POLL: Political leanings

[Ben E Lou]

No need for this to turn into a fight. Just curious where people stand.

[Chubby]

there's no poll

Also, make sure to note whether the person is a lurker or someone who posts a lot...



Dem (duh) Not that I agree with everything the Dems think or disagree with everything the Repubs think but I value people over businesses which I think it the biggest difference between the 2 parties.

[Joe]

take a wild guess

[SirFozzie]

you flaming liberal, you GWB

I found myself on the moderately liberal side. I'm Independent, but if you broke down my votes, it would be 65-35 Dem over Rep.

[Young Drachma]

I always joke that I'm somewhere in the North Right. I'm a conservative, but I have strong libertarian leanings. But I'm no libertarian. Of course, I've never been comfortable with the Republican label for years either. So, I always tell people I'm conservative, but not Republican. Most get it, others stare. On social policy, I get pretty libertarian.

[Desnudo]

Where's Mostly Marxist? Or is that what the term liberal means here?


*Ta-da-boom*

[sabotai]

To clear it up for some people, Very Liberal = Stupid Commie and Strongly Conservative = Angry Fascist.

[cthomer5000]

I'm all over the place, really. Very liberal beliefs on some issues, very conservative beliefs on others.

[fantastic flying froggies]

I'm a moderate conservative here in France, so I'm guessing that would make me moderatly to very liberal over in the US...

Just to give you a rough idea, we call right wingers Liberals here...

[GrantDawg]

Liberal side pretty high up on this poll. I've officially as of a month ago became middle of the road.

[fantastic flying froggies]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Liberal side pretty high up on this poll.

True, but the poll itself is leaning that way, with 2 conservative vs 3 liberal categories...

[tucker342]

Very Liberal

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

True, but the poll itself is leaning that way, with 2 conservative vs 3 liberal categories...

I'm not sure you can call libertarian conservative or liberal, which is why I separated it out.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

True, but the poll itself is leaning that way, with 2 conservative vs 3 liberal categories...

oops. Just noticed the last one is not liberal. So it is even, two-two.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by fantastic flying froggies

True, but the poll itself is leaning that way, with 2 conservative vs 3 liberal categories...

I count 2 liberal categories...

[fantastic flying froggies]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I'm not sure you can call libertarian conservative or liberal, which is why I separated it out.

...which caused me to read your poll again, this time carefully... I'd actually read liberal instead of libertarian, my bad...

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

I'm not sure you can call libertarian conservative or liberal, which is why I separated it out.

It is generally believed that libertarian is actually right of conservative but not on the same spectrum. The reason that the opposite of liberatarian is socialism, which is a more liberal view of govt.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

It is generally believed that libertarian is actually right of conservative but not on the same spectrum. The reason that the opposite of liberatarian is socialism, which is a more liberal view of govt.

Agreed that it is generally believed, but I find that a bit off base. Legalizing drugs and prostitution, for example, don't exactly fit with American conservative thought.

[John Galt]

I really have no clue how to answer this one. I'm sure most here would label me as very liberal (and unlike many, I don't consider "liberal" to be an insult). However, I'm not sure my political views really fit into the liberal categories because I'm very distrustful of authority and government. So I guess, I abstain.

[nfg22]

Libertarian political views as in size of government and regulation are conservative.

[Sharpieman]

Damn, 25 liberals on the board, nice

[Dutch]

Ouch!

[Kodos]

I'm highly liberal went it comes to the rights of individuals and in protecting the environment from companies, but I'm also a staunch supporter of the death penalty and lean toward the conservative side on some other issues. So I put moderately liberal, although most would probably say I'm highly liberal.

I also do not consider being called liberal to be an insult.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by John Galt

I really have no clue how to answer this one. I'm sure most here would label me as very liberal (and unlike many, I don't consider "liberal" to be an insult). However, I'm not sure my political views really fit into the liberal categories because I'm very distrustful of authority and government. So I guess, I abstain.

Typical of a f-ing lawyer.

[MJ4H]

i thought the opposite of libertarian was authoritarian? i dont know much about this stuff though.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Agreed that it is generally believed, but I find that a bit off base. Legalizing drugs and prostitution, for example, don't exactly fit with American conservative thought.

I know, that's why I said it's probably not on the same spectrum. Drugs and immigration are two issues I disagree with but that does not prevent me from leaning libertarian - just like others not agreeing with everything on the Rep or Dem platforms.

