political parties ??

[Patrick]

Maybe this should be listed under polls,, but,, what the heck.. I just thought this might be interesting.. What are your political leanings ??
Democrat
Republican
Liberal
Conservative
Libertarian

I was a democrat in my earlier years until I learned better.. Now I'm registered as a Conservative and probably am one.. But,, looking at what a Liberation is, I just may be one..

[Stanley Steamer]

I thought I was a Democrat until I got to college.....in my Political Science class, I realized I could decide how to spend MY $$ better than the Dumbocrats........ .....

Maybe I'm more like an "Independent Republican" now??.......

[biguglyman]

My voter registration card states: "No Party".  This doesn't mean I don't like to have a good time.  I refuse to be pigeon holed.  I have strong opinions that would come down on both sides of the political fence.  One of the things that irritates the crap out of me is the way both parties try to polarize people with their "us against them" rhetoric.  Guess what people: they're ALL liars and thieves!  Start thinking for yourselves and don't buy into the emotional rabble-rousing bull$#!t espoused by either side.

I am : union member (lib?)
          ccw holding   (con?)
          gay tolerant   (lib?)
          boot illegals    (con?)
          tax rich people (lib?)
          drug test for benefits (con?)
          pro choice     (lib?)
          less govt.     (con?)

Stop being manipulated and distracted from the real issues by the BS.  Our government is no longer of/by/for the people.  It is of/by/for the special interests that line the pockets of the politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle. 

[sugerbear]

+ 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

[Michael K (Az.)]

My voter registration card states: "No Party".  This doesn't mean I don't like to have a good time.  I refuse to be pigeon holed.  I have strong opinions that would come down on both sides of the political fence.  One of the things that irritates the crap out of me is the way both parties try to polarize people with their "us against them" rhetoric.  Guess what people: they're ALL liars and thieves!  Start thinking for yourselves and don't buy into the emotional rabble-rousing bull$#!t espoused by either side.

I am : union member (lib?)
          ccw holding   (con?)
          gay tolerant   (lib?)
          boot illegals    (con?)
          tax rich people (lib?)
          drug test for benefits (con?)
          pro choice     (lib?)
          less govt.     (con?)

Stop being manipulated and distracted from the real issues by the BS.  Our government is no longer of/by/for the people.  It is of/by/for the special interests that line the pockets of the politicians on BOTH sides of the aisle. 

HA! I always thought that since most of my opinions were similar to yours, I would probably be in a minority of 1!! It's a con, we're all being played. All very Machiavellian in that both parties' operating manual, rule #1 is to keep people squabbling and distracted so the corruption can continue unabated. Been working for years!!
I equate the Congress to professional wrestling, possibly without the body odor altho I have no interest to getting close enough to find out.

[Serk]

I've always been a Libertarian.

I used to be a Libertarian that broke for the Democrats, until Slick Willy stabbed me in the back with his semi-auto ban.

Now I'm a Libertarian that breaks more often than not for the Republicans.

[tank_post142]

[biguglyman]

I equate the Congress to professional wrestling

 
+1

[musclehead]

tough call, registered repub. once upon a time registered dem.

now I'd rather be a registered conservative.  both parties have a history of selling us out. so what if repubs will take us across the loser finish line slower then the dems, we still get the same place.

[tank_post142]

[valkmc]

Like the Father of our country, I believe political parties are the reason for our slow decline to match the fate of all the other great civilazations that have gone before us. Stop the two parties and the millions of $'s it cost to get elected (our Gov. spent $10 million to get a job that pays 250k) and maybe some decent people would have a chance.

[SANDMAN5]

I don't vote the same every time.....I try to vote for the one that
seems to have the most sense. Getting harder to do every year.
I vote Rep more often than not...but not for the "party's" sake. I
still think it's a waste of time to vote 3rd party, but I wish it wasn't.

[Jess from VA]

If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.

If you're not conservative when you're older, you have no brain

[musclehead]

If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.

If you're not conservative when you're older, you have no brain

Winston Churchhill

[Jess from VA]

If you're not liberal when you're young, you have no heart.

