(July 1, 2015 at 3:42 pm)CapnAwesome Wrote: I'm one of the two people to pick right wing apparently. I'm a libertarian/conservative but definitely not of the Ayn Rand or Ron Paul variety, where they tend to be moderate on social issues I tend towards moderation on economic issues but am an absolutist when it comes to social issues. Why then pick right wing out of the choices (and not the slightly pedantic other.) Well libertarian on social issues does not mean left-wing on social issues at all. For example on the gay marriage issue, a socially left person wants the state to sanction both gay and straight marriage, where as a libertarian would not want the state to be involved at all. The left wing social sphere is where hate speech laws came from, very different from the libertarian social view. People who think that libertarians are socially left and economically right just don't understand the very different approach. I think it's far more acurate to say that libertarians are socially to the right wing, or at the least their own thing.

I agree with most of what you've said but I think you're referring specifically to right-libertarians - Libertarianism is somewhat rooted in anarchism and there's many sub-variations - The original libertarianism was socialist and proposed the limitation of the State along with the common ownership of means of production. I actually disagree with the State not being involved because any contract, to exist, must be allowed by some Law and only public authorities can approve Laws. There's many interests the State can have in marriage such as it allowing people some stability and happiness that increases their productivity and income, leading to higher incomes and paying more taxes, etc.

I identify as a socially liberal American. I believe in LGBT rights, secularism, the Affordable Care Act (keeping in mind that we do need to reform parts of the law), debt free colleges, immigration reform, public works programs, and so on. It is my dream to see a country where every family has health insurance, a good job, access to child care, and the opportunity to go to college. The Democratic Party (United States) has done the most to achieve this vision, so I tend to support their candidates in the voting booth. President Obama (focusing on domestic instead of foreign policy) has proposed a pragmatic and solid agenda for providing all citizens with an equal opportunity. While I disagree with him on things like military interventionism, I support most of his proposals. Regulated capitalism, social welfare systems, and comprehensive diplomacy will bring us in line with more egalitarian societies, such as Denmark or Germany.

All of this being said, I am willing to compromise with the other side in any discussion. It is a problem when people are so stubborn in their beliefs that they don't acknowledge the flaws of their own arguments. That's why I am skeptical of politicians like Bernie Sanders. While there can be no doubt that he is extremely honest, I'm afraid his antagonization of the right (no matter how grounded) and idealism will not make for a good administration. Progressives act as if Congress will automatically be filled with Warrens and Roosevelts if he wins in 2016. Hillary Clinton is more experienced, moderate, and will be more ready to reach out to the other side.

For the record, I used to be a conservative libertarian, so I understand where they are coming from. And I wish that we could focus more on policy instead of philosophy. Discussing the merits of a progressive tax system is more productive than arguing something like taxation being "theft."

Does 'everybody needs to chill the fuck out and get stoned together' count as a political view? Cuz if so, that's mine

What's the meaning of "left", "right" and "moderate" in politics? I'm not familliar with these terms.

(July 10, 2015 at 11:59 am)Atheist_BG Wrote: What's the meaning of "left", "right" and "moderate" in politics? I'm not familliar with these terms.

Left is liberal, right is conservative... moderate is in the middle.

(June 25, 2015 at 6:19 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote: Feel free to leave commentary after you vote.

If you choose other, please elaborate.

:-)

It isn't straight forward.
In America Obama is seen as left wing but over in the UK he would be still far to the right of our right wing.
Your republicans make musollini look like a commie.

(July 10, 2015 at 12:31 pm)Catholic_Lady Wrote:

(July 10, 2015 at 11:59 am)Atheist_BG Wrote: What's the meaning of "left", "right" and "moderate" in politics? I'm not familliar with these terms.

Left is liberal, right is conservative... moderate is in the middle.

I see.  Well, in that case I voted "Moderate" because I'm for almost all that the lefts support, except for the religious freedom. If we give religious freedoms to Muslims, they're gonna assimilate us all and/or kill us all.

None of the above because the political spectrum doesn't make any sense.

(July 10, 2015 at 12:41 pm)Pizza Wrote: None of the above because the political spectrum doesn't make any sense.

Yes - Arguably Stalin wasn't a far-left but a center-left authoritarian and Hitler wasn't far-right but center-right authoritarian :

Funny thing - American conservatives are actually more on the right than the European far-right (mostly nationalists and racists) because the latter are for an internventive State, mostly to control people and prevent bad things like "race mixing".

Left was traditionally associated with workers rights, marxism and collectivism - Nowadays the left is just liberals who are still capitalists but want a better society - Ultimately both conservatives and liberals get their principles out of classical liberalism, there is only a difference in the method of approach and degree of social progressivism. I try not to think of the left as merely being socially liberal and pro-progressive taxation because there's more to it and it's possible to be a full blown marxist and actually be socially conservative.

(July 10, 2015 at 2:22 pm)Dystopia Wrote: Funny thing - American conservatives are actually more on the right than the European far-right (mostly nationalists and racists) because the latter are for an internventive State, mostly to control people and prevent bad things like "race mixing".

So you're saying American conservatives are more on the right than people who believe race mixing should be illegal?

I don't think that's accurate.

I'm an American conservative and I know many American conservatives, and I've never heard a single person even toy with the idea of race mixing being made illegal lol.