Are your politics a bit mixed up?

[Lliam]

All my life, I had what would be considered liberal values, even though I wasn't familiar with the term until high school. I thought liberalism was an attitude; a way of thinking, not a set of issues. It included things like open mindedness, tolerance, support for peace, love, liberty and freedom, distrust of authority, and opposition to war.

I strongly supported the civil rights struggle and women's lib. I voted straight Democrat from 1972 to 1996. After that, I voted independent until 2008 when I got conned into enthusiastically supporting Obama. After his first term, I voted independent again until 2020 when I voted for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time in my life in opposition to Biden.

As a liberal, I never understood why gun control was a "liberal" issue. I thought liberals supported the rights of Americans and believed in expanding people's rights, not restricting them. So I was always at odds with so-called liberals over that issue.

Beginning in the 1980s, Reagan first equated the Republican party with conservatism. By extension, that meant that the Democratic party supposedly represented liberalism. And, of course Democrats thought of people like FDR and JFK, even LBJ, as models liberalism. But people didn't realize that the party had changed completely by the 90s. It had become fully committed to neoliberalism (corporatism/fascism - "Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." Benito Mussolini)

Enough with the history lesson, but it has only gotten progressively worse.

The dumber liberals still think the Democratic party represents liberalism when nothing could be further from the truth. Those liberals buy into whatever the Democratic party and "liberal" media tells them. So liberalism has become Liberalism with a capital L - more like a political party with an inflexible stance on a platform of issues. And if you dare to step out of line with a different opinion on even one issue, you become the enemy.

Liberals have become the most intolerant of them all. They throw around epithets like fascist (ironic), white supremacist, neo-Nazi, redneck, homophobe, racist, and misogynist, conspiracy theorist, anti-vaxer, etc., often without any logic at all. Many are nothing more that hate-filled, ideological bullies. Some are shrill, but the more educated are passive aggressive and condescending.

I know more informed conservatives who are open minded and tolerant these days. They have more of a live and let live attitude, more like old-school liberals. Not that some conservatives aren't ignorant ass holes.

What I finally realized years ago was, smart people had divorced themselves from political partisanship and ideological labels. Those people think for themselves. They oppose divisiveness and understand who is the true enemy.

As for myself, I develop opinions on individual issues based information. I do research. I can modify or change my opinions as more information becomes available. I don't take political party or identity politics into consideration at all. I'm not swayed by consensus because consensus is manipulated by media propaganda.
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” -Mark Twain.

So I disagree with both liberals and conservatives (Democrats/Republicans) on many issues. But I agree with them on some.

I should make clear that my core values haven't changed in 55 years. But I no longer recognize what passes as liberalism. That doesn't make me a conservative.

[KrakenAttackin]

You sound more libertarian which I can get on board with. Once upon a time liberals were seen as the compassionate people, now they are the biggest threat to humanity since Hitler.

[WonderBell99]

I don’t have a political affiliation and it’s better that way.

I base my ideologies off of my own research and try to see both perspectives and then make my decision. I used to be an ignorant kid, but I’m a bit more open minded now that I’ve grown up. I’m not fickle, but I am willing to change my opinion if someone convinces me and presents me with a solid argument. However, I will never change my mind on certain issues. I don’t want to disclose them as it would only pave the way for useless arguments.

One thing I’ve noticed is that on both the sides, both fat left and far right are equally intolerant of the other’s opinion and it’s wrong. My father has taught me to speak my mind and be my own person. I will respect your views as long as you respect mine… that’s how I’ve always been. It’s good to be flexible and open to change. Nothing bad with mixed up politics.

[Hearthly11]

Mine is a mixture lol but I’m more of a liberal who doesn’t believe in abortion so

[razelove]

I'm mostly libertarian, but think we should have taxes to have little things like roads, schools and police. If you want to do something and it doesn't hurt anyone else, you shouldn't face any obstruction from the government, especially if it creates jobs.

On abortion I just feel like such a disingenuous argument is given. If it's pro-abortion, then men shouldn't have to pay child support unless they were (allowed to) acting as a father before. Women aren't knocking themselves up, and still want guys to pay though they're independent and it's her body her choice. If it's anti-abortion, keep the child support as is right in that scenario.