If you're not conservative when you're older, you have no brain

Winston Churchhill

It is often attributed to him, but this has never been confirmed.

[JimmyG]

American first After that I am divided, sometimes yes, sometimes no.  But I can always smell a turd from afar off. that's why I don't go to Washington D.C. any more. What a dung hole!!!!

[BF]

What are your political leanings ??

Democrat
Republican
Liberal
Conservative
Libertarian

Mostly the last two.   

[Tropic traveler]

Conservative with a Libertarian streak. Registered R just because it is by far the closest philosophy to mine.

[BF]

Conservative with a Libertarian streak. Registered R just because it is by far the closest philosophy to mine.

Ditto.  Registered R so I can vote in our closed primaries we have here. 

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

The meaning of the labels changes over time, at least that's how it seems to me. Liberals used to be pro freedom. Now they seem to be pro fascist and socialist.

According to the current labels Libertarian best fits my beliefs.

I want the most possible personal freedom.
The most possible personal responsibility.
And the least possible rules and regulations.

However, I also want the government to guard our borders and stop every illegal who tries to enter this country.

I usually vote republican just to keep the gun control party out of power.

[biguglyman]

pro fascist and socialist

2 completely opposite sets of politics.  They have you so confused with their rhetoric and lables you're calling people names that mean totally different things.  Libertarian is a nice label but when is the last time someone from that party actually got elected and did anything about moving government in that direction?

[Patrick]

Interesting responses.. It seems we're just about the same as the rest of the country.. Apparently we are about 80-85 % conservative or republican.. Then why do we[ not just us,, but,, the whole country of us] allow the liberals or democrats have the control they do ??  My thought is that we are too busy working and managing business and family to supply the liberals and democrats with enough for their social justice programs that we don't have time to vote.. I'm just not really sure how we let this happen..

[Chrome]

Think I might go NDP or Green Party next time. Can't trust the other big two.
Chrome

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

pro fascist and socialist

2 completely opposite sets of politics.  They have you so confused with their rhetoric and lables you're calling people names that mean totally different things.  Libertarian is a nice label but when is the last time someone from that party actually got elected and did anything about moving government in that direction?

The former Soviet Union seemed to be both to me. Their government owned pretty much all businesses, farms and housing. Their government payed the workers (sometimes).

And if they didn't do as the government instructed, they could be killed, beaten or sent to Siberia at the whim of their unelected government officials.

Although that government didn't fit all definitions of fascists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism it fit many of them.

Enforced political correctness? State sponsored racism(quotas)? The government taking more and more control of our public and personal lives? The Patriot Act which allows the government to break into your home, do what ever and leave without ever having to tell you they were there? The same act which allows you to be detained without trial or even the need to tell the public or your family you are incarcerated? The government taking control of our formerly private health care system? Then mandating what kind of health care you will or will not receive? The constant attempts to restrict the private ownership of arms?

Are those not all representative of a socialist or fascist philosophy and intent?

Concerning the electability of Libertarian candidates, you're right. Ron Paul running as a Republican is as close as we have came, so far. Which is why I'll be voting against the socialist/fascist Obama by voting for whoever has the best chance of beating him.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Interesting responses.. It seems we're just about the same as the rest of the country.. Apparently we are about 80-85 % conservative or republican.. Then why do we[ not just us,, but,, the whole country of us] allow the liberals or democrats have the control they do ??  My thought is that we are too busy working and managing business and family to supply the liberals and democrats with enough for their social justice programs that we don't have time to vote.. I'm just not really sure how we let this happen..

My opinion is that the people who live off our work instead of working for themselves are getting close to being in the majority. Couple that with those successful people who feel guilty for their success and the money of George Soros and others like him. Add in the obvious liberal bent of our news and education systems and there it is. 

[Jess from VA]

Frye, I agree with you completely. All I can add is it's mostly city vrs country. You see post-election demographic voting maps, and the vast majority of territory is conservative (or at least non-Democrat), except for the coasts, and major urban areas.  Yet the populations are almost even.  So it really does come down to getting your side to the polls, and getting the all important centrist voters on your side (and not alienating them). 

