What Am I?

Gravdigr · 06-13-2011, 04:43 PM

What's right? What's left? What's liberal? What's conservative? I'm happy to say I don't know. And that's no accident. I have purposely avoided left/right/liberal/conservative labels all my thinking life.

I am going to make a few statements on my thoughts and beliefs. Please comment on whether the statement leans left or right. Liberal or conservative. And label the group of statements, as a whole, left/right/liberal/conservative.

I will not go off on anybody, argue, tell you you're stupid or any of that shit. I promise.

Now, you guys, y'all can argue all ya want.

1. I think G.W. Bush was not the greatest president he might have been, but, I thank God that Al Gore was not our president on Sept. 11. I think we would have had thousands more dead Americans by now if he had been.

2. I think all high school grads/eighteen-year-olds should do a mandatory two year turn in the military.

3. I think marijuana should as legal as cigarettes/booze.

4. While a friendly regime is always preferable, I don't think who is in charge of {insert Middle-East country here} is really any of our business.

5. I think if you're a country, and you got the minds to produce nuclear weapons, or nuclear energy, the rest of the world should either bomb you out of existence, or STFU.

6. I don't think it matters who the President is, or what color, for that matter. The office of the POTUS is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the group of CEOs and board chairmen that actually run this country. (I know this contradicts statement #1, sue me.)

7. I'm not sure there is a God. I'm not sure there's not a God. But, I do believe more people have been killed over religion than by all the diseases and accidents in history.

8. I don't think having a felony conviction should prevent you from working anywhere but a bank, or a school.

9. I know there are situations, but, I am not a fan of bankruptcy.

10. I think the plaintiffs in stupid 'hot-coffee-in-my-lap'-type lawsuits should have to give half of their award to charity.

11. I think guns are cool.

12. I think the tax rate ought to be 30% flat rate across the board for every man woman and company, no matter how big.

13. I think we should only import items/goods into this country if no one here makes it.

14. I think if you're a company that exports goods to the US, you should have to have a factory(s) here.

15. I think this is as good a place as any to STFU.

So, am I right? Left? Liberal? Conservative? Need more info, just ask.

classicman · 06-13-2011, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

So, am I right? Left? Liberal? Conservative?

Yes

piercehawkeye45 · 06-13-2011, 06:34 PM

Someone who doesn't need an ideology. That's the way to go.

DanaC · 06-14-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Someone who doesn't need an ideology. That's the way to go.

I find this an odd view of ideology. To me, 'ideology' is just the name given to a coherent worldview. I don't look at an issue and ask myself what the correct view might be according to my chosen ideology. Rather, I hold a set of general views, and find myself taking positions on matters as they arise, which indicate to me that my views seem to fit with an existing ideology. I therefore identify myself as being 'leftwing' or 'socialist'.

I don't look at an issue and think, right, what is the Socialist response to this? I respond to things and it so happens that many of those responses can be deemed socialist. There are times when my view does not correspond to what is understood as socialist ideology. But I categorise myself as socialist because my views broadly correspond to a socialist worldview.

'Ideology' isn't a crutch.

glatt · 06-14-2011, 11:07 AM

The whole splitting lawsuit money with charities thing won't work anyway. Juries would factor that in to their calculations and just double the amount of money they award.

piercehawkeye45 · 06-14-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

I find this an odd view of ideology. To me, 'ideology' is just the name given to a coherent worldview. I don't look at an issue and ask myself what the correct view might be according to my chosen ideology. Rather, I hold a set of general views, and find myself taking positions on matters as they arise, which indicate to me that my views seem to fit with an existing ideology. I therefore identify myself as being 'leftwing' or 'socialist'.

I don't look at an issue and think, right, what is the Socialist response to this? I respond to things and it so happens that many of those responses can be deemed socialist. There are times when my view does not correspond to what is understood as socialist ideology. But I categorise myself as socialist because my views broadly correspond to a socialist worldview.

'Ideology' isn't a crutch.

I have no problem with ideology in general. Most of us have one whether it is completely independent of anyone else's or the stereotypical conservative or liberal in the US. What I disagree with is how labels affect us. You mentioned this and it does not apply to everyone, but once people label themselves as "whatever", they have a tendency to lean towards their label on new issues.

I understand that you don't give yourself the definite label of socialist, your views just tend to fall under that category, and you will still look at the world unbiasedly, as many people probably do, but it's a slippery slope that many people do fall down.

monster · 06-13-2011, 06:47 PM

fucked.

ZenGum · 06-13-2011, 07:02 PM

You're just a good ole boy,
Never meanin' no harm ...

Spexxvet · 06-14-2011, 08:33 AM

I'll play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

1. I think G.W. Bush was not the greatest president he might have been, but, I thank God that Al Gore was not our president on Sept. 11. I think we would have had thousands more dead Americans by now if he had been.

Conservative. You have an opinion that cannot be proved either way, but since you believe a repubican would have done better, I would call that a conservative opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

2. I think all high school grads/eighteen-year-olds should do a mandatory two year turn in the military.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

3. I think marijuana should as legal as cigarettes/booze.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

4. While a friendly regime is always preferable, I don't think who is in charge of {insert Middle-East country here} is really any of our business.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

5. I think if you're a country, and you got the minds to produce nuclear weapons, or nuclear energy, the rest of the world should either bomb you out of existence, or STFU.

