Which party should I register with?

[Free Bird]

This sounds egotistical, but hear me out. As most have seen, I have a weird spectrum of beliefs. I support gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and single payer, but am sharply against gun control, affirmative action, excessive spending, want to greatly reduce certain taxes but instate others to pay for muh single payer while still cutting spending, etc among other things. With that in mind, I am at a crossroad on where to register when I turn 18 in a little over a year or so. I won't register solely on these suggestions, but am looking at least for some input. Either way, I will be called a (Party First Letter)INO.

[Free Bird]

Discussion is welcome

[Person Man]

I would welcome you as a Conservative Democrat.

[politicus]

You seem to be a moderate Libertarian that could drift towards the Democrats as you grow older, as you will probably change your mind somewhat on what is and isn't "excessive spending" with a broader life experience (but that's a guess). Libertarian would make the most sense since single payer health care is the only real outlier there. Democrats if you feel the need to choose one of the big parties, since its more broad tent.

Personally I would remain an independent if I where you, but that's a matter of temperament. I would be too principled to register as something I didn't really identify with. Most likely that's the wrong way of thinking for you, though.

[Free Bird]

You seem to be a moderate Libertarian that could drift towards the Democrats as you grow older, as you will probably change your mind somewhat on what is and isn't "excessive spending" with a broader life experience (but that's a guess). Libertarian would make the most sense since single payer health care is the only real outlier there. Democrats if you feel the need to choose one of the big parties, since its more broad tent.

Personally I would remain an independent if I where you, but that's a matter of temperament. I would be too principled to register as something I didn't really identify with. Most likely that's the wrong way of thinking for you, though.

I define excessive as programs that can be handled by states and/or are not in federal boundaries, as well as "pork" for useless stuff like testing rats to see if their tails play an effect in getting eaten, etc. Of course, there are programs that I support. Welfare is still a necessity, but it is abused too much to me.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Sounds like a Conservative Democrat to me. Definitely wouldn't be surprised if you registered as a Libertarian down the road.

[bedstuy]

It doesn't matter.  It's a waste of time worrying about whether people agree with your 17 year old self.

Nobody is really educated at the age of 17.  You still have so much time to grow, read books, gain life experience, find out what research actually gets NIH funding, etc.  So, don't pigeonhole yourself,  focus on learning more and keeping an open mind.  Read some books, get in the habit of reading the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal, study abroad in another country, take some college classes on politics or economics, and then see where you're at.  Hopefully, you'll look back at your beliefs at age 17 and just be amazed by how little you knew about the world.  It's like that Socrates quote, the difference between a smart person and a dumb person is that a smart person realizes how ignorant they are.

[angus]

This sounds egotistical, but hear me out. As most have seen, I have a weird spectrum of beliefs. I support gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and single payer, but am sharply against gun control, affirmative action, excessive spending, want to greatly reduce certain taxes but instate others to pay for muh single payer while still cutting spending, etc among other things. With that in mind, I am at a crossroad on where to register when I turn 18 in a little over a year or so. I won't register solely on these suggestions, but am looking at least for some input. Either way, I will be called a (Party First Letter)INO.

If I were you I'd look into your state's primary election rules.  If they're open or modified open primaries, then there's no need to be a member of any party.  If they're closed, then figure out which one is more interesting and register with them.  Just be sure to do it in time to vote.

[AggregateDemand]

This sounds egotistical, but hear me out. As most have seen, I have a weird spectrum of beliefs. I support gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and single payer, but am sharply against gun control, affirmative action, excessive spending, want to greatly reduce certain taxes but instate others to pay for muh single payer while still cutting spending, etc among other things. With that in mind, I am at a crossroad on where to register when I turn 18 in a little over a year or so. I won't register solely on these suggestions, but am looking at least for some input. Either way, I will be called a (Party First Letter)INO.

It depends upon your political orientation regarding single-payer. If you believe that single-payer should adhere to the concept of catastrophic health services, you're a libertarian. Your view will be tolerated or supported because catastrophic healthcare doesn't really function like a marketplace; therefore, government intervention may be practical. Your other views are in line with libertarian thinking.

If you believe single-payer insurance should be a comprehensive system, like Canada, you should register Democrat. You'll find a home amongst the worker's-unite Social-Democrats, who are often quite libertarian, except for their views on positive rights and government services. Guns, egalitarianism (no affirmative action, no gay marriage ban), and a government-raised chicken in every pot.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Obviously, you're a Moderate Social Libertarian Neo-Fascist Paleo-Liberal Rockefeller Republican with a slight Communitarian streak.

[© tweed]

whichever primaries you believe you'll want to vote in

[Cobbler]

It doesn't matter.  It's a waste of time worrying about whether people agree with your 17 year old self.

This.

[Free Bird]

This sounds egotistical, but hear me out. As most have seen, I have a weird spectrum of beliefs. I support gay marriage, drug decriminalization, and single payer, but am sharply against gun control, affirmative action, excessive spending, want to greatly reduce certain taxes but instate others to pay for muh single payer while still cutting spending, etc among other things. With that in mind, I am at a crossroad on where to register when I turn 18 in a little over a year or so. I won't register solely on these suggestions, but am looking at least for some input. Either way, I will be called a (Party First Letter)INO.

It depends upon your political orientation regarding single-payer. If you believe that single-payer should adhere to the concept of catastrophic health services, you're a libertarian. Your view will be tolerated or supported because catastrophic healthcare doesn't really function like a marketplace; therefore, government intervention may be practical. Your other views are in line with libertarian thinking.

