Here's a question that isn't meant to be political

Message

Beebs52 · #1 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 6:59 pm

How do you self identify regarding social and fiscal issues? I'm sure this will devolve, but I'm curious. As we have aged, and even newbies who are growing, what are you? I have decided I don't appreciate any political party, but vote based on what is more beneficial to what I believe in. I'm socially all over the board, and don't follow party line. Fiscally I'm conservative which neither party is. I think teaparties are another version of Gop and Dem. I'm dismayed at what we've become because people are unable to think for themselves. That's all.

Beebs52 · #2 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:03 pm

The other part of this is why you believe you are what you are. That's most interesting.

Ritterskoop · #3 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:40 pm

Social liberal - I want everyone to have access to opportunity (schools, food, shelter, basic healthcare, for instance). Some folks are just so hamstrung by whatever situations they are born into that it is crushingly hard to get out without some help. I have come to savor the helping environment we've built at my job and in my classes - it benefits both helpers and helpees. I do not want to offer help to those who have proved they will abuse it, and I want everyone to pass a simple quiz before they are allowed to raise children or pets.

Fiscal conservative - I wish we spent less on thousands of military bases all over the world, and more on education, food, shelter and basic healthcare anywhere.

I register Independent and vote Libertarian when possible. If I have to choose only between a Democrat and a Republican without knowing anything about either, I go Democrat, or abstain when possible.

If we ever get to vote on it, I will vote to abolish the death penalty. Lock up the very bad for life and avoid the error of killing an innocent. I would vote in favor of civil union and legal pot, set up like NC does liquor -- a set amount you can purchase per month, inspected for toxins, taxed.

Why do I think I am mostly a liberal? I like the idea of change. It means we are trying stuff - sometimes it leads to dead ends and sometimes it leads to joy. Worth the risk. It's how we evolve.

Beebs52 · #4 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:49 pm

Thank you. That's what I was looking for. Except why do you believe what you believe? Life experiences, bringin up, whatever?

Ritterskoop · #5 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:00 pm

I grew up lower middle class and felt poor. I still have a tendency to eat too much of whatever I just bought at the grocery store because deep down I think I might run out. I am probably upper middle class now.

My brothers and I all could read by the time we were two. I was kicked out of kindergarten into first grade after a week, and was a year younger than everyone all through school. So, a smartypants, but very aware of it and not at all charming about it until a few years ago, if then.

Raised Christian, borderline fundamentalist but we avoided most of that aspect. Opted out at 16 after my car accident had church peeps trying to explain evil and randomness in theological ways that I couldn't make work. But I had been on the way out for a few years before that when they didn't like my questions about the crucifixion and the nature of God - they said it was only about faith. I thought if there is a God, he or she gave us the ability to think, so that wasn't sufficient.

Since then I have striven for goodness without it being about a deity, though I respect people of faith and understand why it works for them. My faith is in the basic decency of human nature. It gets disappointed sometimes, but that's where most of my views come from - hope that we will keep trying to figure out the right ways to behave and treat each other even if there is no reward in a next life. Especially if there is no reward. I don't have to imagine there's no heaven - it's the worldview that makes the most sense to me.

Beebs52 · #6 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:03 pm

To answer my own question re: why it's a combo of bringing up, my mom was a huge discuss, have your own mind person, and probably was born in the wrong era. Also, having worked since I was a teen, riposted against any "feminist"tropes, and basically dealt with working in the private sector, first, before working for a governmental entity, I'm sort of a hybrid.

Bob Juch · #7 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:10 pm

Your post couldn't be any more political. I don't know if I need to because my political identity has been pretty obvious here, but I will answer your questions tomorrow.

Beebs52 · #8 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:11 pm

See, this is fascinating. How we got to where we are. I've morphed in some of my interpretation of certain faith-based things, not the core, but I'm also more certain about t hings that I was squishy about when way younger.

Beebs52 · #9 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:15 pm

Bob Juch wrote:Your post couldn't be any more political. I don't know if I need to because my political identity has been pretty obvious here, but I will answer your questions tomorrow.

No. I'm not looking at you supporting whatever you believe. I'm curious how we got to where we are. There are threads to discuss the pros and cons.

Beebs52 · #10 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:29 pm

I should have put the "why":in the title. Apologies.

Beebs52 · #11 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:36 pm

And, I'm not looking for anyone to convince anyone of anything. Including me.

Ritterskoop · #12 Post by **Ritterskoop** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:05 pm

Beebs52 wrote:And, I'm not looking for anyone to convince anyone of anything. Including me.

This is why you will always be the wackest of the wack around here.

Beebs52 · #13 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:12 pm

Ritterskoop wrote:
Beebs52 wrote:And, I'm not looking for anyone to convince anyone of anything. Including me.
This is why you will always be the wackest of the wack around here.

You know what? I've seriously never tried, nor thought I could ever do that. It's just a here's what I got. I may blast at times but I know it's all me and mine, so yada yada yada.

BackInTex · #14 Post by **BackInTex** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 6:58 am

Good topic. I liked reading Skoop's responses. She is so level headed and calm it makes me jealous. I wish I could be more like that. I certainly don't agree with her on many things, but do on some that surprise me. She seems to have a Gandhi-ish way about responding to things. Never an attack. Sometimes I view that as a lack of passion, but I know that's incorrect. Its just the way I respond to things I don't have passion about. For her, it's the way she is, not impassionate, just calm and confident.

I'll see if I can respond to some the actual topic later today when I have time.

mellytu74 · #15 Post by **mellytu74** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:07 am

I agree with BiT!

Mahatma Skoop is always thoughtful and measured and I wish I were more like her.

I almost wrote my response at three this morning when I couldn't sleep.

I will write a bit later.

mellytu74 · #16 Post by **mellytu74** » Sun Jul 20, 2014 9:08 am

Ritterskoop wrote:
Beebs52 wrote:And, I'm not looking for anyone to convince anyone of anything. Including me.
This is why you will always be the wackest of the wack around here.

Wack to the wacknth degree.

WWTBAM Bored

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