How do you describe your self politically?

[Platapus]

Few people are "one" category across all aspects of society/governance.

I think there are a lot of people who are socially liberal but fiscally conservative.

And this does not include that right and left are not binary states, but are a spectrum between them.

[Torplexed]

I'm Right (from the Center) of the USA.

[Letum]

Yes, yes, I know.

It isn't meant to be a full, accurate or useful description of anyone's
political opinions, just the roughest of generalisations for GT as a whole.

[August]

Originally Posted by Letum

YIt isn't meant to be a full, accurate or useful description of anyone's
political opinions

If you don't expect the result to be accurate or useful then what's the point of it?

[Letum]

Originally Posted by August

If you don't expect the result to be accurate or useful then what's the point of it?

It isn't meant to be a full, accurate or useful description of anyone's
political opinions, just the roughest of generalisations for GT as a whole.

The number of umbrellas sold isn't a full, accurate or useful description
of the weather, but it gives you something to base a generalisation on.

[August]

Originally Posted by Letum

It isn't meant to be a full, accurate or useful description of anyone's
political opinions, just the roughest of generalisations for GT as a whole.

The number of umbrellas sold isn't a full, accurate or useful description
of the weather, but it gives you something to base a generalisation on.

erm, ok.

[JU_88]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Few people are "one" category across all aspects of society/governance..

No but you can sum yourself up overall, its not that hard to do.

"If you don't like to categorise your self (who does!) then go with what you think others most often think of you or don't vote."

Originally Posted by Platapus

I think there are a lot of people who are socially liberal but fiscally conservative..

So.. Center Right then...

Originally Posted by Platapus

And this does not include that right and left are not binary states, but are a spectrum between them.

Eh?? Yeah and its roughly catered for in the poll.

I voted center anyway, though Center left might have been better choice for me.. ah well.
From what I have read in the GT forums over the past week, My impression is that most are center Right...

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

You left out one catagory.

JACKASS = Letum

C'mon, man

[CaptainHaplo]

I know what your getting at. But ultimately I can be nothing but an "independant constitutionalist". As such - its not about "right or left", its about the merits of each issue, and what the constitution and common sense say about it.

For example - I have a personal opinion about homosexuality and gay marriage. While I have called people who are gay "friend", and meant it - I do not agree with the idea of gay marriage. However, what is more important is not my personal opinion - but rather the reality that no federal government has the legal authority to authorize or restrict gay marriage to its citizenry, without specific constitutional actions occuring. Specifically, because the Constitution does NOT empower the federal government to put its nose in the marriage business, it becomes a "States Rights" issue. As such, each State has (or at least is supposed to have) the authority to make its own laws about what it will or will not recognize among its own citizenry. Only if 33 of the 50 states by public referendum agree to ammend the federal constitution does the federal government really have the right to lay down a "blanket" policy. So regardless of what I or a federal politician things, its only up to the states. That stand doesn't put me on the "right" side of the issue, or on the "left". My personal opinion would be "to the right", but I could not in good conscience promote federal action based upon it. The stance also doesn't put me in "the center".

I like being outside the conventional political box - and judging by the ever increasing numbers of voters who are registering (or often changing their affiliations to) independant, alot of other folks like being outside the box too!

Bout time if ya ask me. Too many politicians looking in the box and trying to figure out what portion of its contents will vote for em just based on the letter beside their name.

[JU_88]

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

I know what your getting at. But ultimately I can be nothing but an "independant constitutionalist". As such - its not about "right or left", its about the merits of each issue, and what the constitution and common sense say about it.

