Political differences?

Question

Please tell me your political affiliation and why you disagree with people of the opposing party. I'm trying to understand the true divisions in this country. I'm going to try to answer each of these. I want real political differences not, "They support ______." I don't care who you support. I want the real reasons you disagree. Maybe if we expose these minor differences to the light of day, we'll realize we are all working for the same goal.

I have one question for you, I agree with most of what you have written, but how can you agree with abortion. Is that in itself not an act of agression to a member of the world community? A baby is a living thing, is it not? Don't say that it's just a fetus, I don't accept that as an answer. In many states, a fetus is considered as a seperate victim in violent crimes. What's so different about a child who is wanted and one who is not?

Answer 1

We are all working for the same goal. I really think that the vast majority of Americans, liberal or conservative, democrat, republican or other party, all want what is best for America. They just have slightly different visions of what "best" looks like, and how to get there.

I grew up in a very politically diverse family where talking about politics was fun because everyone respected each other's opinions even if they didn't agree with them. THAT is what is lacking in today's political climate. A culture of respect and civility. A recognition that America guarantees freedom of speech and expression, and not just for people that you (or anyone else) agrees with.

I am conservative. I disagree with many liberals who think that we need a smaller military and bigger government - I want a smaller government but a strong military. I disagree that we need higher taxes - I think we pay enough already, we just need to use the tax revenue in a smarter manner. I think people who are qualified to own guns should have the right to do so. I am against abortion, but realize that there are certain circumstances in which it should be legal. And so forth. BUT, I honestly don't feel the need to try to convince people, or to be offended if people disagree with me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I respect that.

Answer 2

I am a Democrat. I used to be a Republican. I do not believe the Republican platform is in the best interest of the Country:

1. Tax cuts with an on going war leading to outrageous debt.
2. The goal of outlawing a woman choosing to terminate her pregnancy. Discouraging abortion is fine, but the best way to discourage abortion is preventing unwanted pregnancy. The way to do that: Education, birth control, condoms, better social services are things Republicans stand in the way of.
3. I believe that we are all freer when we maintain a strict seperation of chruch and state, Republicans want to erode that seperation.
4. The goal of constitionally prohibiting same sex marriage is, pure and simple, a specific denial of individual rights and liberty, based soley on a religious argument.
5. The goal of cutting and reducing Government spending on aid to those in need. To be sure, all such programs must be well managed, actually help people, and have a 'payoff'. Most do, some do not. Republicans would have none of it.
6. The goal of getting government out of the business and the market place. This is matter of degree. Business, by definition is amoral and beholden only to their shareholders. As long as we permit the limited liability corporation (and we should) there must be an authority to detect and address abuses.
7. Republicans would do less to improve and clean up the environment. They try to allow more pollution as 'good for business'.
8. Republicans do not feel it is the government's role to address unfairness and injustice. I feel it is a moral obligation to do so and using the power of government and the rule of law to do so is legitimate. But it has to be real injustice at the hands of another. Not a perceived injustice. This is not about making everyone happy or redistibuting wealth.

Answer 3

I'm Conservative...
I disagree with the Liberals in almost every way possible:
Economics: I believe that the Government should keep it's hands as much out of economics as possible. I buy into the theories of Adam Smith.
Taxes: Taxes NEED to be changed. Corporate Taxes are a myth. Consumers pay every tax inacted by the Government. I support FairTax, a national sales tax with the abolition of Income tax and the IRS.
Abortion: Disgusting and wrong.
Gay Marraige: No thanks. Marraige is a religious institution and the government should keep it's hands out of it.
Constitution: Not a Living Breathing Document. Rule by the Word of the Law.

I'd go further, but I have to go to work so I can have more of MY money taken from me by the government.

Answer 4

I'm Liberal and consider this position progressive and progressing toward positive evolution. Not being violence prone I would not consider any act of physical aggression to achieve my agenda. I feel that education is a key to world community progress. The survival and interventions of governments, religions, ideologies, race, and genders should not be considered in positive scientific study, examination, and evaluation. I see a world community rather than national boundaries and consider the human race as one. Religion and patriotism are the two most detrimental ideologies to world peace and harmony. I'm pro choice and pro gay rights. I do oppose the death penalty however all dangerous, (violent), criminals should be permanently but humanely removed from society. I oppose affirmative action and consider reward based on merit. I do believe we are our brother's keeper and a world healthcare system is correct. A living wage for each working member is germane to a healthy society and less benefits for the abusers of these commitments. The environment should be a number one priority. Selection to terminations (euthanasia), should be legal and based on the sanity of the requesting individual and their decision alone. Freedom should be tempered by virtue as each can be carried to the abstract.

