What makes you Dem/Repub/Indep?

[FerrisBueller86]

It was interesting to read your opinions in the thread on the Republican Party split.

htmldon: You are a moderate, and yet you are a staunch Republican.  Why?
 
bullmoose88: Why do you hate the Dixiecrats so much and not want them in the Republican Party?

Senator WMS: Why are you libertarian when your social score is positive (authoritarian) while your economic score is negative (economic left)?  Admittedly, your scores are very close to neutrality, but I expected a libertarian to be in the opposite quadrant of the political compass.

I'm a Democrat because of both social issues and economic issues.  I'm pro-choice, pro-gay rights (including marriage), and pro-environment (which I think could be called conservative due to emphasis on conservation), but I'm in the middle ground on the death penalty.  I think that there is too much violence in the media and popular culture, and I am a big fan of Tipper Gore.  (People who know I have these opinions think I'm conservative, hehe.)  I believe that too many Republicans like to talk tough on defense so they can justify defense pork like the Missile Defense program that refuses to die even after 20 years.  I think that the rich and powerful should bear a greater part of the tax burden, and I think that the perception that most government spending benefits the poor is largely a myth.  (The poor do not have highly paid lobbyists working for them, and they do not have clout in the media.)  I believe in balanced budgets and think that there should be spending cuts.  Like Senator Paul Simon of Illinois (the state I grew up in), I see persistent, growing budget deficits as a THREAT to liberal ideals like social welfare.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I'm a Democrat because I'm a socialist, and there's no reason for a socialist to be a Republican, and anything else is a waste of time.

[Smash255]

Just look at my Political Compass scores below.  I wouldn't put my self in the Socialist category like BRTD, but I'm pretty liberal economically & socially

[Jake]

Over the last 20-30 odd years, Republicans have been on the right side on defense issues.  

The Republican party opposes abortion as do I.  

The Republican Party is the party most likely to not raise my taxes.

The Democrats embrace Hollywood elitists and Michael Moore/Jessie Jackson type scumbags.

[danwxman]

I'm a Democrat because of my loathing for the far-right...if those kooks were not in control of the Republican party I might consider voting for Republicans...but I just can't stomach it. Oh, and I'm a liberal. My political compass looks about even, but I'd say I'm a lot more liberal on social issues then economic.

[danwxman]

Over the last 20-30 odd years, Republicans have been on the right side on defense issues. 

The Republican party opposes abortion as do I. 

The Republican Party is the party most likely to not raise my taxes.

The Democrats embrace Hollywood elitists and Michael Moore/Jessie Jackson type scumbags.

Funny, I've never given Michael Moore of Jesse Jackson a hug. Don't really want to either.

[Sam Spade]

No one's political views every make sense on anything, folks.

I'm a Dixiecrat who wants to ban abortion and gay marriage (hell, I frankly wish they'd go back in the closet to begin with).

Yet at the same time, I'm a Libertarian, a socially permissive person who drinks, has smoked marijuana and done other drugs, wants to see marijuana legalized, thinks birth control and condoms should be given to everyone (not the day after pills, but the preventative stuff) and has no problem with pre-marital sex.

And at the same time I'm a Republican in economic issues who believes in personal freedom, the superiority of property rights and capitalism and would like to see government size and regulation cut in half (at least).

I also am the type of Green who believes in protecting the environment and believes in clean air, clean water and good, strong environmental laws.

In short, I believe in everything and I believe in America, regardless of how diverse my views are.

The only party I don't belong to is the Democrat party, as its developed in the past 30 years, because they believe in nothing except power.

[Jake]

Over the last 20-30 odd years, Republicans have been on the right side on defense issues. 

The Republican party opposes abortion as do I. 

The Republican Party is the party most likely to not raise my taxes.

The Democrats embrace Hollywood elitists and Michael Moore/Jessie Jackson type scumbags.

Funny, I've never given Michael Moore of Jesse Jackson a hug. Don't really want to either.

Oh, what a joker

[Platypus]

I could never be in a party with far right or far left people, so i'm an independent.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

htmldon: You are a moderate, and yet you are a staunch Republican.  Why?

I believe in the fundamental conservative philosophy of the primacy and independence of the individual, economic libertarianism, and American exceptionalism.  The Democrat Party used to believe in the latter concept, but has now decided to look out for the national security interests of France instead.  The leadership in the Republican Party also used to support all of these ideas, but it is now looking out for the gender insecurity needs of the "Christian" Right instead.

