Are any of you Republicans going to second-guess your affiliation

[woot]

I've been independent for many years, although there was once a time I considered registering Dem. The last year has made me very glad I didn't. I agree that there really isn't all that much different between the parties. There do seem to be some stark differences between individual candidates, however, which is good to see.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

with the GOP, if Romney goes down because of his Mormonism?

The parties are actually not that far apart. You can find anti-abortion dem candidates. Pro-gun dems. Anti-gay marriage dems. Small-govt. dems.

It would be too bad if the dem party in Utah in particular can't capitolize on this bigotry to point out that many are mindlessly cozying up to people who hate them.

No. There may be some Repubs that hate me because I'm a Mormon, but that won't stop me from wanting to pay less in taxes.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

So you literally are not aligned with a single thing in the democratic party? that actually is pretty unique. I rarely meet someone who is 100% aligned (knowingly) with all his/her party's beliefs.

What does the Democratic Party stand for?

High Taxes.

Big Government Regulation of Business.

Big Bureaucracy.

Strong Federal Government over states' rights.

Big Oppressive Environmental Regulation.

Gay rights.

Socialization of medicine.

Subjugation of our interests to those of Continental Europeans.

What else are the pillars of the Democratic Party?

Now, the Libertarian Party has quite a bit of appeal. It has many hands off issues, laissez faire.

I identify with the Libertarians on many social issues, the Reps on many economic issues. But I can't think of a think the Dems do correctly.

[woot]

Originally Posted by Archaea

What does the Democratic Party stand for?

High Taxes.

Big Government Regulation of Business.

Big Bureaucracy.

Strong Federal Government over states' rights.

Big Oppressive Environmental Regulation.

Gay rights.

Socialization of medicine.

Subjugation of our interests to those of Continental Europeans.

What else are the pillars of the Democratic Party?

Now, the Libertarian Party has quite a bit of appeal. It has many hands off issues, laissez faire.

I identify with the Libertarians on many social issues, the Reps on many economic issues. But I can't think of a think the Dems do correctly.

Aren't Dems and libertarians generally similar on social issues (abortion, gay rights, etc)?

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by woot

Aren't Dems and libertarians generally similar on social issues (abortion, gay rights, etc)?

I think the difference is that Dems want those issues to be laws, while Libertarians don't care one way or another about those issues, so long as they don't hinder their lives.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Archaea

What does the Democratic Party stand for?

High Taxes.

Big Government Regulation of Business.

Big Bureaucracy.

Strong Federal Government over states' rights.

Big Oppressive Environmental Regulation.

Gay rights.

Socialization of medicine.

Subjugation of our interests to those of Continental Europeans.

What else are the pillars of the Democratic Party?

Now, the Libertarian Party has quite a bit of appeal. It has many hands off issues, laissez faire.

I identify with the Libertarians on many social issues, the Reps on many economic issues. But I can't think of a think the Dems do correctly.

Stem cell research, tighter restrictions on The Gun of the Hand, harder stance against censorship, environment, to name a few.

If you cannot find a single thing in either the democratic or republican party that you agree with, you are not being intellectually honest.

I am surprised you are not more aligned with Dems since most academics and pseudo-academics identify themselves as liberals.

[woot]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

I think the difference is that Dems want those issues to be laws, while Libertarians don't care one way or another about those issues, so long as they don't hinder their lives.

Yea, that's probably true. As absurd as I think the anti-gay crowd is, it'd be preferable if it became understood that the constitution provides them with the same rights as everyone else, rather than having to make a law about it. I don't know if that'll ever happen though, so I wouldn't be opposed in theory to a law stating "yes, morons, that includes gays."

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Stem cell research, tighter restrictions on The Gun of the Hand, harder stance against censorship, environment, to name a few.

If you cannot find a single thing in either the democratic or republican party that you agree with, you are not being intellectually honest.

I am surprised you are not more aligned with Dems since most academics and pseudo-academics identify themselves as liberals.

I favor most research, but I'm not about to get up in arms about it. I do NOT favor tighter gun restrictions, as it upsets the libertarian in me. I'm a Westerner at heart, and the frontier does not provide for such limitations.

I don't agree that Dems are about the environment, they are about Big Government taking control of Big Business in the name of the Environment. The Party really could give a shit about the environment, but only the power this issue gives them over a rival.

There is no middle reasonable party on the environment. How clean is clean is usually the debate? And I don't know the answers but the shrill semantics don't convince me.

I don't agree with kow-towing to the Euros. Yes, since most academics depend upon government grants they look to the gravy train, Dems. I don't get a penny from the Government so the Dems are of no benefit to me.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I favor most research, but I'm not about to get up in arms about it. I do NOT favor tighter gun restrictions, as it upsets the libertarian in me. I'm a Westerner at heart, and the frontier does not provide for such limitations.

I don't agree that Dems are about the environment, they are about Big Government taking control of Big Business in the name of the Environment. The Party really could give a shit about the environment, but only the power this issue gives them over a rival.

There is no middle reasonable party on the environment. How clean is clean is usually the debate? And I don't know the answers but the shrill semantics don't convince me.

I don't agree with kow-towing to the Euros. Yes, since most academics depend upon government grants they look to the gravy train, Dems. I don't get a penny from the Government so the Dems are of no benefit to me.

well, you and Snipe have a lot in common!

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by woot

Yea, that's probably true. As absurd as I think the anti-gay crowd is, it'd be preferable if it became understood that the constitution provides them with the same rights as everyone else, rather than having to make a law about it. I don't know if that'll ever happen though, so I wouldn't be opposed in theory to a law stating "yes, morons, that includes gays."

Quite honestly, I think you could say pretty much the same thing to the gay crowd:

"Yes, morons, gays are already included."