Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Here's a question for everyone:


I don't care if a woman wants to have an abortion. It doesn't affect me.

I don't care if a gay couple wants to get married. It doesn't affect me.

I would prefer that the State and Federal governments not try to regulate morality.

I support capital punishment.

I am in favor of a flat tax.

I don't care what the religious beliefs of the president are. I'm more interested in his/her opinions as to foreign trade and military policy.


Which political party represents my interests? What "color" am I with regard to US electoral politics?


Absolutism tends to render broad generalizations (red v. blue, etc) meaningless.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

None. The political party system is fucked. Republicans have to be super religious to get all the bible belt ***** votes. And Democrats have to be communists to get all the hippy votes. I care more about religion not having any sort of place in our government system whatsoever, so I vote democratic.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

See, and I'm just the opposite. I don't care if the US adopts Christianity as the official state religion; it doesn't affect anything in real life. On the other hand, Democrats tend to vote for higher spending overall, with a disproportionate bias towards social services and other "nonproductive" aims, and that affects me. So, all else being equal, I tend to lean Republican.

I'd prefer to vote for someone who runs on a platform of "I won't spend anything, and anyone can get married and have as many abortions as they want, so long as they pay for it all themselves," but that doesn't seem to be a popular option.



I genuinely believe that the US is too large (geographically.) We're every bit as diverse as Europe, but we try to run the whole place with a single government and a single treasury.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

I can't vote green, so i don't vote.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

This wont happen if the US adopts Christianity. The places where evolution is being removed from textbooks, and the bible is being used in science classes makes me want to kill myself. How can people do that.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

It's a little nuts... But remember that sort of thing tends to happen at a community level, where local politics are easily influenced by a few loud-mouthed hysterics.

I guess if I were to have an opinion about such things, it'd be this: If a particular county wants its schools to teach creationism, fine. I don't consider that to be an inherently religious concept, in that it's one which is included as a feature of many different religions, ranging from the monotheistic Abrahamic sects to the polytheistic religions of Greece and Rome, all the way back to the essentially naturalistic / nontheist dogmas such as Buddhism or Taoism (man and nature are one.)


Why?


Well, at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. Whatever your beliefs as to the origin of matter and life, this doesn't affect your ability to learn calculus or physics. And I don't mean any disrespect to those who pursue the science of cosmology, but knowing the exact arrangement of all of the subatomic particles at the exact moment they came into being in the aftermath of the Big Bang isn't going to help mankind eradicate polio or build a more efficient jet engine.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Sorry, I wen't off on a tangent. That point was unrelated to my earlier point about republican's appealing to the bible belt.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

Used to be Libertarian in the old school. "Think what you want but leave me the f**k alone" and don't spend anything if you don't need to.


I don't think it was off tangent at all.


I'm several decades older than you and historically would've voted Republican in the old Reagan years. As I've aged my views haven't moved left compared to then but compared to the current Republican thinking I'm a flaming Liberal or more importantly it seems a 'non believer'.


It scares the **** out of me to see someone talk about keeping the church and state apart while using religion to support their views on subjects. To me, if someone can use religion as a means to defend abortion they could also use it as a means to force me into church every Sunday. Extreme? Maybe. Tough ****. Keep talking and my vote stays with the other party.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

Its in the ******* constitution. Any politician who mentions god or the bible should be sentenced to life in abu ghraib

good2go

iTrader: (2)

And right there is an example of how fucked up the 2 party system is. If you ain't for one party, then by default you're for the other, even if only "effectively".

I relate to Joe's comment. I can't find a party that even comes close to representing me.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

This conversation is funny/interesting/sad.

I am a Christian. I support the free market, small government, low taxes, individual liberty, and deregulation. I believe in free international trade and do not believe that tariffs, taxes, or bans in any way protect American jobs. I support the military in so far as it exists, is strong, and deters action against the U.S., but I do not support foreign occupations, intervention into civil wars, nation-building, or covert or overt violent actions against governments of other nations.

I want police culture to return to a "peace officer" mentality rather than paramilitary assault units. I support decriminalizing marijuana, and hell, all the drugs. I do not support the death penalty because I do not trust the justice system to enforce it fairly. I believe the Civil War was kind of about states' rights but unfortunately it was also about slavery so there's no point in attempting to redeem that cause. I don't know what the answer is to the immigration issue, but I doubt that a wall is feasible.

I am anti-abortion because I think biological facts trump ideas about women's lib. I believe the climate probably is changing, but I am not convinced anyone has the ability to predict or even measure how much or what is causing it. I believe the Patriot Act was one of the worst attacks on individual liberty in the last 50 years and I think Edward Snowden is a hero, not a traitor. I think most market distortions are not due to evil capitalist conspiracies but rather stupid and/or evil government regulators creating opportunities for evil capitalists to act evilly.


I will probably vote for Rand Paul, and I won't feel the least bit bad about "throwing away my vote" since we use an electoral college and not a popular vote.

aidandj

iTrader: (5)

As far as I could tell this influenced none of the other opinions you stated in your post. In my world if you were a politician you would be allowed to stay around. Until you told me you don't believe in gay marriage because god said so. Then off to the island you go.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

Oh I relate and frankly can find points in each party I think fits my views. But we each need to figure out the most important things to each of us and vote accordingly. Not voting is a cop out.

I realize you didn't say anything about not voting.

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

Forgot to include that issue. As a state of nature, I don't believe that gay marriage is right -- I believe in fixed male and female natures. But politically, I don't see what government has to say about it. We have a marriage license because that's the law of the land, but my marriage was between my wife and me before God, not because some form-stamper in Vermont said so. Government shouldn't be in the business of saying which relationships are valid.

good2go

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, of course I always vote, but it seems to just be more of an exercise of choosing the lesser of the evils, and I invariably feel some degree of regret and remorse for effectively endorsing all the things I can't stand about the jackass (and the party) I've just had to vote for.

bahurd

iTrader: (8)

I guess I look at it a bit more pragmatically and realize I don't agree /disagree 100% with anyone. At the end of the day, I look at what's most important to me and which candidate is most palatable to me and vote for that candidate. It doesn't really matter to me which party they belong to.

In essence, I'm a New England independent by voting record.

That fact there are 2 parties to me just winnows the field easier.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

Moving on.
I needed a good double bit axe, so I searched online for recommendations.
Of course, everyone says Gransfors Bruk, Wetterlings etc.
Then I realized I was reading advice from a bunch of dudes who spent a ton of money on a boutique axe just to take a few limp-wristed swings at some kindling and obtain internet man status.
So I thought about who regularly has need of a good axe.
Every breathing man before the 60s that's who.
They didn't put up with shitty steal either, so I bought an old Kelly axe head.
A new handle, a few passes with the file, some finishing strokes with the sharpening puck, and she's all ready for lumberjacking/ vampire slaying.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

Just a kind reminder that we do have a section specifically for political discussions.

I know there is a fine line, but this ostrich is starting to feel his head come out of the sand.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

websites with black backgrounds drive me fuking insane