posted on Nov, 28 2009 @ 02:13 PM
I have identified myself as mostly liberal because of my position on issues that would seem to be effected by whether or not democrats or republicans
are in power. But this thread is causing me to reconsider doing this in the future.
I believe everyone should have access to medical care, not just emergency care. My reasons for this are not entirely humanitarian. I believe the
current system is very wasteful and inefficient as well as being inhumane. In other words, I am socially progressive but financially conservative on
this issue. Yet many conservatives would simply brand me a communist on this issue alone.
I believe in a woman's right to choose. By current definition this a liberal position, but isn't keeping the govt from interfering with personal
decisions a conservative core belief? That does not mean I agree with abortion or disagree with it, it means I think I have no right to impose myself
on someone else.
I support the right of gays to marry. Again this is liberal by current definition. But is based on what I believe to be a conservative value, the
right to personal choice sans govt interference.
I recently posted that I own 11 firearms. But I forgot to count two pistols, so make that 13. I take my second amendment rights quite seriously. Once
again, so much for the stereotype the OP and others have placed upon "liberals".
The current definition of conservative seems to mean that one supports every deployment of combat troops without question. Why so supportive of war?
I oppose sending troops to Afghanistan and keeping troops in Iraq any longer than absolutely necessary based on beliefs that cannot be pigeon holed as
liberal, yet the right automatically attacks anyone who does not support these wars as unpatriotic, or worse. We were not attacked by either country
and these wars are placing us in economic peril. That used to be considered quite a conservative position.
It seems that the OP is saying liberals are just effeminate, egg-headed, misfits. I am twice married and have a child. Nor could I be considered
physically unhealthy. Mentally, ....I leave that to others to judge, but I'm happy most of the time.
Believe that if you wish, but it is no more true than saying conservatives are bigoted, inbred fools. The whole left vs. right paradigm falls apart
under scrutiny. People are not so simple and uncomplicated as to be stereotyped into two neat groups. If you think that they are then I would suggest
that perhaps your thinking has been manipulated.
Turn on MSNBC, Fox, AM, FM or XM and you will hear pundits from either side demonize the other. Why? I think it goes beyond ratings. It is a
distraction, a misdirection, meant to keep us all occupied and divided. I cannot believe that all conservatives are in lock step and marching us into
fascism. But that seems to be what liberal commentators have to say.
I think what most people ultimately want is the same thing. We want fair economic opportunities, freedom, affordable health care, good schools, safe
streets and a govt that is responsive to our voice. We will never completely agree on how to get those things, so we debate and then we vote.
Afterwards we all pull together as Americans for the good of our country.
But many of us have allowed ourselves to be convinced that those who disagree with us are not 'real" Americans. Instead, we see those who disagree
with us on political issues as the embodiment of evil. For the good of our country we should do away this kind of thinking and ask ourselves why the
media has led us down this path.
[edit on 28-11-2009 by Aircow]