shot on your way to it.

Jaguar · May 11, 2003, 01:59

Quote:

Originally posted by GePap
Then we give the Israelis Arkansas and create a big, giant waterpark for the masses in the middle of the ME!

The world's greatest water slide!! Weeeeeee....!!!

Hey, we need another sucky place! Arkansas can't compete against Trenton, Baltimore, Newark, and Chernobyl!

We get Kentucky too!

Jaguar · May 11, 2003, 02:00

BTW I can use "we" to describe Israelis because
1. I am Jewish
2. My uncle lives in Tel-Aviv.

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 02:00

Boris:

I've been there... no shootings lol

GePap · May 11, 2003, 02:00

Nah...

you guys get..Detroit!

"Send him to..Detroit!", "no, not Detroit!!!"

Al B. Sure! · May 11, 2003, 02:10

Jaguar:

no one asked you why you used 'we'

Imran Siddiqui · May 11, 2003, 02:16

I am

Quote:

BTW I can use "we" to describe Israelis because
1. I am Jewish
2. My uncle lives in Tel-Aviv.

But you live in America and have the US flag in your avatar (with the UKs). Make a ****ing choice

.

Boris Godunov · May 11, 2003, 02:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Albert Speer
Boris:

I've been there... no shootings lol

I've lived there...there are plenty of shootings.

MichaeltheGreat · May 11, 2003, 02:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Jaguar Warrior

Hey, we need another sucky place! Arkansas can't compete against Trenton, Baltimore, Newark, and Chernobyl!

We get Kentucky too!

Watch your mouth, boy. I've got kin in Kentucky. In fact, we used to own and operate it for FDR.

The finest country in the world for horses and the true ambrosia of the Gods, Kentucky bourbon.

Dis · May 11, 2003, 02:40

I'm a cross between a libertarian, a conservative, and a liberal

what does that make me?

Jaguar · May 11, 2003, 02:43

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

Watch your mouth, boy. I've got kin in Kentucky. In fact, we used to own and operate it for FDR.

The finest country in the world for horses and the true ambrosia of the Gods, Kentucky bourbon.

Is it just me or did you have this post originally, edit it to something else, and then edit it back?

Edit: Nevermind, I figured it out. I thought I was reading this thread when in fact I was reading another thread.

MichaeltheGreat · May 11, 2003, 02:45

It's just you.

Dis · May 11, 2003, 02:50

Let me go into more detail.

I support low taxes and low goverment spending. but there are some social programs I support.

Let me start with this philosophy

give a man a fish and he can eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime.

So because of this I do expect people to work to earn a living. Consequently I'm against nearly every form of welfare. Now if a person cannot work then I do support social programs such as disability compensation and temporary unemployment compensation.

As for my conservative tendencies I do support a strong military, and I do support lower taxes and goverment spending (although the republicans don't seem to be into less spending these days). I do support policies that put america first, for if we go down, everyone else will go down as well. And the terrorists do have the capability of bringing america down.

As for my liberal tendencies, well you have already seen which social programs I support above. I've been thinking a lot of unversal health care. I hate to see a hard working guy not get health care because he lacks the skills to get a good job with medical coverage. If you work hard you should get coverage. I also support many environmental policies. I am a land lover. I credit this to my native american roots. I've always felt a kind of connection to the land I walk on.

As for my libertarian tendencies, well I do support individual responsibility. And I do not believe the goverment should protect people from themselves. The primary purpose of the goverment is to protect liberty and freedom- ala the 18th century ideals. but I realize things are different in the modern era. things like health care were virtually non-existant in the 18th century. So that was something they never addressed. I'm not sure how they treated the disabled back then.