Hey everyone. I'm a new member, and although I'm not allowed to start a new topic, I have a burning question that I would like to ask the more experienced members on the board. I have never been active in politics, but as I'm getting older (I'm 30), I'm becoming more and more interested in defining my political leanings. I really don't know which party to affiliate myself with. I've put together a list of my beliefs by subject, and I'm hoping that someone can take a look and tell me where there think I would belong based on those beliefs (democrat or republican, left or right). Keep in mind, these are only my opinions and are therefore not points to argue. You won't change my opinion on any of these subjects. Just please tell me where you would place me and why. THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!!!

GOVERNMENT REGULATION/PERSONAL FREEDOM: GOVERNMENT SHOULD ONLY BE CONCERNED WITH PROTECTING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, AND NOT BE INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES. REGULATION IS NECESSARY AND BENEFICIAL IN MANY AREAS. MOST OF THE CURRENT REGULATION IN PLACE IS NECESSARY. SOME OF THE 9-11 REGULATION IN PLACE CONCERNING MONTITORING CITIZENS IS LUDACRIS.

ENVIRONMENT: GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MAJORLY CONCERNED IN THIS DAY AND AGE ABOUT PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND LIMITING FUTURE DEVELOPMENT TO THAT END. BUSINESS WILL BE FORCED TO LEARN TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. WITHOUT PROTECTION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, THE FUTURE IS BLEAK. ENVIRONMENT IS THE PRIORITY, EVEN IF IT INITIALLY IMPACTS BUSINESS. WE NEED TO SIGN THE KYOTO AGREEMENT AND JOIN THE CLUB.

ABORTION: PRO-CHOICE

JUDICIAL SYSTEM: IT IS THE JUDGE’S JOB TO INTERPRET THE LAWS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR SOCIETY. IT IS UP TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION IF THEY BELIEVE THE JUDICIAL BRANCH IS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB OF INTERPRETATION

ECONOMY: IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE HERE, I WOULD LEAN MORE TOWARDS CAPITALISM THAN SOCIALISM. AS A SOCIETY, WE CANNOT SIMPLY STOMP ON THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, BUT WE SHOULDN’T CAST SUCH A GREAT SAFETY NET THAT NOBODY HAS MUCH OF AN INCENTIVE TO WORK OR INNOVATE

SCIENCE: SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT SHOULD GO UNHINDERED IN ALMOST ALL CASES. GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGULATE WHAT MEDICINES ARE SAFE TO TAKE, WHICH FOODS ARE SAFE TO EAT

MILITARY: AS A FORMER MARINE, I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THOSE AMERICANS THAT FIGHT FOR THE WELL BEING OF SOCIETY. I’M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING VETERANS, BEING ONE MYSELF.

MORALITY: THERE SHOULD BE A VERY BASIC SET OF MORALITY IN OUR SOCIETY (DO NOT CHEAT, STEAL, ETC) BUT THE GOV SHOULD NOT GO SO FAR AS TO FORCE A STRICT AND BROAD CODE OF MORALITY ON EVERYONE.

RELIGION: THE GOV SHOULD NOT IMPOSE ANY PARTICULAR RELIGION ON ANYONE. ALTHOUGH THE BASIC “SET” OF MORALITY IN OUR COUNTRY IS BORN FROM THE CHRISTIAN IDEALS OF OUR FOUNDERS, RELIGION SHOULD HAVE LITTLE OR NO ROLE IN POLITICS

EDUCATION: THE GOV SHOULD FULLY FUND AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN GET THEIR FUNDING FROM PRIVATE SOURCES. OUR GOV NEEDS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING AND FINANCIAL AID. MINORITIES SHOULD NOT GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT. IN A FAIR AND ADEQUATELY FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE BEST STUDENTS SHOULD GET THE MOST FINANCIAL AID.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT: I BELIEVE THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN JAIL, AND THAT THOSE PRISONERS DEVOUR LARGE AMOUNTS OF TAXPAYER MONEY. REDUCE SENTENCES FOR MINOR OFFENSES, AND IMPOSE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR REPEATED SERIOUS OFFENDERS WHO WILL BE LIFELONG PRISONERS.

