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Someone school me...
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Author:  YankeeInRaleigh [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 7:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Someone school me...
Hey all

So, I was pondering the political landscape, and realized that I really dont know which group I fit in best, or if there even is one that represents me more. And i'm thinking beyond Dems/Republicans, as crosscheck has brought to our attention there are groups like libertarians (hm...is a bunch of libertarians a 'group'?), there is the greenparty, and i'm sure other fringe groups i've never heard of.

Basically, I'm socially liberal. I think gays should marry if they want, I think abortion needs to remain legal, and I do believe that some level of reasonable assistance should be supplied through various means to those in our society living in fucking squalor. Be that in the form of cash, or programs designed to help them advance. I dont think money should be just thrown at them, there needs to be some intelligence behind the program, and some proof that it actually helps shit.

Financially, I just want the government to be responsible. I, like probably everyone else, get infuriated at the ridiculous pork-barrel projects you hear about, like 12 billion going towards studying the adolescent mating behavior of a rare endangered earthworm (relax, I made that up. it PROBABLY doesnt exist..) Or bailout money going to 7 figure bonuses for the same fucktards who got us in this financial mess in the first place.

So, a main part of my question is, What exactly is the difference between the fiscal policy of the right and left? I want to know this stuff, but my education was focused mainly on science, politics and economics never really interested me. Is there some sort of (as unbiased as possible) comparison between what the two parties spend money on? People on the right BLAST the left for all the irresponsible spending, but what exactly IS it? I cant believe that republicans are never responsible for pork. And what about libertarians, or the green party, what is their economic stance?

Socially, i'll never be a republican. They seem waaaaaay out of line with what I believe. But I also dont want my government pissing my tax dollars down the drain. WTF option do I have?

And guys PLEASE, lets not just turn this into some rhetoric filled propaganda bullshit thread, where everyone in their entrenched positions just posts random links and takes jabs and etc etc, I really want to gain some knowledge out of this, I know you guys are passionate about it, and I'm hoping to get a better understanding. (and I must admit, a desire to know this information has increased directly in relation to my increased tax contribution)
Author:  CriminallyVu1gar [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Well, there are more than two political parties in this country, although the democrats and republicans have done all they can to ensure that they're the only two with any legitimacy.
Author:  slesh [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Ok, so, the left basically jerk you off with the right hand while pinning you down with the "LEFT" hand while they fuck you in the ass. The right does it the opposite, the tea baggers go for DP and the "Centrists" let you do it to them. :?

In other words, no matter what you try to identify yourself with in the current political environment, its a big shit sandwhich and we all have to take a bite. :)

But in all honesty, Republican and Democrats firmly believe in the 2 party system. Why you ask? Becuase they fear a 3rd party or more, that would weaken the political strangle hold they have on the nation.
Liberal, Moderate, Conservative, these are the catagories that are mainstream, but not the only ones.
Author:  Squanto [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
slesh wrote:
In other words, no matter what you try to identify yourself with in the current political environment, its a big shit sandwhich and we all have to take a bite. :)


This is an excellent summation.

Both sides fuck you in the ass, just in different ways.
Author:  Crosscheck [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
YankeeInRaleigh wrote:
Basically, I'm socially liberal. I think gays should marry if they want, I think abortion needs to remain legal, and I do believe that some level of reasonable assistance should be supplied through various means to those in our society living in fucking squalor. Be that in the form of cash, or programs designed to help them advance. I dont think money should be just thrown at them, there needs to be some intelligence behind the program, and some proof that it actually helps shit.

I wouldn't classify any of those stances as "liberal".
You're barely center-left socially.

Quote:
What exactly is the difference between the fiscal policy of the right and left?

One side wastes money in the name of patriotism and the other in the name of humanity.
Honestly, if fiscal responsibility is your main thing I can't tell you where to turn. The last group of Republicans that "walked the walk" was Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America.
People are often quick to give Bill Clinton credit for the budget surpluses he enjoyed, but it was his Republican congress that was actually writing and passing those budgets.

The biggest lies in Washington are Democrats care about poor people an Republicans want small government.

Let me answer your question with another question.
Why do you feel the need to classify your beliefs? Why the need to line up with a certain group?
Is it because you want to know which party to join or which candidates to financially support?
Author:  Stuuuuuuu [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
All parties give lip-service to fiscal responsibility ("the party of financial irresponsibility" just doesn't attract many voters), but I find it all comes down to a simple equation: all politicians want to lower taxes, and all are against spending, unless it's spending that goes to their distrcit or people who vote for them.
Author:  Wyohomeboy [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Your a member of the Andrew Peters fan club, that says enough about you politically!! :D :lol:
Author:  YankeeInRaleigh [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Wyohomeboy wrote:
Your a member of the Andrew Peters fan club, that says enough about you politically!! :D :lol:



WHY I OUGHTAA!!!!
Author:  Wyohomeboy [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
YankeeInRaleigh wrote:
Wyohomeboy wrote:
Your a member of the Andrew Peters fan club, that says enough about you politically!! :D :lol:



WHY I OUGHTAA!!!!


I knew you'd like it :o
Author:  Hammygoodness [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Yeah, one thing to bear in mind when you take a gander at the recent and current political landscape is that the Republican party, while paying lip service to fiscal conservative ideals, really did not follow through on the talk. You want to see tax burdens go down? It's not so much the bridge-to-nowhere projects that are going to need to be cut out (but boy, are they wasteful), but what really needs to be tackled are the social insurance entitlements. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.

Only, you likely won't see these programs reeled in unless there's a total collapse of the American economy. Politically, they are the "third rails": untouchable. So neither party is going to get serious about scaling them back. But these liabilities are only going to suck up more and more of American capital. Want to know where that leads? Take a look at Greece.

Ham
Author:  YankeeInRaleigh [ Mon Mar 01, 2010 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Someone school me...
Crosscheck wrote:
Let me answer your question with another question.
Why do you feel the need to classify your beliefs? Why the need to line up with a certain group?
Is it because you want to know which party to join or which candidates to financially support?


I don't know that it's a need to line up with a certain group, but I would like to know how the relevant groups line up with my own beliefs.
I've only voted with my social beliefs, figuring both parties would fuck up the balance book about equally. From observing lots of discussion here, and seeing how motivated people are by fiscal concerns, I thought there would be lots of opinions about who spends how much on what, and who is more trustworthy with our hard earned tax dollars.

You're a libertarian, Cross, if a libertarian were in office what would be different economically than it is now? Lower taxes? Less services? More or less defense spending? Education?
(5 minutes later)

Ok, I just googled libertarians, and checked out http://www.lp.org/issues/taxes Very informative and...pretty fucking right on. I actually agree with almost all of that. Although I wonder where they gather their data for saying private industry is better than gov at all these services, but i'm open to it being factual.

Meh, I got shit to do, and this post is getting too long. Anyone want to chime in one way or the other, or is everyone convinced that both parties suck equally in matters of the wallet?
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