Is Hyde Park dominated by liberals?

[cheekyjez]

Someone recently claimed that there were "100 liberals to every conservative here" - obviously there's some hyperbole there, but I'm kind of wondering whether there really is such a surfeit - it's been looking about even from where I'm standing. As such, vote please.

[chicken legs]

What about those of us who don't vote often...and just want to hear ourselves talk? Were do we fit in dang it?

[Shosh]

I would imagine so.

[BBW Betty]

For me, it depends on how I see an issue. I once said that I'm morally conservative but socially liberal.

[Chandler Bing]

I'm conservative by choice..unless it's the trendy thing to lean left....

so since trendy is in....Oh look I'm a liberal now

Or I just don't care...

[CrankySpice]

Even though I proudly and strongly identify as liberal, I had to pick moderate because I don't fit the classic liberal profile. I'm strongly pro-death penalty, don't really believe recycling is helpful to the environment (although I do think re-using and using less is) and believe in fiscal responsibility - but more in the camp of not spending gazillions of dollars on unnecessary and unsuccessful wars, or on big business tax breaks, or on no-bid overpriced government contracts. I fully support responsible spending for kids and those who are less fortunate than most of the population.

I actually think that IS a liberal value, but those who aren't or don't identify as liberal assume that liberals are all about "tax and spend" and don't give a hoot about how much/what the plan is. Whereas most liberals *I* know are interested in conserving federal money and spending it responsibly on social programs rather than on making the rich richer.

[Keb]

Originally Posted by CrankySpice

I actually think that IS a liberal value, but those who aren't or don't identify as liberal assume that liberals are all about "tax and spend" and don't give a hoot about how much/what the plan is. Whereas most liberals *I* know are interested in conserving federal money and spending it responsibly on social programs rather than on making the rich richer.

It's actually a logical part of politics, driven by an illogical need for humans to create separate group identities, to demonize the other side (or at least to look at their goals/actions in the least positive light) while glorifying one's own side's goals and actions. So "tax and spend" is how a conservative might describe the exact same thing that a liberal would describe as "responsible social planning". It's mostly a perspective issue. Since conservatives feel that many government programs are unneccessary, wasteful, inefficient, or possibly insidious plots to control people's behavior and minds, spending on them is inherently wrong and wasteful. Raising taxes to support programs that are any or all of these things is therefore just as wrong--if not moreso, because there's a visible chunk of my money going directly to pay for this thing I don't like. To the conservative, the cost of a new program is rarely justified.

Whereas the liberal looks at the same program as a (possibly imperfect) solution to a serious issue that only the government has the power and resources to solve. From the liberal's perspective, something has to be done about the problem, and the government is responsible for it. Everyone will benefit if the problem is solved, so it's only fair for everyone to support it through taxes. That doesn't mean that every problem requires a government solution, or that the program shouldn't be run in the most cost-effective way.

Most people recognize the merits of the other side's perspective on certain issues, but there is a general trend of liberals supporting more government-based interventions while conservatives prefer fewer.

[exile in thighville]

out⋅mod⋅ed
  /ˌaʊtˈmoʊdɪd/ [out-moh-did]
–adjective
1. gone out of style; no longer fashionable: outmoded styles.
2. not acceptable by present standards; no longer usable; obsolete: outmoded dwellings; outmoded teaching methods.

[Dr. Feelgood]

I identify strongly with the late Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen, who said: "I am a man of fixed and invariable principles, the first of which is to be flexible."

[bigmac]

There really isn't any effective liberal movement in this country. Both Bush and Obama kiss Wall Street's ass -- and both are lap dogs to the military. I'd laugh when people call Obama a socialist if it weren't for the fact that it's just such ignorance that's hobbling this country.

[Scorsese86]

7 voted conservative and 16 voted liberal... so far.

Oh, and if you didn't know I am a right-wing conservative.

[exile in thighville]

thanks for clearing that up

your user title and signature were kind of ambivalent

[Scorsese86]

Originally Posted by exile in thighville

thanks for clearing that up

your user title and signature were kind of ambivalent

Lol
Well, I'm glad I cleared that up for you

[cheekyjez]

Originally Posted by chicken legs

What about those of us who don't vote often...and just want to hear ourselves talk? Were do we fit in dang it?

