Thread: Are You Conservative, Liberal, or Other and Why?

I'll answer honestly: I'm a conservative because I have something to conserve.

Wow, great comments and interesting that we all basically want the same thing, liberté, égalité, fraternité, except I'd cut out the brotherhood crap coz that's pretty commie IMHO, and exchange it for the right to prosper.
Despite the widespread hatred of Wall Street, I have been worrying not only about friends in the biz but also about the businesses that depend on banker largesse. Besides the big charities, who have gotten millions from not only banks but their executives, restaurants, bars, retailers, entertainment venues, etc, will suffer from Wall Street's fall. A colleague based in NYC says the hot dog stall vendors are even seeing a drop in biz. But, he says you still can't get a bladdy cab.
I also think that different countries need different governance to meet their specific needs. ie, Canada needs more money for infrastructure because it's so dam big. I loved working in HK with a 5% tax rate, but with the concentration of wealth and laissez faire style, everything got done. Except for welfare, but families looked after their own and beggars did fine from contributions from Exchange Square bankers.
Some think I am a greedy capitalist because I am so conservative in my views here. True, I charge alot for my work, but I'm a pro. But, I share my wealth and give my time and am a real sucker for helping the homeless.

Originally Posted by Milkman

*support "democracy" only where it's beneficial to the home-country
*Support "free trade" when it's beneficial to the home-country.
*Support globalization
*Less "regulation" for Multi-National Corporations (MNCs)
*WTO, GATT, NAFTA, Bretton-Woods, Oil Bourse in USD, etc.
*Use the military to enforce the economic interests of the corporations and nation-state.

MM, please tell me one country that does not do any of the above?

Originally Posted by panama hat

...blah blah

How long before you were on your own two feet? 35?
Trade unions should have gone out with the Industrial Revolution, IMO. Today, unions drive the companies they work for into the ground by demanding more benefits and wages, even when the company is struggling to stay afloat. Prime example: the US auto industry. Too much pork.
Greenpeace is obstructionist and often harms people in their work. Fekin waste of money and oxygen, IMHO.
You accept medium taxes but choose to live in countries that tax low so you can profit? Hypocrite.
Small govt is govt that works in tandem with biz to keep the economy going strong. Heavy govt intervention stifles biz and other programs with red tape. Fek, I wanted to make food for a homeless shelter and was told I needed an industrial kitchen, inspected and approved by the govt, and a food safe course. Gimme a break.
You are an internet baddie, IMO. Milkman and Sabang have differing views than I do, but they call fair where fair is do and debate with integrity; you do not.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

I am a believer of regulated capitalism, aka Socialism
basically promoting freedom for small companies, individuals, and proprietorship and taxing the hell out of the extremely rich, large corporation,
also nationalize banks, utilities, and telecom companies, that is strategic industries. Nationalizing doesn't mean monopoly but competitive global industries using the oversight of the government,

You should move to Venezuela, Bfly.

*Use the military to enforce the economic interests of the corporations and nation-state. MM, please tell me one country that does not do any of the above?

Switzerland, Sweden and Swaziland for example. Most countries are more civilised than the US when it comes to wars..

For me it all depends on the state of your country, in the US I would probably be a right-wing democrat, here in Switzerland I am clearly right-wing, and call myself "liberal". Liberal in continental europe means government should usually not interfere in business but only give a framework for sound business conditions. Social liberalism also means that people are self-responsible and free to do, be, think whatever they want as long as it doesn't harm anyone elses freedom.
In my opinion religion and government have to be strictly divided.
Statesmen, like businessmen, should be professional and accountable for their results. I do not care if a politician gets a BJ from his secretary as long as he's doing his job. I do not care in which god he believes or if he's a man/woman, a good drinker or not.
I am not very american in that aspect.
I also wouldn't like to have to pay for college, or university in that matter.
Education is the key to a thriving country, so attempts should be made to educate all citizens on all levels as well as possible. Not possible without money of course..
I dislike the extreme levels of taxation, inefficient government and rampant socialism in Europe. I don't believe much in centralism, I like the swiss federal system. Solve the problems locally, regulate only where necessary to avoid
inefficiencies and different standards.
I don't just believe in small government, I believe in an efficient, transparent government, a lot should be spent on infrastructure and education, cut down on social welfare, subsidies and the army.
I think an army should be appropriately sized to defend your own country and strong enough to support your allies, but cost control and transparency is essential. I do not believe in any of the wars Nato & the US is fighting at the moment, waste of many lives and too much money.
I don't see how anyone could vote republican and believe in small government.
The amounts that pour into this hypocritical war on terrorism is not justified in my opinion, and further overstreches an already overindebted government. If public revenue is significantly lower than public spending then the last thing to do is cut taxes. I don't believe in incentives, I believe in a healthy and relatively debt-free treasury, which doesn't burden future generations. The private sector is not stupid, it can clearly see in what state an economy is in, and will thus gladly take incentives, but business needs stable conditions, not subsidies.

Pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan as soon as possible (ie reasonable), stop consuming and start to save. If people are too stupid to handle credits, loans and leasings, regulate it in a way that it's illegal to sell consumer credits to indebted people.

Hope that all makes sense, got a bit of a hangover really.

^ Ah, utopia. Nice post in ways. I disagree with pulling out of Iran, Iraq. Too far past negotiating with radicals, whoever started it, IMO. NIMBY attitudes don't work right now.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

I disagree with pulling out of Iran, Iraq.

Iran? Wishful thinking Jet?

^ Ooops, ahead of meself. I meant that other place.

you are not going to pull out of Iraq, you are being ass-kicked from there, it's simple as that

I tend towards the conservative. I had a Barry Goldwater sticker on my bicycle. (pretty bold for an 8 year old in Wash, DC).
I subscribe to the National Review and the Weekly Standard.
I find the viewpoints expressed by conservatives to be generally better written and more coherent than the disingenuous knee-jerk emotional hysteria which surrounds much of what emanates from the mouthpieces of the Democratic party. All you need to do is listen to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chuck Schummer, or Patrick Leahy to catch my drift.
And don't forget the slick phonies like John Edwards, John Kerry and Howard Dean. Also very good reasons to be a conservative.
Conservatives can be very funny. I can hardly wait to see the new David Zucker movie: An American Carol

Ach. Panama, you are so full of yourself, you should just start your own website.
Mr Earl, thanks for the funnies. Kelsey is grand.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by Milkman

*support "democracy" only where it's beneficial to the home-country
*Support "free trade" when it's beneficial to the home-country.
*Support globalization
*Less "regulation" for Multi-National Corporations (MNCs)
*WTO, GATT, NAFTA, Bretton-Woods, Oil Bourse in USD, etc.
*Use the military to enforce the economic interests of the corporations and nation-state.

MM, please tell me one country that does not do any of the above?

Which specifically things on the list specifically?

Originally Posted by flash

Boon me gave me a green for being a republican, we are very different republicans BM

Don't take it personal like...I was sorta 'reloading'?

Originally Posted by buriramboy

I'm just anti Bush.

Poof!

Originally Posted by Butterfly

you are not going to pull out of Iraq, you are being ass-kicked from there, it's simple as that

By who ?

Originally Posted by panama hat

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Despite the widespread hatred of Wall Street

You misunderstand, as usual. It is a dislike for the unchecked greed and egotism that is part of Wall Street that is aired . . . best stay in your bunker of perceived seclusion, Jet

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

I'm a pro

And anyone who revels in the art of chest-thumping and self-glorification like that is anything but . . .

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

But, I share my wealth and give my time and am a real sucker for helping the homeless.

Yes, these are the welfare recipients you consistently trash and accuse of all evils . . . why does your sentence sound so very hollow and, like most of your posts, unbelievable? You constantly deride this group, yet you are two-faced enough to now tell us all how you support them?

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

How long before you were on your own two feet? 35?

No, Jet, I was a welfare recipient until last week . . . remember, all 'libbies' are of that status, the people that you despise yet are so willing to help.



Ahem . . . that's when they started . . . having a Palin moment, Jet? TRs were founded exactly because the industrial revolution turned workers into regimented chattel . . . You really are not very knowledgeable, are you . . . Why not ask the opinion of some of our Welsh members here who might have had family members in the coal mining industry . . . ask them what life would have been like for the workers without union protection.

Of course anyone can filter out examples of overzealous TRs . . . not denying that, but your statement is simply your usual bravado-lacd and uninformed crap.



Ah, yes . . . I have Greenpeace hindering my work every day, as does my neighbour and his. Wall Street, your favourite gang of entrepreneurs, are forced to stop their work daily because of Greenpeace.
(Umm, would you have a link to your claim? I'd be mightily interested to know that this organisation harms people in their work . . . unless you are speaking of the whalers and baby-seal killers . . . Yes, you may be right there)

How about the WWF? (No, Jet, nothing to do with wrestling . . . ) Objectionable as well?



Ah, but you put words in my mouth. I have also lived and worked in the US, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan - - - hardly bastions of low taxes. I live and work here now because of the lifestyle and weather as well as the excellent environment for my children. Do you have children, Jet? If you had you might understand.



So, you are for regulation or against it? What exactly does that mean; 'working in tandem to keep the economy going strong' and please explain how that works in your exalted realms of Wall Street.



Yes, can't have that, can we . . . Again, Wall Street is an excellent example of how well that works.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

You are an internet baddie, IMO

Not really, I just have a low level of tolerance towards purported bad-asses with their sweeping statements and objectionable rhetoric. (That means you)

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

debate with integrity; you do not.

I'm sure many would disagree . . . seeing as you are pretty much the only one that reds me . . .