To Paul...To ask a question you must accept an answer whether you like it or not. I don't agree that a fetus should be considered as an independent unit separate from the mother as it is indeed part of the mother until birth. I don't support abortion but I do support freedom of choice. I think contraceptive measures far more healthy than abortion but there are far more things worse than not being born.

Answer 5

I'm a Traditionalist, conservative but not an idealist.
I have a problem with anyone who thinks killing unborn children is OK., which most liberals are OK with. As for the other issues Iraq, big business, oil not so important to me.
Too many want different things for this country & too many think their way is right, what your left with is this, snipping.

Answer 6

I am conservative. Here is a quotation that I've been using several times here on Y!A which is perfect for just such an occasion as your question. In "The Federal Courts, Politics, and the Rule of Law," by John C. Hughes (published 1995), it says:

"In the contemporary political context, those who fear conformity have tended to describe themselves as liberal and have tended to applaud judicial 'protection' of human rights. Those who fear diversity have tended to call themselves conservatives and have been appalled by judicial 'usurpation' of the majority's discretion to form the kind of community it finds most conducive to its own happiness. The former tends to approve of the expansive theories of constitutional interpretation, while the latter tends to prefer the restrained theories of judicial review. These alignments are neither perfect nor inevitable, but the debate has surely been shrill."

Answer 7

I am a liberal and I disagree with conservatives because I feel they are not working for a common ideal. We live in a country that's ruled by big businesses and limits people's opportunities to have successful businesses of their own because of that. Not only that, but when businesses are in control, they buy off the government so they have more opportunity for profit. (ie. insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, etc.) We need to all stop being so self-centered for a moment and embrace the fact that some things other countries are doing are beneficial to the country as a whole (universal health care, bigger response to climate change, less religion in government). If we all could take the focus off of "me" for a minute and focus on "us" then we wouldn't be in the chaos we are in right now.

Answer 8

I believe that the differences lie with the extremists in both parties. There is heavy representation of both on this forum. Primary issues are National Health Care (government run). Conspiracy theories, Political Correctness issues, and of course, Iraq and who to believe.

These are creating the massive differences. There are more, of course.

I'm a conservative who dislikes having the government in her life.

Answer 9

registered independant,

i believe in personal responsibility, i believe in safety nets for those who step in a pot hole of bad luck, but i think there should be a time limit,

i believe in making it easier to run a business in america the easier it is the more forign business will want to build here more busineses = more jobs for americans,

i believe innocent babies should live and guilty murders should die

i believe there has to be a world super power there has always been one since the sumerians, and better us than having to answer to someone else

i believe i know whats best for my house hold not government,

i believe drugs and alchahol should either all be leagle or all be banned

i believe unions hurt our echonomy more than they help individual workers

i believe if you vote along party lines regardless of the issue you are sheep happily being led to the slaughter

here is the problem with party lines

wmds bush gets the word from inteligance i believe the quote was "its a slam dunk Mr president" its wrong dems say he lied and want to get rid of him, republicans defend him to the death THEEEEENN dan rather gets a document saying bush lied about being in the military, based on the advice of his field journalists, its wrong dan lied reps call for his job dems defend him to his death,

this is the case every day, right now its about the commuted sentance with scooter libby the same arguements today on both sides are the exact opposite of the same arguements when clinton did the same thing

Answer 10

i cannot morally support a political party that includes degenerates who have made it legal to murder babies, and who would like to make it legal for people of the same sex to marry, and who would like to make it legal for people to have sex with children under the age of sixteen. #*#*# BTW, libbys, how can yous ever POSSIBLY call a U.S. soldier a "baby killer"? yous despicable hypocrites!!!

i cannot morally support either political party that promotes big business' interests so far above the citizens' good to the point where it is oppressive, in the form of taxation of the citizen so that the mega-corporations can get tax breaks and government subsidies!!! it's absurd for exxon-mobil and the other oil-hogs to STILL be subsidized by the federal government!!! what happened to capitalism? why do mega-corporations need SOCIAL programs?!?!?!?!

you just can't trust politicians anymore...