Statement on Party Affiliation
Today, as many of you know, I changed my party affiliation from Independent to Liberal. While a difficult decision, I felt that this was, all-in-all, the right decision to make.
I'd like to begin by stressing that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. I've been considering a party move for some time now. Someone mentioned party affiliation to me today, and I decided, to take a good hard look at what these parties stood for, and where I stand personally. I began as a member of the Imperial Bloc, and followed the Bloc into the Federalists, but became an independent upon joining the Administration.
Where do I stand? I believe that abortion should be safe, accessible, rare, and legal, that a rational immigration policy can serve to strengthen our nation, that sex & drug policies should be liberalized, that we should not have a death penalty, that there should be equality for all our citizens. I believe in free trade and lessening regulations. I believe in welfare to help people back onto their feet when they've fallen down, but not how they should stay standing, and that when that welfare is given it should help individuals and not corporations. I have no fundamental issue with progressive taxation. I believe in non-interventionism while maintaining a strong national defense, with full regard for our civil liberties.
Those are my beliefs. They've stayed the same since the beginning of my political career here. But what party do they match best? When I began, the political climate was much different than it is now. The dominant party in my region was the Imperial Bloc, which cast a broad tent, attracting people from across the ideological spectrum, all of whom were interesting in one thing: the betterment of our great region. I stayed with the Bloc, and still believe now what I did then. I eventually ascended to the chairmanship of the Bloc, and did lead the Bloc into a union with the Whigs to form the Federalists. That was the best decision for the Bloc and the IDS, and I have no regrets for doing as chairman what was in the best interests of the membership and the party (I'd like to note now that a union was not my idea; I was merely following in the footsteps of Yelnoc, and my Whig counterparts in the footsteps of Clarence). My personal beliefs, however, are an entirely different matter.
In summary: the reason behind my move is that my views are closer to the Liberals than they are to the Federalists. I bear no ill-will towards the Federalists, and still hold great respect for many of the members of the Federalist Party. But I should be a member of the party closest to my beliefs.
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