For example - I have a personal opinion about homosexuality and gay marriage. While I have called people who are gay "friend", and meant it - I do not agree with the idea of gay marriage. However, what is more important is not my personal opinion - but rather the reality that no federal government has the legal authority to authorize or restrict gay marriage to its citizenry, without specific constitutional actions occuring. Specifically, because the Constitution does NOT empower the federal government to put its nose in the marriage business, it becomes a "States Rights" issue. As such, each State has (or at least is supposed to have) the authority to make its own laws about what it will or will not recognize among its own citizenry. Only if 33 of the 50 states by public referendum agree to ammend the federal constitution does the federal government really have the right to lay down a "blanket" policy. So regardless of what I or a federal politician things, its only up to the states. That stand doesn't put me on the "right" side of the issue, or on the "left". My personal opinion would be "to the right", but I could not in good conscience promote federal action based upon it. The stance also doesn't put me in "the center".

I like being outside the conventional political box - and judging by the ever increasing numbers of voters who are registering (or often changing their affiliations to) independant, alot of other folks like being outside the box too!

Bout time if ya ask me. Too many politicians looking in the box and trying to figure out what portion of its contents will vote for em just based on the letter beside their name.

For me personally:

Abortion:
Its the woman body, her life and her business (and nobody elses tbh)
plus I dont think anyone can remember what it was like when they were a 3 month old feotous.

Gay marriage:
Again - none of my business, if homosexuals marry or not, it has zero impact on me.
but I see no reason to deny them the same freedoms as hetrosexuals.

(Sorry Christianity & Islam)

Gun Laws,
i live in the UK so its not really applicable, but I would not want thme legalized over here as the people who tend to actually want guns - tend to be the same people who have no intention of using them for the great of good. And plus we already have enough problems with Knife crime.

I guess its down to what ever you believe. applogies if my views offended anyone.

[August]

Originally Posted by JU_88

as the people who tend to actually want guns - tend to be the same people who have no intention of using them for the great of good.

I'm not offended but I'd sure be interested to hear your reasoning for this...

Edit: though it'd be better if it were in a more applicable thread!

[Onkel Neal]

I put Center-Right. The main thing that keeps me from being far right is I believe some regulatory oversight in critical markets is needed.

[CaptainHaplo]

JU 88 - I was not offended. Your entitled to your view.

On abortion - what if that is YOUR child - a son or daughter yet unborn, that a woman carries. Yes - its in her body, but its also part of YOU. Funny, its her choice alone, but the moment that child takes its first breath - it becomes YOUR responsibility primarily. 9 months < 18 years. See any "inequality" there? Thats a personal view, but my stance still stands in regards to the US - it should be a states rights issue.

Regarding guns, I have to ask - what makes you feel that legalized firearms represent a danger to the average citizenry? I view it this way - if someone is WILLING to go through the necessary steps to legally own a firearm - ie take any required safety courses, register the weapon, etc - they have shown a level of responsibility much higher than those who would get a firearm ILLEGALLY. Or as is often said in my area of the US - if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them. And as you noted regarding knife violence - what happens if you have a knife and are attacked by a outlaw with a firearm? Do you have any reasonable chance of self-defense or self-preservation? But again - your entitled to your view. I do need to make clear - in the US the right to own firearms is one that IS protected by our constitution - and thus is NOT a states rights question, but a already established right upon which the government has limited authority to control.

[Méo]

Originally Posted by August

I'm not offended but I'd sure be interested to hear your reasoning for this...

I don't want to answer back for JU_88 but here's my point of view:

IMHO, lot of Americans (and the government too) seems to make the promotion of guns/weapons as way to resolve many social problems (even for ''personal security''), the result is inevitably a more violent society.

I consider myself lucky to live in my peaceful part of North America, there are no mass shootings or terrorist threat here.

[Sailor Steve]

I used to place myself on the right, but every time I take one of those silly tests I come out either square in the middle or just the tiniest bit to the left.

So I voted CENTER. I always place myself on the side of individual liberty, so I end up on the right of some issues and the left of others.

I'm more than glad to discuss any and all issues, but this was a poll about where you place yourself, not every single reason why. If we're going to start arguing the issues all over again, I vote for creating new threads. Otherwise this is going to bog down real fast.