Conservative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

6. I don't think it matters who the President is, or what color, for that matter. The office of the POTUS is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the group of CEOs and board chairmen that actually run this country. (I know this contradicts statement #1, sue me.)

Conservative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

7. I'm not sure there is a God. I'm not sure there's not a God. But, I do believe more people have been killed over religion than by all the diseases and accidents in history.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

8. I don't think having a felony conviction should prevent you from working anywhere but a bank, or a school.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

9. I know there are situations, but, I am not a fan of bankruptcy.

Conservative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

10. I think the plaintiffs in stupid 'hot-coffee-in-my-lap'-type lawsuits should have to give half of their award to charity.

Thinking that some lawsuits are stupid or frivolous = conservative. Giving to charity = Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

11. I think guns are cool.

~~Gay~~

:

conservative

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

12. I think the tax rate ought to be 30% flat rate across the board for every man woman and company, no matter how big.

30%=Liberal. Flat tax=conservative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

13. I think we should only import items/goods into this country if no one here makes it.

Liberal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

14. I think if you're a company that exports goods to the US, you should have to have a factory(s) here.

Liberal.

DanaC · 06-14-2011, 08:42 AM

Compulsory military service is a 'liberal' view??

Spexxvet · 06-14-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Compulsory military service is a 'liberal' view??

Oops! In my mind, I thought "service", like Peace Corp. I'm not sure that compulsory military service is a conservative view, either. That's a tricky one.

footfootfoot · 06-14-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Compulsory military service is a 'liberal' view??

Yes, because it is the slightly sluttier sister of free healthcare for all citizens.

footfootfoot · 06-14-2011, 09:09 AM

My dad used to say "A liberal is only a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet."

For what it's worth.

Spexxvet · 06-14-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

My dad used to say "A liberal is only a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet."

For what it's worth.

My dad used to say "a conservative is only a liberal who hasn't been persecuted for not being christian, falsely detained and tortured, and kept in the underclass yet."

Spexxvet · 06-14-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

My dad used to say "a conservative is only a liberal who hasn't been persecuted for not being christian, falsely detained and tortured, and kept in the underclass yet."

"And forced to bear a child that she didn't want, and prohibited from marrying anyone (s)he wants"

06-13-2011, 06:34 PM	#3
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	Someone who doesn't need an ideology. That's the way to go. __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

06-13-2011, 06:47 PM	#7
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	fucked. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-13-2011, 07:02 PM	#8
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	You're just a good ole boy, Never meanin' no harm ... __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

06-14-2011, 09:09 AM	#13
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	My dad used to say "A liberal is only a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet." For what it's worth. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

06-13-2011, 04:43 PM	#1
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	What Am I? What's right? What's left? What's liberal? What's conservative? I'm happy to say I don't know. And that's no accident. I have purposely avoided left/right/liberal/conservative labels all my thinking life. I am going to make a few statements on my thoughts and beliefs. Please comment on whether the statement leans left or right. Liberal or conservative. And label the group of statements, as a whole, left/right/liberal/conservative. I will not go off on anybody, argue, tell you you're stupid or any of that shit. I promise. Now, you guys, y'all can argue all ya want. 1. I think G.W. Bush was not the greatest president he might have been, but, I thank God that Al Gore was not our president on Sept. 11. I think we would have had thousands more dead Americans by now if he had been. 2. I think all high school grads/eighteen-year-olds should do a mandatory two year turn in the military. 3. I think marijuana should as legal as cigarettes/booze. 4. While a friendly regime is always preferable, I don't think who is in charge of {insert Middle-East country here} is really any of our business. 5. I think if you're a country, and you got the minds to produce nuclear weapons, or nuclear energy, the rest of the world should either bomb you out of existence, or STFU. 6. I don't think it matters who the President is, or what color, for that matter. The office of the POTUS is nothing more than a mouthpiece for the group of CEOs and board chairmen that actually run this country. (I know this contradicts statement #1, sue me.) 7. I'm not sure there is a God. I'm not sure there's not a God. But, I do believe more people have been killed over religion than by all the diseases and accidents in history. 8. I don't think having a felony conviction should prevent you from working anywhere but a bank, or a school. 9. I know there are situations, but, I am not a fan of bankruptcy. 10. I think the plaintiffs in stupid 'hot-coffee-in-my-lap'-type lawsuits should have to give half of their award to charity. 11. I think guns are cool. 12. I think the tax rate ought to be 30% flat rate across the board for every man woman and company, no matter how big. 13. I think we should only import items/goods into this country if no one here makes it. 14. I think if you're a company that exports goods to the US, you should have to have a factory(s) here. 15. I think this is as good a place as any to STFU. So, am I right? Left? Liberal? Conservative? Need more info, just ask. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

06-14-2011, 11:07 AM	#5
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	The whole splitting lawsuit money with charities thing won't work anyway. Juries would factor that in to their calculations and just double the amount of money they award.

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