How many of you are actually going to vote this November?

[Crowforge]

I vote more liberal than I actually am.

 

[dpm07]

I am definitely and most assuredly going to vote.

 

[The Senator]

I will be voting this year, even though I have no idea which state I will be a resident of...

 

[Handsome Rob]

What exactly is the conservative line?

Be Anti-Abortion but if a young lady becomes pregnant she does not deserve assistance from the government.

Be willing to pass legislation that tells people that they cannot marry or couple with who they wish.

Be in support of a piece of legislation that suspends due process.

Speak out about Christian principles and freedom of religion but regard anyone who identifies themselves as a muslim as a terrorist.

Talk about how bad it is to pay taxes and want to cut spending for social programs but use those same tax dollars to rebuild another country when parts of our Gulf Coast is still in ruins.

Wave the flag and talk about freedom of speech and rail against NOT making statements that are upsetting and hurtful to a given demographic of American Citizens and loudly assert that being PC has gone too far...and yet vilify marginalize and dismiss individuals that don't think the same way that you do.

verry verry interesting...

1. I am pro-life, no doubt about it. But, I think conservatives often get this reputation for not caring about the poor that stems from their not supporting government social programs. And, I think that stems from the belief that if there is a problem, the government is the one who should step in and solve it. THAT is the idea that conservatives are against. People like me believe that, as a general rule, the government should only intervene if the private sector cannot, should not, or would not do it. As countless charities across the United States prove, the poor can be helped by the actions of private citizens and organizations. And, I believe they can do it more effectively and for less cost than the government--and with better results. As anecdotal evidence, one can compare public housing projects to Habitat for Humanity homes and neighborhoods.

2. Marriage is a contract, not a right. There are plenty of contracts that I can't enter into as a matter of contract law--for instance, it's illegal for me to enter into a contract to provide cosmetic surgery to people in my living room. While I personally oppose ANY marriage that is not between one man and one woman based on my religious beliefs, it is the rights of the states to determine whether or not they want to expand who can enter into a marriage contract, whether by popular vote or by legislative action. And, I oppose any amendment to the United States Constitution that mentions marriage--that right currently belongs to the States and should stay that way.

3. I don't support any suspension of due process for citizens. And, for non-citizens, I believe we ought to act in the same way, though I see no legal obligation that I'm aware of.

4. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Law-abiding Muslims are just as welcome as law-abiding (insert religion here), as far as I'm concerned.

5. If it were up to me, we'd use Iraqi oil revenue to pay our costs of being over there. But, can you imagine the reaction from the major media outlets and from the left if President Bush said that?

6. Personally, I'm dismissed quite often by people on the left when they refer to conservatives as stupid, bigoted, etc. The argument you are making can be leveled against people at all points on the political spectrum--it isn't owned solely by the right. In fact, you could go on YouTube right now and find examples of liberals interrupting speeches of conservatives to prevent them from getting their message out. It's much easier to call names and try and keep people from talking than it is to actually have to discuss an idea. I believe in the marketplace of ideas, and I'm a free-market kind of guy.

 

[Tag279]

Handsome Rob, Thank you for responding you offered a thouthful response

I live in the south and I guess I have been exposed to a more illogical and semi-racist brand of conservatism.

On my local forum in Mississippi we have a predominantly staunch conservative group of posters. There may be about 10-15 posters out of 70-80 regular posters that would be regarded as liberal, progressive, or moderate-to-the-left-of-center.

I don't agree with a lot of gun control legislation, I DO NOT believe in a welfare state, and I am not for the quota system component of Affirmative Action.

However, I do think a woman has a right to choose but I personally am against abortion, I belive one has to work to make a living but I am also aware that there are some people that truly need help to make a living, I am a strong supporter of civil rights legislation but it is my view that Reagan, Bush-I, and Bush-2 has dulled the teeth of much civil rights legislation during their Presidencies.

 

[Eddie Brock]

I won't be eligible to vote until the 2012 Presidential Election. If only I had been born a year earlier...

 

[Tron5000]

Handsome Rob, Thank you for responding you offered a thouthful response

I live in the south and I guess I have been exposed to a more illogical and semi-racist brand of conservatism.

On my local forum in Mississippi we have a predominantly staunch conservative group of posters. There may be about 10-15 posters out of 70-80 regular posters that would be regarded as liberal, progressive, or moderate-to-the-left-of-center.

I don't agree with a lot of gun control legislation, I DO NOT believe in a welfare state, and I am not for the quota system component of Affirmative Action.

However, I do think a woman has a right to choose but I personally am against abortion, I belive one has to work to make a living but I am also aware that there are some people that truly need help to make a living, I am a strong supporter of civil rights legislation but it is my view that Reagan, Bush-I, and Bush-2 has dulled the teeth of much civil rights legislation during their Presidencies.

I agree with much of what you said. On the issue of welfare, I am not some heartless, soulless ghoul who thinks those who physically or mentally can not take care of themselves are not in need of assistance. I am happy for a part of my tax dollars (and personal charitable contributions) to be directed towards helping those with disabilities and medical conditions that prohibit them from earning a living wage.

However, my issue is with the other welfare recipients. People who physically and mentally can offer their labor for a wage and yet do not. My girlfriend's roommate was laid off earlier this year and started collecting welfare. I was disgusted. Here is an educated, physically fit graduate of a very good college who started siphoning off the government (taxpayer) teat instead of getting a job as a server or bartender. My tax dollars so you can sit at home and play sports and go out drinking with your friends. I felt like just opening my wallet and tossing her some cash and saying, "Let's just cut out the middle man. Screw the government, just go ahead and take my cash."

And there are many, many people who put themselves in the same situation.

 

[Tag279]

I agree with much of what you said. On the issue of welfare, I am not some heartless, soulless ghoul who thinks those who physically or mentally can not take care of themselves are not in need of assistance. I am happy for a part of my tax dollars (and personal charitable contributions) to be directed towards helping those with disabilities and medical conditions that prohibit them from earning a living wage.

However, my issue is with the other welfare recipients. People who physically and mentally can offer their labor for a wage and yet do not. My girlfriend's roommate was laid off earlier this year and started collecting welfare. I was disgusted. Here is an educated, physically fit graduate of a very good college who started siphoning off the government (taxpayer) teat instead of getting a job as a server or bartender. My tax dollars so you can sit at home and play sports and go out drinking with your friends. I felt like just opening my wallet and tossing her some cash and saying, "Let's just cut out the middle man. Screw the government, just go ahead and take my cash."

And there are many, many people who put themselves in the same situation.

Welfare was designed to be a temporary remedy not a way of life. When my dad first got back from Nam and my mom was not working (I was about two) in 1975 dad did not have a job waiting on him when he got back. We lived in govt housing for about three months until mom was able to work at the Phone Company South Central Bell at that time.

We are talking about Mississippi in the 1970s black folks had a higher level of difficulty finding work. Thanks to affirmative action mom was able to work and so was dad shortly there after.

My family has not been on welfare since and I am 35 now. I own my home my wife is a public school teacher and I am a fire inspector for a city with a resident population of about 48,000.

I got my current position because I scored the highest on the test (no curving) I got in to the Fire Department initiall as a Firefighter 11-years ago because I passed the tests physical, written, and Oral.

My point is 30-years before I became a Firefiighter blacks were not allowed to work for the Fire Department. It seems to me that the legislation that allows equal employement opportunity is being peeled away layer by layer.

When I was 18 I was told by a local business owner that I was qualified but he would prefer a white person. I did not push it. But that type of thinking still is present.

I have a problem with people abusing the system but I also feel that some people truly need a hand up Not a hand out.