It is certain that the urban are out-fornicating (and producing babies) way ahead of conservatives so the approximate balance will not last for much longer. 

I believe it's clear the center got brainwashed by the leftist press bashing Bush for so long and hard last time around.  And I'm hoping they have vomited the cool aid and will be with us in November.   

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Frye, I agree with you completely. All I can add is it's mostly city vrs country. You see post-election demographic voting maps, and the vast majority of territory is conservative (or at least non-Democrat), except for the coasts, and major urban areas.  Yet the populations are almost even.  So it really does come down to getting your side to the polls, and getting the all important centrist voters on your side (and not alienating them). 

It is certain that the urban are out-fornicating (and producing babies) way ahead of conservatives so the approximate balance will not last for much longer. 

I believe it's clear the center got brainwashed by the leftist press bashing Bush for so long and hard last time around.  And I'm hoping they have vomited the cool aid and will be with us in November.   

It's no wonder they are out fornicating us. Those of us who pay our own way can't afford to have many (or sometimes, any) kids. My son Andy (who has been pretty much self-supporting since he was 14) who works 50 plus hours a week at a machine shop and part-time as a gun-smith is still working to pay off their $10,000 after insurance bills from their son Ryder being born. My son Joe and his wife decided to stop at one child too. It just costs too much for people that pay their own way to have kids.

If you're an illegal, on the public dole or just don't own anything the collectors can take from you, then you can have as many kids as you want since we pay for their births anyway.

[Patrick]

Its gotten crazy here in the 'Welfare' state,,err,, Empire State[ as well as the rest of the country]..
22% of the budget is for welfare of some form, over 50% pay no taxes at all and almost 50% are on some sort of assistance.. No wonder we're the highest taxed state in the union..
40-50 years ago someone came up with the idea of work-fare.. Seemed like a good idea at the time.. Welfare folks were taxied to businesses [ and ours].. They were some of the dumbest creatures ever put on this earth.. You wouldn't even consider letting them wash a car let alone tech them how to change oil or tires,, so I'd try to show them how to wash windows and sweep floors.. It was an exercise in futility !! However as I think about it maybe they weren't that stupid after-all, they got me to do the work while they stood around drinking coffee and eating our donuts..  Before noon they were back in the cab at taxpayer expense, never to seen again.. Their checks kept coming however.. And, its done nothing but get worse.. I see some every day come in in their designer clothes, 2 cell phones, and buy $100.00 worth of lottery tickets and drive away in their Escalades all the time laughing and telling us to go to work.. Is there such a thing as diner rage ??  We just grit our teeth and take another sip..  These people just keep getting catered to..
See what going on in Spain and Greece ??  Well, every new-born in this country is immediately saddled with twice the debt of anyone in those other countries.. And its getting worse by the day.. Wait till the Fed stops printing money..
This post has kinda taken a turn hasn't it ??
Well,, I'm done for now.. Sorry for the rant..

[biguglyman]

...and within just a day or two and fewer than 30 posts we are already throwing the well rehearsed rhetoric at each other.  There's no hope...

[Momz]

I was a union member (lib?)
I also worked as a salaried engineer (?)
I have a ccw holding  (con?)
I also have rifles and other weapons (?)
I am gay tolerant  (lib?)
I beleive we should  boot illegals  (con?)
I beleive we need to tax rich people at higher rates (lib?)
We need to drug test for benefits (con?)
I am pro choice  (lib?)
We need less govt. (con?)

I am a resistered Democrat, but I am not tied to any idealogy that I find offensive or not good for this country. I beleive in the rights individuals to choose their own destiny and to persue any career they choose except for "career politics".

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

...and within just a day or two and fewer than 30 posts we are already throwing the well rehearsed rhetoric at each other.  There's no hope...

