What makes you a Republican or Democrat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an independent. I voted for obama this past election, but I tend to be conservative when it comes to government involvement, which leans me toward republican; and very liberal when it comes to social issues like abortion, gay marriage, etc.

I think there should be government programs for the poor, of course, but I was raised to be a "pick-yourself-by-your-bootstraps" kind of person so I also feel people should be rewarded and incented to work hard etc.

However, I recognize not everyone is starting from the place I started - I went to good schools, was able to go college and not worry about working until I had a degree, etc. So there has to be some help to get people in the right direction.

I'm similar --socially liberal in the send of each to their own, which ironically ends up making me more Republican than Democrat to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Registered Republican. Think most government spending programs (e.g., Social Security and "programs for the poor") should be severely curtailed or abolished; think taxes should be low; believe in some financial, competition, and health regulation, so not completely anti-government.

Socially fairly liberal, but not across the board -- I think issues like abortion and gay marriage have no place within the federal discussion; it's none of my business and none of the federal government's business to get involved in. Moreover, states should not be able to restrict/ban abortion any more than they should be able to restrict/ban birth control because these "rights" stem from the same line of Supreme Court cases; so if you wipe out Roe, you should rightfully wipe out all the privacy cases that came before it. The Christian Coalition should consider this before spouting off about Roe being an overreach. On the other hand, am very strongly for the death penalty (is this a "social" issue?).

Find Obama and most Democrats these days repugnant; am disappointed by the "Moral Majority" view of my own party, but hope that one day there will be a return to fiscal conservatism without the accompanying need to sell out one's beliefs on private issues like religion, marriage, etc., to achieve the former.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Registered Republican. Think most government spending programs (e.g., Social Security and "programs for the poor") should be severely curtailed or abolished; think taxes should be low; believe in some financial, competition, and health regulation, so not completely anti-government.

Socially fairly liberal, but not across the board -- I think issues like abortion and gay marriage have no place within the federal discussion; it's none of my business and none of the federal government's business to get involved in. Moreover, states should not be able to restrict/ban abortion any more than they should be able to restrict/ban birth control because these "rights" stem from the same line of Supreme Court cases; so if you wipe out Roe, you should rightfully wipe out all the privacy cases that came before it. The Christian Coalition should consider this before spouting off about Roe being an overreach. On the other hand, am very strongly for the death penalty (is this a "social" issue?).

Find Obama and most Democrats these days repugnant; am disappointed by the "Moral Majority" view of my own party, but hope that one day there will be a return to fiscal conservatism without the accompanying need to sell out one's beliefs on private issues like religion, marriage, etc., to achieve the former.

Couldn't have said it better. This is me to a "T".

[Anonymous]

I am a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I am at the point where I have little to no respect for Democrats. I am tired of hearing how they are so intellectual etc. etc.--whatever maybe I don't have a Harvard degree but I know whining when I hear it. Too many liberals are way to comfortable spending other people's money and most could not run a profitable business.they couldn't handle the pressure let alone the hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a fiscal conservative and social liberal. I am at the point where I have little to no respect for Democrats. I am tired of hearing how they are so intellectual etc. etc.--whatever maybe I don't have a Harvard degree but I know whining when I hear it. Too many liberals are way to comfortable spending other people's money and most could not run a profitable business.they couldn't handle the pressure let alone the hours.

I'm also quite tired of the assumption that all liberals are elite intellectuals and all conservatives are from the backwoods. As a Republican, I was educated at the same prestigious undergraduate and graduate schools that many of my liberal counterparts were. I know many uneducated liberals and many educated conservatives; I know many educated liberals who lack common sense and many uneducated conservatives who have it in spades; I also know many people who, when they were young and didn't have to pay for anything, were very liberal with other people's money; now, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Democrat.

I believe the quality of my life is dependent on the quality of life and the world around me. I believe that government in the right hands with an informed, active public can do good things. I believe that equal opportunity means equal access to quality public education, and affordable and available healthcare. I believe that social safety programs that teach skills and pull people out of disaster and into jobs in the long run aids the economy rather than bleeds it.

Most of all I believe we are a progressive soceity that needs to embrace change, look hard at our biases and shortcomings and move toward the future not cling to the past.

[Anonymous]

Glad I live in VA where I don't need to declare a party. I can vote in either primary, just not BOTH.

I am fiscally conservative, libertarian on most social issues, and strongly oppose my Federal tax dollars funding abortion. If this were 1860 I would probably be Confederate - I think the Federal govt. in many - too many - instances overreaches and steps on state's rights. I believe that issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. should be decided locally, not Federally.

Voted for Warner as gov. and senator, Kaine and Webb not so much. Don't know what that makes me exactly.

[Anonymous]

I guess the previous poster wants all blacks to become slaves again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the previous poster wants all blacks to become slaves again.

You're an effing moron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the previous poster wants all blacks to become slaves again.

You're an effing moron.

Both comments truly raise our level of discourse. The only thing worse would be to stoop to the level of commenting on th.... OOPS!

[Anonymous]

Dem. Because of Abortion and Gay rights.

And because I believe there should be a baseline standard of living for all Americans, yes, funded by taxes, which I also pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dem. Because of Abortion and Gay rights.

And because I believe there should be a baseline standard of living for all Americans, yes, funded by taxes, which I also pay.

Actually, self-important posters like this one are one of the biggest reasons I'm a Republican. Hey, PP, we're being run by a Dem Congress and administration; happy with the baseline or should we be moving toward commune-style living?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dem. Because of Abortion and Gay rights.

And because I believe there should be a baseline standard of living for all Americans, yes, funded by taxes, which I also pay.

Actually, self-important posters like this one are one of the biggest reasons I'm a Republican. Hey, PP, we're being run by a Dem Congress and administration; happy with the baseline or should we be moving toward commune-style living?

NP here. There is no baseline (unless you mean a baseline of 0). It would be helpful if you could describe things accurately.

[Anonymous]

Seems like this forum is dominated by Republican/libertarian types. I won't get into my view of that, but in answer to the OP's question, I found George Lakoff's 1996 book Moral Politics to be very illuminating on what makes people lean one way or the other. His theory is that your view of family/parenting (though not necessarily how you personally parent) is a metaphor for how you view government. Fascinating stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like this forum is dominated by Republican/libertarian types. I won't get into my view of that, but in answer to the OP's question, I found George Lakoff's 1996 book Moral Politics to be very illuminating on what makes people lean one way or the other. His theory is that your view of family/parenting (though not necessarily how you personally parent) is a metaphor for how you view government. Fascinating stuff.

OP here. Thanks for the info. Funny you mention who dominates the forum. That's why I originally put this in "Off Topic" so it wasn't just people who look on "political discussions." Guess I was vetoed over here though.

Appreciate everyone's comments. Sincerely.