I also think we should have a 2 year mandatory service for all healthy men at some time between 18-25. This country lacks a cohesiveness, drug abuse is spiraling out of control. We need a common thread to bind us together, build an identity of "American". That's the best idea I have.

[Anonymous]

You could say that. I see myself as a conservative Republican. Because my ideals are Republican. But in actuality I'm probably 60% republican 40% democrat.
- I'm not pro life but I'm not pro choice either. But I have a problem with pro choice because I feel this isn't a choice! Like you say it is murder! And should on be used as an absolutely LAST resort. I think except in cases of rape, incest, or the mother life being in peril. Women should be allowed the abortion. But then be sterilized afterwards. Because murder isn't a choice and if you can't handle the responsibility of using your uterus responsibly you should not have the privilege of creating life anymore.
- I'm not for gun control per se. It is a fundamental American Right! But a little common sense goes a long way. You don't need an assault rifle to protect yourself. The simple truth is the bill of rights was created in a time when you and you gov't had muskets. Now the gov't has cruise misses and you're NOT going to stop them if the come to get you lol. So I'm for guns for personal protection and that's NOT an assault rifle!
- on Healthcare, i was not supporter of ACA but I'm not trying to repeal it either. 30 million more Americans now have Healthcare that didn't before and anyway you slice it that is a GOOD thing. But I know there's no such thing as a free lunch in life someone is going to pay for it. And I question whether the enacting of the ACA didn't cost us more overall. The simple TRUTH is the Healthcare industry takes up about 20% of the US economy. We're talking about a lot of money and jobs! For this reason I don't think MOST politicians want to try an overhaul it. It's akin to removing a massive tumor and the US is the patient. I belive in Laissez-faire as much as as any capitalist. But as it says in the constitution "to promote the general welfare". So I think it's gov't's role to only Regulate the private sector when it is unable to Regulate itself (basically at the detriment of the public good). So I'm for a basic form of Healthcare. NOT socially medicine. But call it that if you want. I know some will regardless. Obama was right when he said prevention can save a lot in the long run. So I'm for a basic form of coverage For EVERYONE. With your option to buy more Premium care.

[BCA6010]

I don't think hardly anybody would agree with either party's politics in full if they've taken even a couple minutes to actually research the issues. In fact, buying fully into the Democratic platform is counter-intuitive with multiple mutually exclusive claims on just about every front, and the Republican party has at least four distinct sub-factions within it that can really only agree with each other on lowering taxes, so while it's possible to fully support the views of a handful of candidates, it's not actually possible to support the party in full, and one of the benefits of the Trump era is that Republican voters are paying a lot more attention to the primaries than they used to.

Personally, I'm on the right's side on most major issues, and at the very least against the Democrats and consider the right the lesser of evils on the rest of them. Most things I don't agree with conservatives on are minor in comparison and unlikely to sway my vote, because knowing how that party actually works, it's very unlikely that a wildly unpopular move would pass through even their own house and Senate, let alone a bipartisan effort.

[lightbulb27]

yes im mixed and thus in the middle, pulled right by the extreme left craziness, but conservative/family values.

I'm opposite somewhat. Christian, but If mom wants to murder her kids, better to do it before they are alive. I support the life and encouraging life, but if she isn't going to love that child for 30 years, not going to adopt out, then the kid has no chance. I'm out of it and the govt is out of it.

Caring for people who are failing internally and externally is important. Ideally done via private but can be done by public funding, measure the success. e. g. immigration, stop them at the border to control the economy and health, but realize there is a major problem in impoverished countries and work to resolve the disparity. That's left and right. Trump was just put up a wall and left is take it down.

cancel culture is the new generation and is frighening as is antifa.

the religious right is sometimes nuts, I know some, they can be delusion nut cases. republicans are sometimes not conservative but wasteful.

gun control... some.

put disicpline back in society.

In general, I favor freedom, but I have areas I implement controls to protect public interests against foreign powers and humans (epa), etc..

[t-8900]

I'm socially Conservative and I'm a mix of beliefs in the financial department. On the one hand nothing in this world comes free and I dont support burning all our resources on other people's bad decisions. Like a harvard university degree for example. There's no proof you can't get a well paying job in the same fields from local community colleges which are much lower costs and easier to pay off. That said I DO want to see help for those that became disabled along the way as an example. And I do want to see welfare provided for children from poor or broken homes.

