I need my friends to help me settle a debate I'm having about how I define myself politically. Please read through this quick list of my positions and vote on how you think I should introduce myself to others (left, center-left, center/moderate, center-right, right). Thank you!
Social issues:
-Gays should have equal rights as heterosexuals (govt. should offer civil unions for all people and stay out of marriage entirely, since marriage is a religious sacrament like unto baptism)
-drugs should be legal (esp. marijuana, although others could also be legalized with restrictions) and taxed
-abortion should be completely legal; waiting periods, ultra-sounds, or excessive regulations which are designed to dissuade or badger women into alternatives should be illegal. There is room, however, for reasonable regulation such as ensuring that women understand their options (as long as such does not entail obvious fear-mongering or pseudo-science).
Environment:
-global warming exists and is man-made. Programs (like cap and trade) meant to stop global warming, however, are simply not worth the cost; they raise energy prices and hurt efficiency without actually stopping warming.
-government should invest significantly into basic science research, particularly in technology like fusion which may reduce the cost of clean energy below that of fossil fuels.
-organic foods are a scam.
-bio-fuels are merely an excuse for government giveaways and don't help the environment.
-"green jobs" are a boondoggle and a waste of tax-payer money. Solyndra is the most extreme example, but is a typical illustration of the waste that such subsidies represent.
Economics:
-income-inequality is not intrinsically a problem.
-America's falling social mobility, however, is a major problem.
-market-capitalism, properly-regulated, is the best economic model.
-America's tax code is shamefully complex and inefficient.
-social security needs to be phased out and replaced with a means-tested alternative.
Military:
-the war in Iraq was the stupidest, most wasteful decision America has made since it invaded Vietnam.
-pre-emptive war is never justified, and will ensure that America is constantly at war and less safe because of it.
-the military is far too large.
-military benefits need to become more generous, but given to a FAR smaller force.
Religion:
-God does not exist, at least in the versions He/She/It is understood by the world's major religions.
-there should be a separation between church and state.
My Favorite Books of 2015
8 years ago
3 comments:
GW '12
There's very little (abortion, science subsidies namely) that differs from Ron Paul's platform. If you haven't read The Revolution or Liberty Defined I think you'd be surprised by how many things in his books fit squarely with this list.
I'm also surprised that I agree with you on pretty much everything here. I think I just have degrees of difference on God, abortion, and science subsidies (how do we prevent big business from usurping the $?), but on everything else I agree 100%.
I think your stated positions would put you somewhere between Obama and Denis Kucinich, with a dose of Ron Paul thrown in for seasoning viz the economy. The positions you list are hardly equivocal towards a label other than liberal. Maybe you should also list your views on some of the more nuanced issues if you're trying to see where on the political spectrum you lie if not full-on liberal. Issues about guns, occupy wall street movement, the so-called "fairness doctrine" in media, unions in the public bargaining fight, litmus test of pro-abortion for court appointments, term limits, judicial branch dominance over the executive and legislative branches, national debt, role of gov't to create jobs, size of federal agencies, illegal immigration, and some other nuanced issues if you want to test your "label" better. As for a pre-emptive war as "never" appropriate, I wonder if you feel taking out Hitler in 1935 would not have been "justified" prior to his amassing the abilities he later used for world domination. Do you also then believe that a restraining order should never be issued until a woman has been attacked? I suspect if you answered some of these other questions you would be a little less liberal, than your big bullet points indicate. But, liberalism is definitely got you in its evil clutches. ;>)
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