Off the Cuff...
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I know I have asked this of you before, but never got your answers: Why are you a Liberal?
As a follow up: Do you actually "Live" the Lib doctrine or just promote it?
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I think its a good question. My answer would be, I'm an American.
The question is valid because it represents one of the fundamental problems with American politics and
media today, and that is, apparently a person has to fit nicely into one mode or the other. I am liberal in
some instances, and conservative in others. I think most people are, but that isn't where the sexy TV
ratings come into play. "Average" doesn't sell, extremism seems to.
I am more liberal overall however, and I think that is because I see our nation as a fluid arrangement, ever
changing due to population, technology, the overall advancement of human kind.
I don't know what living the liberal doctrine means, you'll have to explain that one to me.
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You are definitely an American and clearly proud to say so!! (I could cop an annoying Hannity toy here and
call you "a Great American, but that is far too cheezy my brother).
I agree that in the realm of the media your easier to sell, for better or worse, if you have a label. They have
their reasons for doing so.
My question was more of what is in your personal, deeply rooted, core beliefs. I am not concerned with
others here, just you. You as a man, husband, father, American. The whole soul searching thing here.
Are the conservative values what guide you or the liberal ones?
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Again, I don't roll with such a broad brush. Overall, I think you should work hard and enjoy the benefits of
such. I think Uncle Sam should stay out of your business in most cases. However, I do believe that the
deck is stacked against many in this country (poor, sick, sometimes business), and because of that
government has a role to play. I think this question best served for individual issues.
You say that you lean more toward a liberal stance, but I dint see the connection to the reasons that you
stated (tech, population etc). You'll have to expand on that for me.
(time) Well, conservatives are all about sticking to the constitution, however time doesn't stand still and
changes need to be make. The right to bare arms for instance today has created a situation where
America has the most deaths via guns than anywhere else in the world. That isn't a good thing.
(tech) Stem cell research can benefit mankind, but conservatives won't budge.
(population/growth) more people means more services are needed (at the very least, roadways, bridges,
national security, etc), and all need to be financed if we (the rich and the poor) want to continue to enjoy
our current lifestyles.
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My follow up question as to whether you are living the liberal doctrine is going to be based on your answer
to the first question of "Why are you a liberal?".
Your answer is still unclear to me as it is not cut and dry.
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Can't broad brush it. First and foremost I am usually a fan of States Rights, which is under utilized.
When I hear about any issue, my first inclination is to wonder why each side is reacting the way they are,
what the best outcome may be for the country not just today, but into the future, who is lying, etc. Again,
best served in this forum on a case by case basis, which we should compile a list of.
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Here is my effort to explain my follow up:
For me I am a conservative inside and out, very cut and dry. Those values are not only instilled in me over
all of the years of my life, but they are the values I try to follow and profess to others in the hopes of them
seeing what I see.
As examples: I would never have any woman I was intimate with get an abortion and would fight them to
not do so if that is what they wanted.
Whitey: I am 51%-49% in favor of women's rights to choose.
I choose to help someone get ahead in THEIR efforts, rather than to pay someone without efforts to stay in
low standings. Etc.
Whitey: Welfare needs reforms. There is a place for welfare though in this country, but it has gotten out of
hand.
The reason for the follow up question is this:
I have not yet found a person who claims to be a Liberal, but lives the doctrines he professes others to live.
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Chris you gave some well thought out answers and none made me feel that you are a hard core lib, which
to me is a good thing. But there were spots that are what differentiate our views.
The major one would be the "Time" response. You are of the opinion that the Constitution needs to evolve
and I am not. I believe that there are reasons for our countries greatness and All stem from that document.
Why would anyone want to screw with something that has achieved us number one status in just 200
years? Your example of the right to bear arms is easy to counter in that those murders were not
committed by licensed gun owners, but by those who violate that very law. The stats show that in every
state. Licensed owners have been the ones keeping that number lower than it would be without them.
Stem cell can be construed as playing God. To be fair to both sides, my knowledge on this subject is
minimal so for now I will bow out.
Population remark: I agree! It is in how we pay for such services that we may differ.
I am glad that you at least are on the fence where abortion is concerned. This one really bothers me.
50,000 babies are killed each year, mainly minorities, most of them as just a means of birth control not
rape, mother's life in jeopardy or incest (the only reasons I would warrant justifiable). A sad commentary
on our society.
My statement on a liberal actually living what he professes others to do:
We both know many libs are forever touting to pay more taxes to finance the poor, upgrade someone
else's life, anti capital punishment etc all to the point of ridiculous debt loads.
Yet I have not seen any of these hard core Liberals out in the hood doing Anything to actually help
someone Ever. I spend a lot of time in these places everyday and I am still waiting, decades now.
To a lesser degree, the poor we are supposedly helping wont help themselves, let alone their neighbor.
(You are right Welfare does need a big change.) Also these same Libs are free to pay more taxes at
anytime., They scream about how WE should, but yet they take every break they can come across just the
way the tax code is written (insert John Kerry , Springsteen & Bon Jovi here).
The really odd one is that there are anti capital punishment for Murderers ( violent takers of life) out there
having abortions (life's innocents).
There are many more examples for another time.
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