Though for that I want the old food stamp system to come back with very specific items for purchase, not lobster dinners and racks of ribs (which I saw purchased all the time on food stamps when I worked for ACME markets). I do want to see some clean energy initiatives BUT not at the expense of crippling our economy and raising gas prices to asinine levels. Roughly 24% of democrats are pro gun and roughly 17% of Republicans are anti gun. Roughly 53% of independents are pro gun. There's no be all, end all when it comes to these sorts of things. However so long as Democrats push for anti gun legislation or a single smidge more gun control I will 100% always vote red unabashedly.

I have my line in the sand and so do many of my friends. In fact Dems would gain more support if they quit working with the Giffords foundation and Moms Demand Action which are groups of traitorous wretches, far as I'm concerned. I would be more than happy for tax payers to provide them with a one way trip to the UK or Canada and be rid of them. And if there was some way to pursue charges of treason against the likes of Beta cuck O'rourke, Gavin Newsom, Diane Feinstein, the Clintons, and any and all other bastards who supported the "Assault Weapons" (the legal definition doesn't meet the factual requirements) or any insane "good and substantial" clauses I would 100% do it.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Probably?
I am a member of the Democratic Party, which here is the biggest left-wing party.
However, like another Democratic famous politician here, I've been called a "populist", an "authoritarian", "isolationist" and a "xenophobe".
All because I did not bend over to the State and allowed them open a refugee center in my town, a center we can't support economically and socially.
Some people have called for my expulsion from the party for this, and likewise I've threatened to go independent.

[Jamie05rhs]

I'm against abortion, and I also believe that climate change is real and it would behoove us to do something about it. I'm also protectionist when it comes to trade. In addition, I support welfare programs but I'm
in favor of audits to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. And I'm pro-liberty but also anti-drug. I'm also a huge supporter of the Arts, but I think they should be funded privately.

I'm probably going to get a lot of downvotes for this, because I think we can safely assume thay there's at least ONE thing that someone will disagree with in there.

[goaded]

Abortion isn't murder, gun control (in the form of more background checks) is approved of by a majority of gun owners and free speech does have limits, and the sick ideas of the mass murderer in Buffalo are being supported by a major "news" network's prime time liar. I think it's OK to let people say anything, I also think it's OK for society to insist that the people hearing that listen to the other side as well.

[exitseven]

I have always been an Independent up until Obama's second term. THe democrats jut got too crazy so I had to make a choice. However I am still pro choice although the terms must be better defined,
I believe in just about everything that President Trump's MAGA policies stood for.
Law and Order, secure borders, energy independence, the first and second amendments, low taxes, Made in USA, America First..

[hostboy__fastestlaps]

All of those beliefs you hold are conservative. ESPECIALLY by today's standards. Also I am a conservative. I don't think there is one thing I know of myself that is a liberal position. Liberal means authoritarian these days, not libertarian like it was in the 1980s/90s/2000s

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Similar a bit to yours. My political ideology is 100% patriotism and nationalism. One's country and citizens comes first. Period.

Free education all the way through college. Unversial healthcare, social programs for the needy and protected border and no illegal migration.

[ODC2112]

I hate the obsessed idiots of whatever party they are, in whatever country they are. This makes me particularly hostile to a political party since all sides are full of obsessed idiots.

[ArtemisSilver]

Having moderate well concidered view points isn't messed up. It's the extremists on either side who demand that you pick a tribe and give up your ability to think.

[Stoner710]

Kinda all right mostly conservative I do support the legalization of marijuana I don’t care if Gage get married or not I think abortion is murder and I think we need to encourage the preservation of the nuclear family

[DryGermanGuy]

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes."
- Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars Episode 3

[Agagagagaga]

I’m just a classical liberal. I believe in the Constitution. Unfortunately most people on the Left now don’t.

So I’m now voting for the other guys.

[Straight2thepoint]

Can I offer you a suggestion. Look for Jimmy Dore. You're welcome.

[OddBeMe]

I do have a mixture. Yet seems like the candidates in elections ain't really a hard choice.

[Juxtapose]

Yeah and it has led to me being called anything from "commie" to "fascist". I'm my own man, fuck me right? 🤷‍♂️

[Anonymous]

I'm a mix too. Just curious, what the liberal philosophies you support?