The biggest mistake that self-identified moderates make is to deny themselves the opportunity to get involved in and bring their ideas into the political parties.  While moderates are individually powerful as "swing voters", they are not as able to develop moderate leaders and a moderate power base without having a political party to move them forward.

Therefore, moderates should not see themselves as mere hangers-on to political parties, but they should rise up and demand respect for their views, values, and ideas.  For too long, we have allowed the far-right to call us "RINOs" when it is they that lack a connection with the principles that the Republican Party were founded upon.  We must summon the courage to stand up and fight fire with fire.   

Moderates must fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.  There are plenty of moderates and moderate-conservatives in the Party who want to do the right thing.  The problem is that moderates, like Arlen Specter, do not show the loyalty necessary to gain credibility among folks that do want to set the Party on a new path.  We must realize that we are the true heirs of Abraham Lincoln and we should start acting like it. 

We are flanked on our left and our right with enemies, but we are emboldened by the support that the American people continue to give our cause in just about every poll there is.

I think that there is too much violence in the media and popular culture, and I am a big fan of Tipper Gore. 

I think there is too little violence and sex in the media and popular culture.  Let the market decide what people want. Tipper Gore needs to get a vibrator, and a life.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

In America, Your symbol would be an (I), for irrelevant.   Being an independent is like abstaining from the political process.  It's "independents" (typically moderates) that by their silence allow extremists to take over political parties for their own evil devices.

I could never be in a party with far right or far left people, so i'm an independent.

[J-Mann]

In America, Your symbol would be an (I), for irrelevant.   Being an independent is like abstaining from the political process.

I certainly wouldn't call 1/3rd of the voting population irrelevant.  Independents are often the uninformed, easily swayed segment of the population, but I don't think that one should have to definitively choose one party or the other.  If being independent or unaffiliated floats your boat, so be it.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Many independents are just like Hugh and have very strong opinions that just don't fit into the extremes of either party.  If Independents made themselves relevant, Kirk Humphreys and David Beasley would now be Senators, and John McCain would be about to start his second term in the White House.  These good men lost in primaries because the irrelevant independents weren't there when their country needed them.

In America, Your symbol would be an (I), for irrelevant.   Being an independent is like abstaining from the political process.

I certainly wouldn't call 1/3rd of the voting population irrelevant.  Independents are often the uninformed, easily swayed segment of the population, but I don't think that one should have to definitively choose one party or the other.  If being independent or unaffiliated floats your boat, so be it.

[Bono]

The republican Party is the only possible way of election libertarians to office. T'is why.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I should also answer the question by telling you why I am NOT a Democrat.

While I have the utmost respect for good people who tough it out in that Party, I have zero respect for the basic tenant of the Democrat Party - gaining power at all costs.

The Democrat Party panders to what they think minorities want, rather than what minorities need to suceed.   There are a lot of Democrats on this forum who oppose race-based Affirmative Action... but you guys need to tell your Party that because your leaders are still running around calling all of us racists who don't support it.

They actually filed a complaint with the state AG trying to get poll watchers banned from polling locations because they were worried that Republicans might see and report their shenanigans.  Come to find out that this was a part of a national strategy that the DNC proposed.  They actually called it a "pre-emptive strike" in their literature and told local organizers to call minority papers and say that Republicans were trying to take their votes away.  Absolutely unbelievable.

The Democrat Party has not yet let go of the corrupt days of the Daley/Mob machine and Tammany Hall.  I have great difficulty understanding how any person of moral principle and fundamental ethics could associate themselves with that.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

EXACTLY!  Bono understands American politics better than a lot of "independent" (or even more irrelevant "Libertarian") Americans.

The republican Party is the only possible way of election libertarians to office. T'is why.

[bullmoose88]

And I agree with Don yet again.

[bullmoose88]

Okay...I agree with don about 90% of the time, the other 10%...I'm more liberal than he. (Didn't always used to be the case).

This party has always stood up for the individual over the collective, opportunity/empowerment (Clinton didn't come up with a new idea, he co-opted one) and to provide a safety net (though not excessive). It stood against tax and spend policies and class warfare.

When the party strays, I won't support its candidate. Simple as that.

Dixiecrats seem to be against these general themes, and are an infection in this party. They have only joined the GOP because the Democrats are no longer a viable vehicle to espouse their principles.

