Thread: lilberal v. conservative

Interesting points, PCB-By the way, I'm from SC too. "Thank God for Mississippi," as we say. SC politics must be some of the most tawdry and sad on the national scene, in my opinion. It gets downright embarrassing...

And I agree with some posters who doggedly refuse to go and lie down in one corner or the other. When we paint ourselves into ideological corners, they can sometimes be hard to defend in the real world. It's sad that our pluralistic society seems to try to force people into what many consider to be false choices.

Still, if you want to grossly oversimplify what can be a very complex issue, it's a little like this: liberals are like mommy, and conservatives are like daddy...

As a reasonably-informed and well-read citizen/voter, I have often felt betrayed by both sides/parties, and thus my votes often are more against the sob I helped put in office, and want to replace with another sob, a vote I will undoubtedly regret later. Sheeshh! In any event, I feel America's problems have gone far beyond what can be solved by either side, and I seriously doubt the 'latest' populist movement embodied by the tea party will make it any better. Sorry to sound so cynical.

Say what y'all like,but I can't wait for Jesus or the aliens to come or whoever, cause what this world needs is a big fat spanking and to be sent to bed without any supper......or to coin a phrase" a good shellacking " bwhahahaha !!!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

a vote I will undoubtedly regret later.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I changed my voter's registration to "no party affiliation" years ago. I vote for the man/woman, not the party. The trouble is that one is as bad as the other with a few exceptions.

To heck with all affiliations!

I'm from Maine. As a general rule, we tend to be politically "liberal" and socially "conservative." It sounds a bit weird, and it often doesn't make much sense - even to us! But I like it. The best way I can describe it is that the general consensus is that you should be legally free to do pretty much anything you want - so far as it does not have a negative impact on me or others. I'll do what I like on my side of the fence, you do what you like on your side. We'll get together for pot lucks and barbeques though...

What floats your boat may not do the same for mine, but if it works for ya', by all means go for it.

Maybe this explains why we are always a blue state, but have all Republican senators and non-constricting gun laws (huzzah!). It takes some getting used to, but it seems to work out ok when all is settled.

In short, peace, love, fast boats and big guns.

I can live with that !...to Maritimefanatic

How can one call themselves liberal, when liberal judges fight against individual freedoms in historical legislation involving private property and the very natural right to defend yourself?????
How can one call themselves conservative, when conservatives grow government that takes more and more of our wealth away?

More common sense , reunification of the 80% of the electorate in the middle of the extremes. Lets keep throwing out these bastards until they get the idea. Less government, more us.

Originally Posted by pcb01

Liberal seems to be a word that would be related to liberty, yet it seems to be the "liberals" that always want to generate new laws and restrictions such as:

1) higher taxes
2) restrictsions on gun ownership/posession
3) restrictions on vehicle ownership (legislated through cafe etc)

I'd suggest that thinking in terms of "liberal" and "conservative," as others have suggested, creates more confusion than understanding.

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, son of a union man, so you can guess what my political education was like.

I own guns, dozens of them. I love them for the same reason I love straights, old Gillettes, etc. Simple, precise, utilitarian, honest artifacts that take skill to use properly.

I'm also a car guy. In addition to a couple of trucks, there is an M3 and a Carrera in our garage. I believe that the anniversary of the repeal of the 55 mph speed limit should be a national holiday.

I'm not enough of an economist to evaluate the wisdom of our present tax structure. I do know that unless we rebuild our educational system we will soon lose our national identity and power. I believe that we who are graced with intelligence, determination, and good health should not simply just offer thanks to the gods of our understanding, but also undertake to do real good to those who are not so blessed.

I also believe that if we ran our households they way that those in power have run the national budget, that our children would be justified in having us declared incompetent, if not murdering us in our sleep.

I believe that abortion involves the murder of an innocent. I do not believe that women who make the decision to abort should be tried for murder.

Does all of this hang together and form a coherent philosophy? Is there a common thread that can be labeled, that could predict how I feel about capital punishment, immigration laws, or Baby Jesus?

