I took a written test once to determine what I am...it said I am middle of the road conservative.
How do you know by talking to someone what they are?
2007-12-01 02:32:48 · 17 answers · asked by Digital Age 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
"A Republican will p*ss on you. A Democrat will give you an umbrella then p*ss on you"
-Bill Mahar-
A Democrat taxes and spends
A Republican spins and attacks
2007-12-01 02:37:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
About 1/3 of the US voters are Independents, so just by talking you really can't sort people into one or the other groups. A shortcut test would be to mention Michael Moore or Ann Coulter and see if rockets go off in the eyes of the person you are talking to.
For yourself, these are the core differences. From year to year the issues in conflict change, but adherence to these positions usually frames the positions each group takes on other issues.
Republicans believe that a free market can provide almost everything that a civilization needs in the most efficient manner possible, and the government should stay out of its way. Many republicans also believe in Social Darwinism, in which the poor, ill, and elderly should suffer the consequences of their condition without assistance as a way of strengthening society and serving as a example for others.
Democrats believe that unrestrained capitalism has caused great harm on society in the past and business needs to be held to responsibility by laws, much the same as people. They believe that because the disparity of power between a corporation, or great wealth, and an individual worker is so great, the government must protect the interests of the individual.
2007-12-01 10:43:57 · answer #2 · answered by oohhbother 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Don't worry about what you are. You don't need to join up with any group for validation. Just vote your beliefs.
And to the person who said the left are basically a labor party; that was once true, but they abandoned labor long ago in anything more than mere lip service. They have embraced the far fringes of their cause and it is costing them the labor support they once had.
2007-12-01 10:44:55 · answer #3 · answered by sammael_coh 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Most of the time it will require quite a bit of conversation to determine where people fall on the liberal___Conservative scale.
2007-12-01 10:37:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is as large a divide as it would appear from reading the responses from both. They both seem to be more interested in saving the world than in saving the U.S. In either case, we are the losers.
2007-12-01 10:44:05 · answer #5 · answered by BekindtoAnimals22 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't think there is much difference these days, since the meaning and the mission of both seems to have been lost. And everyone seems to have a private agenda that hurts Americans.
2007-12-01 12:30:28 · answer #6 · answered by Constitution 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The conservative ideal promotes the advancement of individuals..... all individuals. It is an inclusive concept.
The liberal ideal promotes the advancement of groups (at the expense of individuals not in the specified groups). It is an exclusive concept.
2007-12-01 11:01:01 · answer #7 · answered by George B 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
For the most part you can't.
But if you see pics of a gay pride parade you can be pretty certain that the guy who is naked and marching down the street wearing a leather mask is very liberal.
2007-12-01 10:38:27 · answer #8 · answered by Erinyes 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I'm a liberal because my ideology is totally 100% liberal.
I know I'm not a conservative because I'm against everything they believe in.
2007-12-01 10:48:24 · answer #9 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
If you go to work, pay your bills and taxes, love your country,support the military, you are a Conservative.
If you live on welfare, support terrorism, burn flags,and want everything handed to you, you are a Liberal..
2007-12-01 10:53:00 · answer #10 · answered by BAARAAACK 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