[J-Mann]

Even though no one asked, here's my answer

Despite the green avatar, I only play an independent on the forum; I’ve been a registered Republican for over four years.  Bush got my vote twice, and I’ve voted for Roberts and Brownback (our two Republican Senators) and Jerry Moran (my US Rep and a Republican) three times.  I’m not above voting for Democrats, though; I’ve worked on a couple of Democratic campaigns and will probably vote for Kathleen Sebelius in 2006.  But Kansas Democrats are typically pretty far removed from the “liberals” that put the stereotypical face on the national Democratic Party.

I break up US politics into three basic areas: social, economic, and international. 

Socially, I’m pretty conservative.  I’m very pro-life and despite the near-futility of pressing the issue, I still favor a pro-life candidate over one who is pro-choice.  I favor harsh penalties (including death) for criminals and think that rehabilitation is useless in many circumstances.  I’m in favor of the War on Drugs and think drugs should continue to be illegal; also, strict enforcement of our alcohol laws should be adhered to.  I don’t like affirmative action (which could be an economic issue, also, I suppose).  I like the structure of organized religion and the idea of federal funding for faith-based charities.  Anyone who has kept up with my posts over the last few months has probably figured out that I’m quite religious, as well.  Still, I’ve got some more liberal aspects to my social beliefs: I’m not out-and-out pro-gay rights, but I can’t advocate discrimination of homosexuality and have written a lot in opposition to Kansas’ attempt to “ban” gay marriage through a constitutional amendment.  I also strictly hold to the separation of Church and state.  I don’t believe in wild tobacco regulation, either; that’s traditionally a conservative position, but it’s actually liberal if you think about it.  Feel free to ask me about positions that I’ve left off, but the political compass puts me as moderately conservative on social issues.

When it comes to international relations, I’m an absolute hawk.  I can see the liberal point of view on many international issues, but I do not accept it.  I think the UN is defunct and corrupt; France is one of my few objects of hatred.  I’m fully in favor of the US expanding and consolidating its power throughout the world, because I think we really do have the greatest system of government and the greatest people in the world.  I’m very into “American exceptionalism”.  I embrace neoconservative idealism on the global scale.  Militarily, we need to stay prepared.  Three to four percent of GDP spent our military is about right; perhaps it should be a bit higher.  Sic vis pacem, para bellum.  We need to stay at the cutting edge of technological breakthroughs to keep ahead of other nations, both militarily and economically.  With strength comes alliances, with alliances come balance, and with balance comes peace.

Economically, you could probably say I’m moderate-to-liberal.  The unbridled free market can end up screwing a lot of people, and I’ve got no problem with limited government intervention in many areas of economic interest.  Basic public health is a good idea, in my opinion.  Trust-busting to ensure fair competition is fine.  Tax cuts are okay so long as they don’t go too far; anymore, it’s simply become a political issue for Republicans to win on.  Kansas Republicans screwed up our economy by cutting state income taxes too much, with the burden falling on rural counties to pick up the slack.  I favor government funding of the arts and of history museums.  Public education is a good thing and should be fully and adequately funded.

So there it is; that’s why I’m a Republican, although I’m one of a different stripe.  A lot of Republicans are more socially liberal than they are economically, but I’m a populist Republican in the old sense of the ideology.  I’m atavistic – a throwback, if you will.  I cling to older things, both materialistic and idealistic.  It’s evident in my political beliefs.

[Platypus]

In australia, being an independent has no real net benefit or cost, besides not having to be dictated to by a party machine. Also, here we don't register as a member of a party to vote, we're all registered without status. So, I am and independent because I dislike the ALP and I hate the coalition, and there is no real reason to be in a minor party. If I had to join a party it'd be the democrats, because with preferential voting it wouldn't be as much a waste as it would be in the US to join a socially liberal economically center-right party.

I know that was all babble

[bullmoose88]

What are the Democrats like down there?

I've always heard they weren't really ideological...just a "Keep the Bastards Honest" Party

[Platypus]

yeah, basically. they are small-l liberals. Socially they are very pro-individual rights, and economically they are more centrist but lean right. Basically on the compass they'd be -5 +1.

[bullmoose88]

My kind of party.

[Platypus]

Also, the aussie version of pro-individual rights is different from the american. In america, it means pro-bill of rights, here it means pro-healthcare, education, etc., and also has a helluva lot less of a thorn stuck up it's bum on taxation

Maybe because Australia has lower tax then the USA anyway, but has better social justice programmes.

[bullmoose88]

Meh. I think I could tolerate those planks given what the Labor and Liberal Parties have to offer.