Political Identity Crisis

**Farnan** · October 27, 2006, 11:05 PM

I've always identified myself with the right, but I'm not sure where I fit anymore. About every political test I take ends up putting me in the center or even slightly to the left of center. I am a registered Republican, but I'm not sure how I really fit...

Here are how I stand on some issues:

Gay Marriage: Allow civil unions with the same rights as marriage. Pretty much marriage without the name so the "sanctity of marriage", or what little of it still exists with Vegas weddings and rampant divorce, is still preserved, but homosexual couples can still have the same rights as heterosexual couples. In my personal religous beliefs I believe that homosexual sex is a sin, but I also remember the teachings of Jesus that you should love your neighbor as yourself and that you should "Love your enemy" (don't get it wrong homosexuals are not my enemy, but the idea is that you should love even those you don't agree with).

Abortion: Pro-life

Marijuana: Never used it, never will, but for legalising it, and using the taxes gained from that to fight real drugs through both attacking the drug dealers and rehabilitating those that have become addicted.

Drinking Age: Reduce it to 18. If you're old enough to die for the country, you're old enough to drink. Nobody follows this law anyways, so why be stubborn and keep it at 21.

Iraq War: For, as a Free Iraq could force other nations in the Middle East to have liberal reforms.

When War is justified: For the preservation and spread of liberty.

Welfare: Massive reform here, stop giving money in the form of cash or checks, rather give them an account in which they can only use the money to buy what they need. Also pay their rent and other essential bills.

Taxes: Lower for everyone in order to spur economic growth.

Foreign relations: Work to rebuild SEATO to help deal with North Korea, work to push China into iniating internal reforms without strongarming them. Use Dollar Diplomacy to achieve this, as in we'll give them incentives in the form of better trade deals or economic aid if they start reforming their government.

Not sure what else to put down, but the compass puts me as being a small bit left of center, while I've always considered myself to be on the right...

**Big War Bird** · October 27, 2006, 11:23 PM

Don't count your self as a democrat whatever you do. Their first sacrament is abortion. Gay sex is a encouraged lifestyle. They never saw a tax they didn't like either. And dems "loathe the military."

**mongoose** · October 27, 2006, 11:25 PM

You're still pretty right wing. The only thing that would really qualify you as a "liberal", even in the U.S, is the drug thing.

Gay sex is a encouraged lifestyle.

I always thought that they just encouraged self-hating gay people to come out of the closet, though I might be wrong...

**mrjesushat** · October 27, 2006, 11:52 PM

I'd vote for you. Unless you tried to take my guns. That would create a problem for you, pretty much. Marijuana, guns and lots of babies!!!! And endless war to secure freedom. What a platform.

Seriously, you should run for office. I'm not playing. Move to Wyoming, North Carolina, or Nevada. If you run in Nevada, you have to wear a cowboy hat. And we'll make a shemale your press secretary.

**mike^_^** · October 28, 2006, 12:14 AM

I've always identified myself with the right, but I'm not sure where I fit anymore. About every political test I take ends up putting me in the center or even slightly to the left of center. I am a registered Republican, but I'm not sure how I really fit...

you're looking at it wrong. the two parties are basically copies of each other, they just have different rhetoric, two sides of the same coin if you will.

gay marriage and abortion are just media circuses there they can play up to neutralize your thinking process, and keep real pertinent issues from coming to the forefront in political discourse.

instead of left or right, let's worry about constitutional

**Fenris** · October 28, 2006, 12:43 AM

Sucks to be in a two-party electoral system huh?

So much for democracy...

**Ahiga** · October 27, 2006, 11:58 PM

My suggestion would be to continue to vote republican, but keep your eyes peeled for independents. I'm having a somewhat similiar crisis, in wanting to expand to a more central position but not wanting my vote to be lost for democratic canidates, since on the moral issues I side with them. For you, you should continue to vote republican if you feel that is the party which best represents your interests, and if you don't vote for them, there's a chance it will hurt them and let the party you're less inclined to get into power. However, there would come a tiem when you have to sacrifice that and try to vote for the independent, if they represent your interests.

