Originally posted by: mribnik1
Originally posted by: Gigantopithecus
I've always been fiscally conservative and socially liberal. That's why I'm a Democrat, since the current Republican President is neither. At least with Kerry I got one.
And you know what? I'd bet the majority of the country is the same damn way. Problem is we had a choice between a douche and a turd sandwich for president (though the douche was a better pick IMO). Throw some moderates out there in '08 and the country wins.
Exactly.
Here's a non-exhaustive list of what I stand for:
Economic issues:
Keynesian capitalism. That basically boils down to moderately regulating commerce. Its aims are to limit, to an extent, economic disparity and a top-heavy distribution of wealth. This is the system under which our middle class seems to have fared the best, historically, though I am aware of its many criticisms (some of which are entirely valid). In my estimation, the Democrats fit this better than the neocons who run the Republican party. The Democrats are still a bit to the left of where I am, but the Republicans are far to the right - though there are leaders in both parties where I'd like to see them.
Limited government spending, control (hopefully elimination) of the deficit. Some social programs are worthy of government support - others are not. If research shows the programs accomplish their goals, for an amount of money we can agree is reasonable, keep 'em. If they don't, axe 'em and go back to the drawing board. We've got social scientists and any number of other analysts to do this. Democrats tend to embrace social programs uncritically, Republicans seem to think none of them are worth anything. Again, however, there are moderates on both sides I'd support on this issue.
The military: the military is currently bloated, inefficient, and more suited to fighting Soviet Russia than dudes in caves. In my opinion, we spend too much money on the military because we aren't efficient about it. Change is tough, but we should be prepared to have a military that changes with our enemies. I'm not sure either party really fits this.
Technology: technological innovation has long been a hallmark of this nation and drives our economy. This is one area I like to see the government fund and subsidize heavily. Republicans have a tendency to subsidize existing technologies, which is good, but Democrats have a tendency to be more open to funding pure research and unproven technologies, which is better.
Social issues:
I support the right of homosexuals to be married and raise/adopt children. I'd rather be raised by an educated gay couple with good jobs in a stable relationship than by two ignorant schemers who adopt kids to get another check from the government. Since Republicans currently pander to the religious right, obviously on this one I side with the Democrats.
Abortion: I am pro-choice through and through, and I think elective abortions should be funded by the government like any other medical procedure that's funded by the government. Again, that makes me a Democrat.
Education: I think education is the absolute most important social issue there is in any society. A society of ignoramuses incapable of independent thought does not make a good democracy. Therefore, I strongly support adequate funding for public schools, which is traditionally a Democratic rather than Republican stance. That said, I think one of the worst detractors of quality primary education in this country is a lack of good teachers, which I attribute in large part to unions, which Republicans work to erode (and in this case, I think is appropriate). Again, however, I find myself siding more with Democrats than Republicans because of the Republican party's pandering to the religious right, which wants to introduce creationism into our science classrooms. When all is said and done, I really go either way on the local level (the Republicans where I'm from aren't whores of the religious right) - but usually Democrat on the state and Federal level. (Local level controls the curriculum, state and Federal control the $$$.)
The death penalty: I'm pro-death penalty in theory but not in practice because I think our justice system is too flawed to be killing people. Just look at all of the post-execution exonerations accessible forensic DNA analysis has yielded - by my last count there were well over 300 across the nation. So, on this I go Democrat.
Crime & punishment: I tend to have a dim view of serious violent offenders, especially sex offenders. Social science and psychological/psychiatric research has shown our current rehabilitative techniques don't work on most violent & sex offenders, so for them I say lock 'em up and throw away the key. That's the view of Republicans. That said, most of our incarcerated (and we have more than any other country except China, iirc) are not violent, amoral predators - they're people who were raised in hopeless situations with no way out except illegal means. Many of these people can be rehabbed and made productive members of society with some investment (ie. education, training) - that while somewhat expensive, is cheaper than the cost of incarceration and recidivism. That's the view of Democrats.
That's what I stand for, that's why I consider myself a Democrat. Of course, I can and do support/vote for Republicans when they're more in line with my ideas than Democrat opponents. (I'll take a socially middle of the road Republican with conservative fiscal ideas any day over a flaming liberal - like those who think anyone with money stole it and such.)
The biggest wedge for me right now is the Republican Party's unholy alliance with the religious right, which wants to erode and destroy one of the cornerstone traditions of our society - separation of Church and State.