I hope not.

Liberal? Conservative? What am I?

Sound like my definition of conservative... i.e. you sound like me!

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Interesting points, PCB-By the way, I'm from SC too. "Thank God for Mississippi," as we say. SC politics must be some of the most tawdry and sad on the national scene, in my opinion. It gets downright embarrassing...

And I agree with some posters who doggedly refuse to go and lie down in one corner or the other. When we paint ourselves into ideological corners, they can sometimes be hard to defend in the real world. It's sad that our pluralistic society seems to try to force people into what many consider to be false choices.

Still, if you want to grossly oversimplify what can be a very complex issue, it's a little like this: liberals are like mommy, and conservatives are like daddy...

As a reasonably-informed and well-read citizen/voter, I have often felt betrayed by both sides/parties, and thus my votes often are more against the sob I helped put in office, and want to replace with another sob, a vote I will undoubtedly regret later. Sheeshh! In any event, I feel America's problems have gone far beyond what can be solved by either side, and I seriously doubt the 'latest' populist movement embodied by the tea party will make it any better. Sorry to sound so cynical.

The sad state of modern politics... we only get the choice to vote against someone. It's a rare treat to actually vote FOR someone.

Would be interesting to do a comparison based on the political surveys posted.

In the first I came up as a "centrist"
Personal score of 60%
Economic score of 70%

In the 2nd I came out with

Conservative/Progressive score: 0
You are a social conservative. You believe in traditional values, and care first and foremost about your country, your family, and your religion. You dislike the agenda of the left because you see them as trying to destroy these things.

Capitalist Purist/Social Capitalist score: 2
You're a Capitalist Purist. You believe that the market should be completely free, and that the invisible hand of the market will make sure that the people get what they want and will do it in the most efficient way possible. You believe in small government, less taxes, and more privatization.

Libertarian/Authoritarian score: 5
You're a Moderate. You think that we all have certain inalienable rights that must be protected, but that sometimes laws need to be made to protect the majority's lives or quality of lives. You might think that the 2nd amendment isn't necessary anymore because letting everyone a gun is extremely dangerous to the community. You might also be against illegal drug use or public pornography because of its possible harmful effects to society.

Pacifist/Militarist score: 11
You're a Militarist. You believe that since the United States has so much power in the world, it has a responsibility to keep the world safe. You think that if the US does not exert its power in the world, it may eventually lose its power, and that we can not look weak in the face of terrorists, and must take them out where they live.

Overall, you would most likely fit into the category of NeoCon Republican

Overall that one has me about pegged, though I don't know about the statement after militarist... I think the US has a responsibility to protect its citizens and interests, but that has nothing to do with "looking weak" or "losing power".

Originally Posted by pcb01

We are not so different. We want our children to be well. We need to unite, and oppose those who have neither respect for the past, nor confidence in the future, but are focused only on personal gain and immediate self-gratification.

Really, they are few. And we are many.

Isn't that what we already have? We're united in fighting ourselves. Everyone bears a little or a lot of every quality and shortcoming you mentioned - nobody *just* behaves like an altruist or is *only* focused on selfish ambition

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Isn't that what we already have? We're united in fighting ourselves.

+1, the divided states of America.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Isn't that what we already have? We're united in fighting ourselves. Everyone bears a little or a lot of every quality and shortcoming you mentioned - nobody *just* behaves like an altruist or is *only* focused on selfish ambition

Dunno. I think someone who is running for president, and having an affair while his wife is dealing with recurrent cancer has little altruism and much selfish ambition. Ditto one who abandons his state and runs off to S. America to meet his "soul mate," leaving citizens without a head of state., even if only for a few days. Ditto one who violates the most sacred laws of his country and attempts to cover up this transgression.

Yeah, we're all human. But, still, there are good folks and evil folks. Seems like the latter are the ones whose narcissism often leads them to vie for public office. The ones who should be our leaders are often too busy conducting their personal and public affairs in a responsible, adult fashion to make the effort, and are too principled to make the accomodations necessary to be an "effective" elected officials.