If you were a bit more moderate on abortion (I think George allen, my state's senator, is what you could call moderate on that issue. Decrease abortion rather than ban outright, remove government spending, the parental concession is a bit iffy but still - if Webb weren't a moderate and were a raging leftist, and I not be so at odds with the current admin., I might vote for allen), I think I'd vote for you, excluding also the issue of spreading freedom through war.

**alman9898** · October 28, 2006, 12:52 AM

Left and right are just words; choose your own political identity.

**harm** · October 28, 2006, 03:42 AM

Gay Marriage: All marriage won't be recognized by the state; even between man and woman. All churches should be taxed.
A true seperation.

Abortion: pro-science; kill all, because they arn't even alive.

Marijuana & shrooms: legal

Drinking Age: 16

Iraq War: Kill all islamics, then the christians.

Welfare: Sub food stamps/ebt for cash to rid the poor of shame.

Taxes: Increase tax on the top 10%. Let the corporations earn our money, instead of giving them free tax breaks.

Foreign relations: Respect the UN.

Everyone is born a republican, only some overcome it. blah blah blah

**Kino** · October 28, 2006, 04:26 AM

Deleted by user.

**harm** · October 28, 2006, 04:36 AM

Dzoavits, you have good opinions.

**MasterOfNone** · October 28, 2006, 05:32 AM

Wise words, Mike, and I much agree; though I am sure there are genuine members at the grass roots.

**danzig** · October 28, 2006, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Farnan

I've always identified myself with the right, but I'm not sure where I fit anymore. About every political test I take ends up putting me in the center or even slightly to the left of center. I am a registered Republican, but I'm not sure how I really fit...

You are coming to conclusion I think many of us under 35 people are (I assume you are under 35!) that boxing ourself into a political identity is far too limited. Views vary, its not as easy as saying this issue is right wing, this issue is left wing because each issue is its own. For far too long to be liberal = you must support abortion anytime any place and if you are right wing = you must oppose it no matter what. The issue simply isnt that simplistic, it is far more reasonable to look at the issue at a whole that abortion should be legal but we should be working more at making it unnecessary and less common. Mention this to a unbending left winger or right winger and you'll instantly be accused of being Pro Life by the liberal and Pro Choice by the right winger who cant see the issue beyond its political links. I honestly believe more and more Americans starting to see this, this is why despite every screw up, foul up by Republicans and Bush the midterm elections are not a sure thing that Democrats will assume control...its almost like alot of people want something else to vote for and I notice it among my friends as well...it is amazing how many of them have no intention of voting because of it. Vote for candidates not party as you are what most Americans are....a moderate.

**Bwaho** · October 28, 2006, 10:39 AM

In my personal religous beliefs I believe that homosexual sex is a sin, but I also remember the teachings of Jesus that you should love your neighbor as yourself and that you should "Love your enemy" (don't get it wrong homosexuals are not my enemy, but the idea is that you should love even those you don't agree with).

ok from this I can assume you are a christian?

Abortion: Pro-life

again because of your christian religion?

Iraq War: For, as a Free Iraq could force other nations in the Middle East to have liberal reforms.

When War is justified: For the preservation and spread of liberty

but this puzzles me... don't you remember Jesus speaks against killing people? something which happens a lot in war. He also said you are not to judge others, but yet you want to force other peoples to see things your way.

do you consider yourself to be a true follower of Jesus?

**sephodwyrm** · October 28, 2006, 12:58 PM

Sexuality is not inherently gender biased.
Homosexuality is as natural as heterosexuality.
I think people should be aware of this.

Iraq War: For, as a Free Iraq could force other nations in the Middle East to have liberal reforms.

When the Yemeni government was against the use of military arms to contain in Iraq in 1990, the Arabian nations decided to deport 850000 Yemeni back to their country. With allies like these then and now, I don't see why the nations in the ME will want US-backed reforms. The closest thing for the Gulf States to have liberal reforms was Saddam, and the attempt was totally botched.

**Logue** · October 28, 2006, 01:23 PM

Iraq War: For, as a Free Iraq could force other nations in the Middle East to have liberal reforms.

When War is justified: For the preservation and spread of liberty.

I have to disagree with that, you can't force liberty on everyone. People may not always want what you want or see things the way you do. However if you are fighting to protect something that belongs to you either a way of life or your own country then by all means have at them but don't force your way of life on people who dont want it.