"The left/right split doesn't define my beliefs" would cover that.

Reading! It's what's for dinner.

[chicken legs]

Originally Posted by cheekyjez

"The left/right split doesn't define my beliefs" would cover that.

Reading! It's what's for dinner.

My belief is defined by how much money I have access to.

Money, its what makes the world go around.

[kilo riley]

cmon wishy washy "moderates" . take a stand!!!

[kilo riley]

Originally Posted by CrankySpice

Even though I proudly and strongly identify as liberal, I had to pick moderate because I don't fit the classic liberal profile. I'm strongly pro-death penalty, don't really believe recycling is helpful to the environment (although I do think re-using and using less is) and believe in fiscal responsibility - but more in the camp of not spending gazillions of dollars on unnecessary and unsuccessful wars, or on big business tax breaks, or on no-bid overpriced government contracts. I fully support responsible spending for kids and those who are less fortunate than most of the population.

I actually think that IS a liberal value, but those who aren't or don't identify as liberal assume that liberals are all about "tax and spend" and don't give a hoot about how much/what the plan is. Whereas most liberals *I* know are interested in conserving federal money and spending it responsibly on social programs rather than on making the rich richer.

whats your argument that recycling is not helpful to the environment?

[pdgujer148]

Originally Posted by kilo riley

cmon wishy washy "moderates" . take a stand!!!

I know that is a joke, but still...

Moderates can have very strong political beliefs. It isn't like: "I am against the war in Iraq, but in some ways I can see it as being beneficial" or "I support gay marriage unless it upsets the community." That would be stupid.

I pick and choose the position I believe is correct. Sometimes my beliefs are shared by Conservatives; sometimes by liberals.

[jenboo]

I am a socialist

[Shosh]

Originally Posted by Scorsese86

7 voted conservative and 16 voted liberal... so far.

Oh, and if you didn't know I am a right-wing conservative.

Why? Life could be wonderful for you.

[1300 Class]

a fiscal conservative who also believed that the government should address social issues.

[kilo riley]

Originally Posted by pdgujer148

I know that is a joke, but still...

Moderates can have very strong political beliefs. It isn't like: "I am against the war in Iraq, but in some ways I can see it as being beneficial" or "I support gay marriage unless it upsets the community." That would be stupid.

I pick and choose the position I believe is correct. Sometimes my beliefs are shared by Conservatives; sometimes by liberals.

ok what are 3 beliefs you have that would be considered conservative and 3 that would be considered liberal.

[kilo riley]

Originally Posted by Australian Lord

a fiscal conservative who also believed that the government should address social issues.

i don't think the words fiscal conservative mean anything. If you have a political philosophy it likely comes down liberty and unity . Unity being what is held in common. A national defense for example. And liberty being what is private. Your right to own property for example. So we give up some liberty to have a stable society because too much liberty and no unity is anarchy. Likewise too much unity (evrything held in common) and no liberty is communism. So what is to be held in common and what is to be private? Even the liberal left in this country believes in free enterprise and even the right believes in unity. So there are things liberals like me believe should be held in common that conservatives don't. Health care for example should be a legal right and part of the commons. And there are things conservatives feel should removed from the commons and privatized - social security for example. Now because I want health care to be a public good and paid for with taxes does that not mean i think it should be fiscally responsible (small c conservative)? You rarely see those who call themselves fiscal conservatives complain about the waste in defense and the cost to have thousands of military bases across the globe.

[kilo riley]

Originally Posted by Australian Lord

a fiscal conservative who also believed that the government should address social issues.

ah i stopped reading after i read fiscal conservative and then pounded away on my laptop like a monkey. If i would have kept reading i would have seen the social issues at the end of your post. So provide for the common good in a fiscal way.

[1300 Class]

I can't really respond, except to say that my views would be considerable different would I be in the United States. The North American political spectrum is quite different from that here in Australia. For example, the public and private sectors here in Australia, and more so here in Queensland are quite blurred. I fully support for example, the Queensland Investment Corporation, which is a government owned corporation whose singular aim is to provide returns on government investments.

Now I am sure that for many in the US, the very concept of that particular government corporation would be a horrendous thought, the very visible permutation of their fears of a corporate state..