<p>In 2008 I will be able to vote in the Presidential Elections.</p>
<p>Currently, I feel a little bit puzzled by my political views and what to call them.</p>
<p>In many, many issues I am actually quite conservative.</p>
<p>I don't support affirmative action, HMOs, or extensive welfare. I quite like the idea of "small government, big economy." I do feel that our nation should be able to defend ourselves against any encroachment.</p>
<p>In a few other issues, I'm more liberal. I see no reason to discriminate against gays. I do not support teaching creationism in public schools. I'm supportive of stem-cell research. I am pro-choice, straight up.</p>
<p>I feel that the current Democratic Party is not united enough and seems not to have a true focus.</p>
<p>On the other hand, while I like some of President Bush's policies, I really hate how likes to play war. I'm disillusioned by the current religious right.</p>
<p>Some quizzes have told me that my political views are close to "centrist" or "realist."</p>
<p>Ha! You're like me. Expect your conservative friends to call you a liberal/socialist and your liberal friends to call you a conservative/fascist. Both sides will try to brand you to one side or the other and pick fights using the well-rehearsed arguments they've learned from various demagogues against the other extreme, but you'll have the advantage of being able to cut their feet from beneath them with ideas they don't expect. As for "what you are," welcome to the world of the disenfranchised. :)</p>
<p>2008 is a long ways off there is no hurry. You'll figure out your standpoints on most things before the election comes around. Also mind you, you don't have to stick strictly with one party... For example, I'm farily far to the right (please don't flame me, I don't feel like a debate) however I am I big supporter of stem cell research. So just because you generally side with one party it does not mean you can't jump lines every so often.</p>
<p>This is a pretty confusing time to look at the parties and figure out what they stand for. The current administration seems to be for bigger government in many areas - which is not a conservative view. Our debt is insane. They seem ok with our privacy being trampled in the name of anti-terrorism, and also seem to blur the separation of church and state. Personally, I don't see how any good conservative can support our current administration. The problem of course, is that they have not had an alternative that they were happy with.
You're probably a McCain-type of moderate Republican. Hopefully, we'll see some movement in that direction in the Republican party, unless the neocons lock it up somehow with their shinnanigans.</p>
<p>Hasn't McCain just introduced a bill which would force a Federally mandated drug testing policy on the professional sports leagues? Where's the compelling state interest there?</p>
<p>McCain's a heavy moderate, and has gone against the Republicans on a number of issues....i'm pretty moderate myself, but I've learned that i lean more to the right. I normally vote Republican, but I hate president Bush's policy...go with intuition....see which candidate suits you better..if there's a moderate up for the bid vote for em. I'm hopin McCain secures the nomination myself.</p>
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So just because you generally side with one party it does not mean you can't jump lines every so often.
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I agree. It seems many people (especially politicians who need support from their party) simply follow the party platform.</p>
<p>fabrizio- Actually, according to a classical definition, you could be classified as liberal. "By definition, a liberal is a man who believes in liberty" (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism/%5B/url%5D">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberalism/</a>). You seem to be all about liberty, be it economic (less gov't intervention, which today is a conservative trait) or social (ie liberty for gays to live as they chose, which today is a liberal trait). However, this classic liberalism is hardly seen anymore as both major parties have some decidedly unliberal policies. (Just wanted to bring up another interesting side to the discussion, rather than just using current definitions where liberal is seen by some as a dirty word)</p>
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A little bit of dissonance in my political views
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Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. -Ayn Rand
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<p>Without arguing for or against Ms. Rand, that one statement can hold true for you; your views do not necessarily clash. They just clash with the both the major political parties.</p>
<p>Yeah, I couldn't fit in with either of the two major parties (my views are similar to OPs), but a lot of what I believe is in line with libertarianism.</p>
<p>PS I will be able to vote in the 2008 elections by like 2 months so I'm excited.</p>