<p>^ I agree. The political system is currently pretty difficult for people who have a variety of opinions that don’t match up to a single party or are more “middle of the road” in their views. </p>
<p>(My longtime issue is having traditionally conservative views–in term of limited government, states’ rights, and personal responsibility–while being gay. Why does the fact that I’m gay and want to be treated well and with respect have to pigeonhole me as a Democrat automatically? It’s ridiculous.)</p>
<p>LOL! I have not seen Obama hugging any tree, has anyone? He’s been described as Muslim but not an atheist or anti-religion. In fact, many have expressed concern about his religiosity.</p>
<p>What is the conservative opposition to stem-cell research based on? government funding or the research itself? If it’s government funding, it’s largely irrelevant as most research is done with private funding. If it’s the research itself, with private funding, how does that square with the limited government perspective?<br>
Were those who wanted the government to intervene in the Terry Schiavo case liberals or conservatives? </p>
<p>Is it conservative to support a costly war? The case used to be made against military intervention abroad on conservative grounds–lack of demonstrated national interest and costs.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to be confrontational, just wondering about the validity of labels.</p>
<p>Government funding on embryonic stem cells was what I always believed to be the thorn. Stem cell research using embryonic cells can still occur, but there will be no federal funding, only private.</p>
<p>As far as Terry Schiavo, it was a right to die issue, her husband wanted to remove any assistance, conservatives view that as murder.</p>
<p>Another point about Centrists…here is where will always part with conservatives…Conservatives will say abortion is illegal, immoral and murder, and the unborn child has a right, but the majority believe in the death penalty…isn’t that murder too?</p>
<p>I am someone who agrees with both sides…you want an abortion, that is your right (I don’t mind federal funding going to support it), thus Liberal.
You killed someone, DNA, eye witnesses and you confess…I am okay with the death penalty, thus conservative</p>
<p>It was a right to die issue but it was about also government intervention. A lot of conservatives had a problem with that. Not all conservatives saw it as a right to die issue. Some did. </p>
<p>As for stem cell research, some were opposed to government funding; but many who opposed government funding did so out of a belief that stem cell research itself was wrong while some believed stem cell research should be left to the private sector.</p>
<p>That’s why I think labels are so meaningless. They can cover a whole range of beliefs and actions.</p>
<p>I was against the Iraq war (as were many people, on conservative principles). I am also strongly pro-choice (and I don’t see how this contradicts with conservative principles, either. Isn’t small government a good thing?) I also don’t think that I could fall easily into any one of those categories (and what about radicals? Where do they belong here?) </p>
<p>Also, just a little thing that bugs me - all abortion is used as a form of birth control - that is the sole reason for its existence.</p>
<p>McCain has been willing to stand up to the BS in the Republican party a lot more than Obama has been to do the same on the Democratic side. On that count, I have to give the advantage to McCain. Unfortunately, McCain has come to realize that he needs the right wing to vote for him and pay his bills in order to secure the Presidency.</p>
<p>You’re ignoring the fact that what you just quoted from Lunitari was purposefully unrealistic, as inspired by you. Did you read the rest of his/her text? Gosh, it just makes for the best debates when we all ignore the salient points of others.</p>
<p>STUDENTS
Liberal - 2
Centrist -
Conservative -1</p>
<p>EDUCATORS
Liberal- 1
Centrist
Conservative</p>
<p>PARENTS
Liberal - 6
Centrist - 3
Conservative - 4</p>
<p>I was a libertarian in my youth, until living in the real world taught me that the ideal philosophy didn’t actual work when you threw actual people into the equation. I agree with most of the theoretical philosophies identified as “conservative” but in practice I find that conservatives in real life use them mainly as bumper-sticker level soundbites, and don’t actually expect them to operate in real life - certainly not if it is to what they perceive as their personal disadvantage.</p>
<p>Life is complicated. Society is complicated. I find that the social/political philosophy we label as “liberalism” is the most pragmatic way to make things work as well as possible, for the most people.</p>
<p>Kluge, are you saying socialism is the pragmatic answer for making things work “as well as possible” ? Have you try to apply for a driver’s license in Moscow ?</p>
<p>Good point edvest1 - the difficulty of getting a driver’s license in other social democracies (the closest thing to the US’s form of democracy) was the first thing I thought of too. Although I had not realized that Moscow had a social democratic form of government. ;)</p>
<p>Which programs would that be? Weren’t some costly programs enacted under Bush:NLCB and the Medicare prescription drug plan come to mind.
When it comes to spending, there has not been a huge difference in spending levels, it seems to me.</p>