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

I disagree with pulling out of Iran, Iraq.

Well, as long as it is not your child that will be sent to Iraq or Iran to fight and die. Oh, do you have children, Jet?
Iran? Oh dear . . . getting ahead of yourself, but I doubt even Palin or Bush would be stupid enough to invade . . . perhaps you would like to give it a personal start?

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

NIMBY attitudes don't work right now

No, I'd agree . . . how about soldiers are sent instead . . . this 'peaceful discussion' time has peaked . . . Enough already! It has been proven that being NIMBY doesn't work. 'We' need to get serious and start using force!

warsoneOh thing I have always found intriguing is that the most vocal supporters of are the ones not having to fight them.



Now, back to the topic.

Labels . . . are nothing but a mark to divide, but, as is mentioned here, the terms mean different things in different places.
Liberals in the US are the direct opposite in Australia (in political jargon)
There's a republican movement in Australia as well, but it has zip to do with republicanism in the US.
Social Democrats, Christian Democrats, Democrats etc . . .

One of the reasons I don't like voting is because no one party represents everything I believe in - which would be impossible, of course. So, if I vote for party (a) because they represent my beliefs to 46% and the other parties (yes, we're not talking about the US where you really have no other choice) only cover 39% . . .

What to do? Forgo my principles and accept responsibility for a majority of policies that I don't agree with?

I am sure you have not spoken with many American veterans about fighting wars that are needed, I am an Anerican veteran as are most of the people I grew up with, as well as my freinds, and i can speak for all of us. we are not useless cowards who would rather hide our heads in the sand than face reality.Hve you forgoten the New York world trade center or the many other acts of terrorism, not only in America but all around the world, that have taken the lives of so many people. To you who would be so selfish and cowardly as to not try to stop terrorism where ever it may be, I say to you, I hope next time it is you or your loved ones who are killed or mamed, and I am sure a cowardly fuck like you would run and hide.

^Don't let these Libtards wind you up RPETER65. It's a 'game' they dearly love to play if they detect even the slightest whiff of Patriotism exhibited aboard here.

Shallow, pathetic values. I blame the MTV Generation for this shit...

Originally Posted by RPETER65

I am sure you have not spoken with many American veterans about fighting wars that are needed, I am an Anerican veteran as are most of the people I grew up with, as well as my freinds, and i can speak for all of us. we are not useless cowards who would rather hide our heads in the sand than face reality.Hve you forgoten the New York world trade center or the many other acts of terrorism, not only in America but all around the world, that have taken the lives of so many people. To you who would be so selfish and cowardly as to not try to stop terrorism where ever it may be, I say to you, I hope next time it is you or your loved ones who are killed or mamed, and I am sure a cowardly fuck like you would run and hide.

Funny how you and all your friends that you speak for didn't give a flying toss about terrorism (your own government even sponsoring terrorism when it suited) until the chickens came home to roost.

And how many lives have been taken by US military action? Think on that before you wish death on other people, dickhead.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

And how many lives have been taken by US military action? Think on that before you wish death on other people, dickhead.

Nah, it is easier to trash-talk someone else' family and wish death and harm to others.

Peter, you obviously didn't understand, which is understandable looking at your background . . . post-traumatic stress syndrome is a terrible thing.

Guess what, I'm glad you didn't die. Maybe that's the difference between people like you and me.

You wish death on people, I wish life.

^^'dickhead'?

My, my little ant...getting a little riled are we?

^ Don't you think that is mild compared to someone who wishes death on another?

Likes and dislikes, politics aside . . . isn't it very, very mild compared?

Political education is the key. ;-)

Originally Posted by plorf

Political education is the key. ;-)

Basic education should come first, though, plorf. Something that is difficult to find in some countries.

You may be right, but surely you must agree that political education and a somewhat more diverse (or independant) press might be key factors in the US.
After all, the majority of americans really believed (and maybe still believe) that Saddam Hussein was in fact a muslim extremist, and not a hard-handed anti-religious dictator ;-) And it's still far from being common knowledge where the Taliban got their weapons and training from. Or let's just start with a rough political map of the middle east, the fact that Iraqis are arabs but iranians aren't, or the link between the armenian genocide and the kurds fight for an independant state.
Without the most basic knowledge about things one is unable to judge a president and his policies. And this lack of proper judgement is the main problem in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

And how many lives have been taken by US military action? Think on that before you wish death on other people, dickhead.

Nah, it is easier to trash-talk someone else' family and wish death and harm to others.

Peter, you obviously didn't understand, which is understandable looking at your background . . . post-traumatic stress syndrome is a terrible thing.

Guess what, I'm glad you didn't die. Maybe that's the difference between people like you and me.

You wish death on people, I wish life.

I do not wish death on you or anyone else, but if you are not willing to stand up to the people, in this world who wish death on everyone who is not of the Isalamic faith, or at least have some respect for those who are, I would have little sympathy.