Liberal/Conservative...Democrat/Republican...?

Question

I'm in a transitional phase of my life, where i'm still in college, trying to figure out what I TRULY believe. What kinds of sources have you all used to find TRUTHS, and arrive at a particular political stand. I read one thing, and I want to lean liberal, I read another, and I want to lean conservative. I feel like I can be swayed easily one way or another by those who know more than me/can argue their points better. I feel like I have no "stronghold" of facts which make me INARGUABLY one or the other. What kinds of things should I be doing, and reading, to get unbiased, factual information from which to base a belief? I know..winded question..your thoughts??

Answer 1

stay in the middle if you can...it's better that way

Answer 2

You should remain Independent
don't think that you need a label
I have no idea why everyone wants to be defined by a party
Vote for the candidate note the party
if more people did this there might be better ideas flowing out of these parrots heads instead of the name calling that goes on in every election.
to find the Truth watch c-span or int news (it gives u the facts not what the reporter thinks)
try reading or watching the complete interview not the sound bites the news or newspaper give.
if the Candidate has held a prior office see what programs they put in place and how they voted on issues.
Remember its your vote so vote for who u want not what some Party tells u
*Big Government is a Bad thing it only lets a politician get a friend on family a job

Answer 3

there really isn't much unbiased information.
apart from politics information is biased based on who is paying for it. as we've seen with Imus and Bill Maher, you anger the sponcers and you are gone
(I'm not defending what Imus said, I'm just pointing out that sponcers influence the information they pay for. you can't do a story that is factual if it is potentionally harmful to the people signing your paycheck)

no one is 100% either way- no one sane anyway.
you might be 51/49, 70/30, or 95/5 you will not be in full agreement with either side or any party.
just start reading different things. watch different shows.

I've found that scarbrough country isn't bad for a con show. I like countdown with keith olberman- which is more liberal.
Real Time with Bill Maher is my favorite because even though it generally appeals to liberals they have people from both sides on the show and Bill will insult anyone who does some thing stupid regardless of party.

go to issues2000.org when you look at politians, it easy to read unlike other sites that make you spend 20 minutes searching for info. and its accurate

Answer 4

You are a moderate. You are willing to look at both sides of the coin and make a rational decision based on the facts, not on what some politician tells you to believe. What you should do is to keep reading books on conservative and liberal issues, so you can find in detail what each side believes and then make your own judgement. Who knows, you might lean more to the conservative side than to the liberal side or viceversa or stay in the middle, where a significant number of Americans are currently. As long as you ponder the issue and honestly come to a conclusion based on facts, be respectful of the opinions of others, even if they are completely opposite from yours, you will be OK, you will think for yourself and not be manipulated by others.

Answer 5

Don't pick a political party or standpoint (liberal/ conservative).

Decide what are the issues that matter to you personally, and what you stand for, then vote for the person who will advance those issues. Read as much as you can, but more importantly think about what you have read.

People who are blindly liberal/ conservative, republican/ democrat, labour/ tory etc without thinking about any of the issues are doing democracy a real disservice.

I have voted in 6 elections - I have voted left on some, right on some, and centrist in other - in all cases, the person I voted for has been the person who most accurately reflects my views and beliefs.

Answer 6

Think. Think critically, and don't believe that you have to come to an immediate conclusion. You can spend years - heck, a lifetime - as a 'moderate' examining this or that issue on it's merits without ever fitting comfortably into a political pigeonhole. It's more work, things that are worth it often are.

Since you're in college, you should, in particular learn to question authority - and I'm not talking about the 'authority' your left-leaning proffessors tell you to question, I'm talking about those proffessors, the anti-establishment types who have /become/ the establishment, and can't admit it to themselves.

Answer 7

I think you are going about this all wrong.
Seeking truth is a lifelong occupation. You should never declare yourself immovably one way or another. There is ALWAYS more to learn, and rarely only two sides to an issue. All sources in information have a bias, it can take time to see the bias in a source.
Don't try to fit yourself into a label or an ideology. Reality is far too interesting and complex to settle for that.
NEVER stop learning, questioning, asking for more facts and opinions.

Answer 8

Wait until you get out into the real world and let life teach you what is true for you! Also reach deeply into your heart and your soul to discover what is really fair and just. Remember, that the only things that really matter, or ever will really matter, are love, kindness, compassion, empathy, etc. The bottom line, or money should never be put ahead of people, or the environment, or any of God's other creatures. *sm*

Answer 9

There is really no reason you need to chose a side. Just figure out what you believe in on hot issues in politics and then vote for the candidates that share most of your same beliefs.

Answer 10

keep reading, don't adopt anybodies view just develop your own, don't trust the major media, not because they are left or right, because they have their own Corporate agenda, as do politicians. Working citizens have their own agendas too but no politicians or corporate media Mogul will give ours voice
We are considered the flock to herded and shorn at the whim of the leaders. A true citizen in a democracy educates himself to the issues and lets none have undue sway. Unless you are one who reads and believes every ad you see.

Answer 11

Register Independent. That's what I do as a California resident. It allows you to pick the ballot you want to vote for on Primary elections, while voting for the folks you really want in the general election.

I intend to vote in the Democrat primary next year since Democrats have all the power in CA, but will cast my vote for the Republican in the election that counts.