If you believe single-payer insurance should be a comprehensive system, like Canada, you should register Democrat. You'll find a home amongst the worker's-unite Social-Democrats, who are often quite libertarian, except for their views on positive rights and government services. Guns, egalitarianism (no affirmative action, no gay marriage ban), and a government-raised chicken in every pot.

Not for this actually. I just don't agree with the neocon idea of absolutely killing welfare

[AggregateDemand]

Not for this actually. I just don't agree with the neocon idea of absolutely killing welfare

Maybe you are a unicorn--a Clintonian New Democrat.

Don't be confused by the tax increase, DOMA, or the AWB. Those policies were brought to us by Dick Morris and his new-school pollster-populism. New Democrats are creatures of economic habit, at their core, and the tax increases only survived because the Asian Crisis caused us to boom into Clinton's tax rates from the Laffer viewpoint. As soon as the economy slumped, Bush tax cuts took over.

After the Republican Revolution, Clinton went searching for answers, and he must have found some neoliberals he liked. The second term was about welfare reform and declaring that the era of big government was over. Robert Reich got his walking papers, but Clinton never completely turned his back on government intervention. Unfortunately, neoliberalism often makes people so focused on domestic economic power that presidents neglect foreign policy. Clinton was asleep at the switch for most of his presidency, and Bush wasn't exactly alert before 9/11.

If you are really a New Democrat, which means economically-minded and relatively socially apathetic or moderate, you don't have many options. Democrats hate your guts, and they are willing to undermine Hillary's candidacy to install a left-wing, communist-born crybaby. If you register Republican you'll be maligned as a RINO and a closet-socialist. Libertarians don't want anything to do with New Democrats because they won't forgive DOMA, AWB, or the huge tax increases.

Your best bet is to remain Independent until the parties evolve.

[Free Bird]

Not for this actually. I just don't agree with the neocon idea of absolutely killing welfare

Maybe you are a unicorn--a Clintonian New Democrat.

Don't be confused by the tax increase, DOMA, or the AWB. Those policies were brought to us by Dick Morris and his new-school pollster-populism. New Democrats are creatures of economic habit, at their core, and the tax increases only survived because the Asian Crisis caused us to boom into Clinton's tax rates from the Laffer viewpoint. As soon as the economy slumped, Bush tax cuts took over.

After the Republican Revolution, Clinton went searching for answers, and he must have found some neoliberals he liked. The second term was about welfare reform and declaring that the era of big government was over. Robert Reich got his walking papers, but Clinton never completely turned his back on government intervention. Unfortunately, neoliberalism often makes people so focused on domestic economic power that presidents neglect foreign policy. Clinton was asleep at the switch for most of his presidency, and Bush wasn't exactly alert before 9/11.

If you are really a New Democrat, which means economically-minded and relatively socially apathetic or moderate, you don't have many options. Democrats hate your guts, and they are willing to undermine Hillary's candidacy to install a left-wing, communist-born crybaby. If you register Republican you'll be maligned as a RINO and a closet-socialist. Libertarians don't want anything to do with New Democrats because they won't forgive DOMA, AWB, or the huge tax increases.

Your best bet is to remain Independent until the parties evolve.

Tax increases can go die too

[Vega]

Independent.

[ElectionsGuy]

Indy

[H. Ross Peron]

I would welcome you as a Conservative Democrat.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

What taxes do you want increased to pay for single-payer?

[eric82oslo]

Either way, I will be called a (Party First Letter)INO.

I think you will be called a LINO, as you're truely a Democrat lol, deep inside.

[eric82oslo]

It doesn't matter.  It's a waste of time worrying about whether people agree with your 17 year old self.

Nobody is really educated at the age of 17.  

I have hardly changed any single view since I were 15 (I'm 31 now), so I strongly disagree with that. However I know of at least one big political issue where I've made a 180 degrees turn around since I were 11-12 years old though [it's actually on the European Union, as I was 11 during Norway's second EU referendum in 1994, and strongly against us becoming members at the time - a few years later however I joined the Norwegian pro EU organization called European Youth), so I agree that there's a downer limit somewhere. I just happen to think it's younger than 17 and probably even younger than 16. Though of course all humans are different and have different experiences. Some grow up quickly, others not so much. In any case, I strongly support lowering the the right to vote to 16 [or even 15] worldwide and have done so ever since I became politically active in a party at age 15.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Is Connecticut for Lieberman still around?

[bedstuy]

It doesn't matter.  It's a waste of time worrying about whether people agree with your 17 year old self.

Nobody is really educated at the age of 17.  

I have hardly changed any single view since I were 15 (I'm 31 now), so I strongly disagree with that. However I know of at least one big political issue where I've made a 180 degrees turn around since I were 11-12 years old though [it's actually on the European Union, as I was 11 during Norway's second EU referendum in 1994, and strongly against us becoming members at the time - a few years later however I joined the Norwegian pro EU organization called European Youth), so I agree that there's a downer limit somewhere. I just happen to think it's younger than 17 and probably even younger than 16. Though of course all humans are different and have different experiences. Some grow up quickly, others not so much. In any case, I strongly support lowering the the right to vote to 16 [or even 15] worldwide and have done so ever since I became politically active in a party at age 15.

You might not change your philosophy, but you hopefully learn more and gain a deeper understanding of things.  A lot of your political views at a young age are just parroting your parents and your peer group anyway.  Sometimes that future growth actually backs up how you already see things, sometimes it changes you and sometimes it just puts a new spin on your beliefs.

[Free Bird]

What taxes do you want increased to pay for single-payer?

Instate tariffs and consumption taxes

[bedstuy]

What taxes do you want increased to pay for single-payer?

Instate tariffs and consumption taxes

What is an "Instate tariff"?