I'm not seeing any rhetoric. I'm just seeing people telling their personal experiences and what their take on the "state of the union" is. I live in a rural area and except for 4 months in the Phoenix area in the 70's I always have. I found Patricks post fascinating and completely outside my experience.

At one time in the 90's we must have had some kind of welfare reform here.  I say that because at the food manufacturing plant I worked at we hired several angry young ladies who were very bitter about having to go to work because their welfare was shutoff. It made me feel a little bitter too because I'd been busting my ass to feed my family since the 2'nd week of my senior year of high school. I was 17 then and didn't see staying at home and drawing welfare as an option. I'm 55 now and still don't. Not while I'm capable of working. My pride would not allow it.

I've been splashed with molten metal in a foundry and worked in conditions I fully expected to kill me many times. And, people have been killed and maimed in those same plants while I was there. Walking on a steeply slanted metal factory roof covered with frost while a pugmill was dropped in through the roof was one of those times. A few others are as follows.

Being wrapped in a plastic protective suit and respirator, squatting in a 3' tall lead furnace which was still well over 150 degrees while running a jackhammer in heat which I was sure would be fatal. I did that particular job many times. It was so hot your suit was constantly getting holes melted in it and your respirator would get gummy from the heat. You would feel the heat in your back for hours afterwards. I sometimes had to straddle furnaces full of of molten lead while changing lead pumps. My work boots smoked and melted and the soles became slick as I thought about how anything wet that falls into molten lead explodes.

Once, I was next to an explosion which blew out a wave of molten lead, some of which landed across the side of my head and went into my ear. I heard the explosion, then felt the lead enter my ear and the shock of it must have knocked me out. At the time I thought the entire 10 tons of molten lead had blown out and I assumed I had just been killed. When I came to, pushing myself across the floor with my feet while sliding the side of my burned head on the floor I was amazed to be alive. I actually jumped up and laughed with delight when I discovered I was still alive. The other guy that was there stared at me like I'd just stepped out of a space ship. He heard the explosion, saw me flopping across the floor and assumed I was done. My sudden laughter un-nerved him.  That was bad enough my wife was called to take me to the hospital. Amazing I wasn't burned as bad as we first expected. I had large chunks of hair which were burned off but lead cools quickly so the scalp wasn't burned too badly. My ear was bad but it healed well.

My point with all that is simple. However tough making a living sometimes was, dieing for that paycheck would have always been preferable to having someone else take care of my family.

If that's well rehearsed rhetoric indicating we have no hope then I'm "General Elecimo Franco" standing in line for the cadaver diving at Alcapulco.

[biguglyman]

We're throwing terms like "socialist" and "fascist" around.  That's rhetoric.  Whatever.  This is why I try not to get involved in the political BS here (or anywhere else for that matter).  It just plays right into the hands of the politicians.  Moving on to M/C related stuff now. 

[Jess from VA]

Ten summers in Great Lakes Steel/Zug Island MI sandblasting (lugging whole pallets of sandbags and stacking them 4 high on each side of 5ft tall sandpots (6 pots, all day), climbing high steel, chipping and painting blast furnaces, ore docks (while they continue unloading lake freighters), elevated gas lines, replace heavy corrugated sheet metal on outside of elevated 45* conveyor belts of coke/coal/ore (not turned off while we worked).  Before OSHA, we almost never wore safety harnesses of any kind.  Or working inside a building with new hot coils of red steel, and coils being moved over you on overhead cranes.  Only trade in the mill not required to wear metatarsals/steel toe boots cause you cannot climb in them.  Freeze in the Spring, roast in the Summer.  No washing clothes, wear one set of used gas station uniforms all week and throw them away (locker room no shower, just a big sink for 20-30 men and go home looking like Al Jolsen).  
5 eights, 5 tens, 6 tens shift work.

Oh whoa was me, I was damn lucky to get the job, and proud to do my best at it.

Paid for 9 years of school and a 1st wife.  (the school part worked out for me    LOL)

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Cool pics and descriptions.   Thanks for sharing em. My Dad was an iron worker, I grew up hearing about those kind of views but never got to see em.