But you have to admit that they (Libertarians) are being consistent in their views of the Constitution. How can one say that the restrictions on federal govt powers (ala 10th Amendment) apply in some cases but not in others? If the War on Terror (which I agree to some extent with, imo) can and have limited ones personal and civil liberties, wouldn't (and haven't) the War on Drugs be the same? I suspect the Libertarians do not want to see an increase in drug use anymore than the rest of us. But their point is that after all of the money and resources spent fighting this 'War' and increased Police State in jailing petty drug users - has it been worth it? Are you willing to trade in a little of your personal liberties and more of your dollars so the federal govt can watch over you more closely? What if you are a business owner (small or large)? Are you willing to have the federal govt police you and your business more (and perhaps losing some profits and sapping a little growth as in jobs) so they can regulate you a little more?

We may find justification for any and all federal govt powers but in doing so, you have given up a little more of your liberties, your personal responsibilities and your money for that privilege. Once we have done so - we will likely never, ever get it back.

[Izulde]

I'm all over the place myself like a lot of other people on here. Moderately liberal would probably be the best choice though, if I were to choose one.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

i thought the opposite of libertarian was authoritarian? i dont know much about this stuff though.

That is astute because the fundamental difference between libertarianism and liberalism is the power of a central authority. The basis for liberalism is not the absense of authority but in the socialism of all those governed and the purpose of govt to ensure that. Libertarianism on the other hand is about the rejection of authority of a central power and in practicality, about more authority on a personal and local level. One can argue of where to draw the line of authority and that would be valid for either viewpoint. But lessons learned from history - in the reason why the framers of the Constitution purposely ensured a libertarian Republic - has been lost.

I'm thinking in circles again so I'll think on this more...

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Drugs and immigration are two issues I disagree with but that does not prevent me from leaning libertarian

Weenie.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

i thought the opposite of libertarian was authoritarian? i dont know much about this stuff though.

Yes. The problem a lot of people get into is mixing political labels and economic labels -- for example, socialism and capitalism are economic labels, but libertarian and authoritarian are political labels.

Further muddling the issue is that libertarian and authoritian labels don't fit well within the U.S. definition of "liberal" and "conservative." A true libertarian, for example, advocates that we only need a few laws to keep society from breaking down. But an extreme conservative in the U.S., for example, might favor few laws regulating the economy, but would favor many laws regulating social behavior and vice versa for an extreme liberal.

I don't know whether to be surprised at the results above or to dismiss it as a poor sample. My anecdotal observation is that this board leans more conservative. Maybe they are just louder, not more plentiful.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I don't know whether to be surprised at the results above or to dismiss it as a poor sample. My anecdotal observation is that this board leans more conservative. Maybe they are just louder, not more plentiful.

Or, you just are annoyed by them which makes them stand out. I see as many loud. annoying, liberal trolls as I see conservative trolls on here.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

Weenie.

I wouldn't be if drugs weren't cool and demanded by too many people.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Or, you just are annoyed by them which makes them stand out. I see as many loud. annoying, liberal trolls as I see conservative trolls on here.

Point goes to the gentleman from Georgia.

It's about seeing what you want to see.

[Ben E Lou]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

I wouldn't be if drugs weren't cool and demanded by too many people.

That's immaterial. In this country, adults should have the right to make stupid decisions to screw up their lives. It is not up to the government to protect people from their own bad decisions.

[Dutch]

I know I am a moderate conservative. My voting record at the federal level would indicate I'm a pure independent actually....

However, I do realize that I spend most of my political talking on the FOFC as an extreme conservative simply because I generally only argue/debate/associate with extreme liberals when talking politics around here. If that makes any sense.

[Crapshoot]

Dutch - I know exactly what you mean. If we ever spent more time debating economics trade and tax policy, I'd be shown more in the light I percieve myself to be- most of our views of the political spectrum here seem to be centered on defense/foreign policy and occasionaly social engineering...

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by SkyDog

That's immaterial. In this country, adults should have the right to make stupid decisions to screw up their lives. It is not up to the government to protect people from their own bad decisions.

But where do you draw the line? An increased percentage of drug users in this country will affect 1) the amount I pay for insurance premiums, 2) the number of fatal accidents at work and on the roads and 3) the lose of work productivity. But I agree, that should NOT permit the federal govt to have more authority in the regulation and enforcement of drug usage (but they do in the defense against foreign drug traffickers).

The authority to regulate drug usage and the penalties thereof should come from the grassroots. If Tucker wants to outlaw all drug usage of a certain type and the people of Tucker are in favor of it - the federal govt has no authority to control that. That's where the problem lies (and where you and I agree with). Personal responsibilities mean that you should not be doing shit like taking dangerous, addictive drugs. But since we have to have laws, the best enforcement comes from local authority, not some central authority far away from Tucker, Georgia.