I like Milton Friedman's quote: "I'm a Republican out of expediency, not out of principle". The thing is that my beliefs fit the Republicans better than the Democrats, on balance, especially considering that the most socially conservative ideas are talked about but never acted upon.
I think that describes almost all of us, and probably the dems, green, etc. The majority of my social circle in life is made up of party officials, which is kinda sad, but they should be the most doctrinally pure, and none of them fail to have at least one or two issues they break ranks on, and most can't really produce an issue-based litmus test. I regularly jump on people to define 'conservative' and no one can, it obviously doesn't fit well to 'preserve the status quo' or 'maintain traditions' except very loosely especially on the former. Fiscal con can mean anything from 'balance the budget at all costs, even if you must raise taxes' to 'reduce spending, deficit fine', there are plenty of fiscally conservative socialists after all. Personally I'd like to see Fed, state, and local all be about 10% of GDP each, with a formal declaration war required to exceed 10% GDP federal spending, I have no idea what that makes me on the fiscal lib/con thing but IIRC total gov't (fed/ST/loc) spending in FY11 was 6 trillion and GDP was 15, so 40%, presumably my desire to hack about 25% off that makes me at least somewhat fiscally conservative.
The big one is social con, nobody knows what they hell that means nowadays besides gays and guns and abortion, but that's a bit rough on the first two because the GOP has mellowed a lot about gays and the Dems ditto on guns, and all the socially conservative GOP candidates appear to have an identical view on gay marriage as our liberal president. There's not really much else that the social con platform really has a unified specific push on. School vouchers and to include parochial schools, I suppose, probably pot too, none of them I know seem to care enough to mention it though. Gambling and prostitution but it's not exactly like anyone of major power is clamoring to legalize those, or lower the drinking age. Libertarian as I am, with the full belief an adult of sound mind should be allowed guzzle a gallon of drain cleaner if they want to, I don't really sit up agonizing at night about it either. But, like I said earlier, I think this stuff is almost all age based, or generation really, more than party affiliation.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
Intelligence Study Links Low I.Q. To Prejudice, Racism, Conservatism
03/02/2012 08:58:00 PM
- 1429 Views
I think ...
03/02/2012 09:28:02 PM
- 911 Views
That is a logical and reasonable assessment.
04/02/2012 08:59:59 PM
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Pretty sure hes saying liberals are pedophiles and I for one am not at all suprised! *NM*
04/02/2012 09:23:58 PM
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note: "social conservatives", not "fiscal conservatives"
03/02/2012 09:37:18 PM
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I've wondered:
03/02/2012 09:55:14 PM
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It bothers the living fuck out of me
03/02/2012 10:59:01 PM
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Just wait ten years
03/02/2012 11:21:25 PM
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Oh, I still vote Republican.
04/02/2012 01:49:43 AM
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Re: Oh, I still vote Republican.
04/02/2012 01:15:10 PM
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Actually, I could be an enthusiastic Democrat on principle, if any elected Dems would join me.
05/02/2012 01:49:48 AM
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Re: Just wait ten years
04/02/2012 05:16:16 AM
- 1588 Views
Primary voting age is pretty high for both parties compared to general election, GOP a bit higher
04/02/2012 12:22:44 PM
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The two tend to go together, though it is far from a hard and fast rule.
04/02/2012 11:50:03 PM
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By referencing it…
03/02/2012 10:50:59 PM
- 1557 Views
That's an odd idea.
03/02/2012 11:10:31 PM
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Not really; again, I took no position, just thought it might prompt some entertaining conversation.
05/02/2012 12:02:44 AM
- 802 Views
Tempting...
03/02/2012 11:17:43 PM
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I expected no less.
05/02/2012 12:25:14 AM
- 919 Views
Well, racists are dumb. What's to discuss?
04/02/2012 01:23:27 AM
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I think that generally agreed, though we need a study PROVING what we already know.
05/02/2012 12:41:26 AM
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Proving is something you do in maths, not science.
05/02/2012 09:05:30 AM
- 736 Views
So the Moon might still be made of green cheese?
05/02/2012 10:20:57 AM
- 841 Views
Yes. It is not very likely, though, since no measurement we have done so far indicates that it is so
05/02/2012 02:28:18 PM
- 679 Views
Well, that last part will make sure this gets ugly....
04/02/2012 02:05:11 AM
- 621 Views
Do you not think it's true then?
04/02/2012 07:32:13 AM
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Not in my experience.
04/02/2012 04:17:01 PM
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Granted, you do move in different circles than I (or Jens, for that matter.)
04/02/2012 10:24:52 PM
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As a few others have noted, it is important to preserve the causality chain.
05/02/2012 02:35:02 AM
- 802 Views
I dont see that it matters.
13/02/2012 01:40:45 AM
- 998 Views
In terms of policy, it probably does not; in terms of demographics, it definitely does.
13/02/2012 02:52:23 AM
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this sort of "science" is so easily and often slanted it doesn't really merit arguement
04/02/2012 04:23:14 AM
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Bah, you sound like a liberal arguing against lower black IQ test scores. *NM*
04/02/2012 07:00:43 AM
- 886 Views
Well, I will certainly agree anyone with half a brain can see through Fox "News."
05/02/2012 01:37:35 AM
- 923 Views