| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
nolegirl
Joined: 17 Apr 2008
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject: Why are you a liberal/conservative? |
 |
|
It seems most people on these boards are liberal and was wondering what specifically makes you liberal? What ideas do you believe in that makes you a liberal/conservative.
Recently, they did a poll and asked Americans certain questions to see what presidential canidate they most agree with. An overwhelming majority had said they were voting for Obama before they took the questionare but most of their answers coincided with Clinton(being the majority) and Mcain in 2nd. So brings me to my second question, are you voting fo rthe person or their ideas??? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Because the US ought not go back to Sept 10. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: Re: Why are you a liberal/conservative? |
|
|
| nolegirl wrote: |
It seems most people on these boards are liberal and was wondering what specifically makes you liberal? What ideas do you believe in that makes you a liberal/conservative.
Recently, they did a poll and asked Americans certain questions to see what presidential canidate they most agree with. An overwhelming majority had said they were voting for Obama before they took the questionare but most of their answers coincided with Clinton(being the majority) and Mcain in 2nd. So brings me to my second question, are you voting fo rthe person or their ideas??? |
I assume, from your question, that you are probably American.
We've already rehashed that. Try here: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=72350&start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Why are you a liberal/conservative? |
|
|
| Big_Bird wrote: |
| We've already rehashed that. |
The last post on that thread was almost 18 months ago. Offhand, I'm guessing some new people might be about since then.
 And if we've only talked about it once, it might be not accurate to say "rehashed." The first time we hashed it, and if we do it again, then we are rehashing. 
I guess I'm a liberal because it just more logical, practical and beneficial for the society I want to live in. I just think that my country as a whole is better off - everyone - if opportunities and resources are available to the greatest number of people that are possible. For instance, paying taxes for publicly-financed education makes sense even if you don't have kids - it's because a well-educated workforce and electorate make the country a better place as a whole, in just about every way.
Conservatives seem to think taxes shoud only be spent on new missles (with new textbooks being the lowest priority, and only if evolution is seldom mentioned) and that a social safety net is a no-no, but a corporate safety net is a yes-yes ...
I'm not anti-business, and I don't think most liberals are. It's a matter of striking balances. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: Why are you a liberal/conservative? |
|
|
| The Bobster wrote: |
| Big_Bird wrote: |
| We've already rehashed that. |
The last post on that thread was almost 18 months ago. Offhand, I'm guessing some new people might be about since then.
And if we've only talked about it once, it might be not accurate to say "rehashed." The first time we hashed it, and if we do it again, then we are rehashing.
I guess I'm a liberal because it just more logical, practical and beneficial for the society I want to live in. I just think that my country as a whole is better off - everyone - if opportunities and resources are available to the greatest number of people that are possible. For instance, paying taxes for publicly-financed education makes sense even if you don't have kids - it's because a well-educated workforce and electorate make the country a better place as a whole, in just about every way.
Conservatives seem to think taxes shoud only be spent on new missles (with new textbooks being the lowest priority, and only if evolution is seldom mentioned) and that a social safety net is a no-no, but a corporate safety net is a yes-yes ...
I'm not anti-business, and I don't think most liberals are. It's a matter of striking balances. |
No. That thread has bounced back from the dead before.
I don't even really know what liberal/conservative means. These are American terms. Most American liberals are somewhat conservative from where I'm sitting. It's all relative. I don't find this forum is particularly leftwing, either. So either Nolegirl is particularly conservative, and from her perspective this board seems to the left, or she's not been reading it very much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I don't even really know what liberal/conservative means. These are American terms. |
If Winston Churchill had had any hair, I'm sure it would be standing on end.
"Before the First World War, he served...as part of the Asquith Liberal government...In the interwar years, he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Conservative government." (Wiki) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
| They've taken on different meanings in everyday conversation, though, and I think BB was complaining about the vagueness of the way the terms are used on these boards. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hmm. That's why I gave examples, I guess ... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
Your examples were vague and full of generalizations. I believe in adaptation and agree that "a well-educated workforce and electorate make the country a better place as a whole." Does that mean we're on the same team? Where's the puke smileyface?
OP, I think I'm more of an individualist than anything else; I don't really identify with any political philosophy. I scored something like "liberal-left" on the map that was the subject of a previous thread, but I disliked the test questions and doubt whether the classifications held any real meaning. Maybe someone will post a more useful test eventually? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
The Bobster
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I believe in adaptation |
What does adaptation mean? I've never seen it used in a political context before.
My examples were specific enough - public education is better than money for missiles- and I notice you gave none at all. No, we are defintiely NOT on the same team. I don't consider you a liberal, not by any means.
| Quote: |
| I think I'm more of an individualist than anything else |
That's probably because nobody in the world has the same opinions as you ...
But you neglected to try to answer why, also. And that's okay. In the end, we might not really want to know.
I think that Americans deserve an national health insurance that on par with any in the developed world, or better. Every country we assisted in WW2, as well as most of the ones we helped vanquish, have the means to take care of the medical needs of every citizen, young or old, rich or poor.It's a sad fact of history that we seem to prefer fighting other people's wars for them instead of taking care of our own people.
From the OP:
| Quote: |
| are you voting fo rthe person or their ideas??? |
I tend to vote for people, and I think most Americans are like that. I don't know if it's a good idea, though. I'm often disappointed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Some people prefer to plot the political spectrum along two lines. You are comfortable with how much government control over the economy? You are comfortable with how much government control over the lives of individuals?
Conservatives tend to like more control over civil liberties and less control over the economy.
Liberals are the opposite.
Dictators like control over both.
Libertarians like minimum control over both. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
loose_ends
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee wrote: |
| Because the US ought not go back to Sept 10. |
I'm with you on this line of thinking but I diverge in dates. I think it should be pushed a few decades earlier IMHO. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
loose_ends
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
I personally think the lines between liberals and conservatives have become way to grey to determine which is which. Obama or Mcain? Two sides of the same coin if you ask me.
When I was younger I was very liberal. As I get older I am becoming more and more conservative.
However there are a few things I think should remain in the public domain; pension and health care are two examples. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bramble
Joined: 26 Jan 2007
Location: National treasures need homes
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Humans are best adapted to human habitats. Bats are best adapted to bat habitats. Lizards are best adapted to lizard habitats. Etc. No Adam and Eve or Noah's Ark. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nowhere Man
Joined: 08 Feb 2004
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 5:20 am Post subject: ... |
|
|
Traditionally, I believe the idea was that conservatives wanted to keep things the old way and liberals wanted to change them to something new.
That doesn't quite fit. Looking at the extreme ends of the spectrum, the Nazis weren't exactly returning to the old ways and Mao wasn't really leaping forward.
On the other hand, there has to be some kind of terms to describe people's political positions.
These terms exist for lack of a better way to describe competing perspectives. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