TAXES: TAXES ARE A NECESSARY EVIL. THEY PAY FOR OUR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND EDUCATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS. HOWEVER, I THINK WE SUPPORT THE POOR SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS TOO MUCH AND CONFLICTS WITH MY SUPPORT FOR A CAPITALISTIC SOCIETY. HOWEVER, TAXES SHOULD REMAIN TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. WRITING CHECKS WE CANT CASH IS JUST BAD BUSINESS. I WANT AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE TO MAKE MORE MONEY… I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE MOST OF MY ADDITIONAL INCOME BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT.

GUNS: A GUN FREE NATION WOULD BE A NICE DREAM. HOWEVER, GUNS ARE NECESSARY AT LEAST IN TERMS OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. GUN DISTRIBUTION SHOULD BE SEVERELY LIMITED. PERHAPS THERE SHOULD BE AN AGE LIMIT OF 25 OR MORE, AND IMPOSE HEAVY TAXES ON ALL GUNS SOLD?

MEDICAL CARE: THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME. I BELIEVE THAT OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SUCKS, AND THAT MORE REGULATION IS NEEDED IN TERMS OF COSTS AND HEALTH INSURANCE. WE ARE IN NEED OF MAJOR REFORM IN THIS AREA. I HAVE NO ANSWERS, BUT RICH PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO SUPERIOR CARE, INSURANCE PREMIUMS SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE FOR GOOD HEALTH CARE, AND COSTS SHOULD BE REGULATED.

CORPORATIONS: THEY SHOULD BE TAXED MORE HEAVILY. SOME REGULATATION IS NEEDED TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY TO INVESTORS. A STABLE SECURITIES MARKET IS NECESSARY FOR OUR ECONOMY. BUSINESS IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR CITIZENS, BUT GIVING CORPORATIONS A FREE RIDE IS NOT A GOOD SOLUTION.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: WE WERE ALL IMMIGRANTS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER (UNLESS YOU ARE NATIVE AMERICAN), BUT OUR SOCIETY IS REACHING A BREAKING POINT. WE NEED TO START LIMITING IMMIGRATION. THOSE WHO IMMIGRATE NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE INTO SOCIAL SECURITY, ETC. NOBODY SHOULD HAVE A FREE RIDE.

Thanks again, and I hope I get some useful feedback from this.

Well, you look like a Democrat to me given your views. It's mighty nice of you saying that we should "lean towards capitalism" for instance, taxing businesses 'more heavily' when we are already one of the highest corporate taxers in the world is illogical, and a 'gun-free nation' is more of a nightmare than a dream for some of us.

I must say that I'm skeptical as to your motives, given the ALL CAPS and that you don't know what you are, despite your clearly well-thought-out beliefs. Trolling for something, perhaps?

Rapper Ludacris is responsible for the Patriot Act...story at 10! Sorry, I couldn't help it

Welcome to AD. You might look into some of the political compasses/quizzes available online to see where you fall on the spectrum. You sound fairly liberal to me, but I'm a crazy far-left liberal, so what do I know?

Political Compass (some strange questions not seemingly related to poltical slant, but interesting nonetheless)
World's Smallest Political Quiz
Political Philosophy Quiz
And then the VoteMatch Quiz, which will rank politicians based upon your answers

Happy quizzing and welcome to

You start with this excellent point of view and then virtually every other point contradicts this.

You want more involvement in education, more assistance for veterans, more environmental regulations, more of a "safety net".

More government control of health care costs is a statement supporting a command economy model.

Of course, you want all this while your personal taxes are kept low. To me, this indicates that you want somebody else to pay for all this stuff you want for yourself and others.

Meanwhile you want less freedom for people to actually protect themselves which forces people to be more reliant on the government for protection. You also want no protection for the products of society who can least protect themselves: the unborn.

I'd classify you as a leftist, liberal Democrat. I do concur with kmsouthern that you should try out some of the various political tests available online.

I am growing tired of labels. They don't work. You are who you are, and you are what you are and what you believe. It may not fit into any specific niche and so what? I would advise that you worry less about labeling yourself and more about debating issues based on what you truly believe.

Aquilla

Thank you everyone for your comments. The reason my post is in all caps is simple...I was at work and doing this on the sly while simultaneously working on a project that was in all caps. There were some excellent and insightful comments. I suppose some of my statements are contradictory to the point where it appears that I want a free lunch. Well, who doesn't =). Seriously though, your points are well taken.

Thank you also for the links to the quizzes. I've taken the political compass quiz, but I'm looking forward to taking the other ones. Not doing so after all of this effort would be LUDICROUS. =)