Why are you a Conservative, Liberal, Socialist, Communist, Centrist etc..

Fascism is another form of totalitarian style government much like communism and socialism, The Nazi party was the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Anarchy would in fact be "far right."
A true conservative believes in limited government and personal freedom. What is often confusing is the statement that America was founded on judeo-christian principles. While this is true it is also true that one of those principles is the defense of every person's right to think and worship as they choose within the law.
North Korea is the exact opposite of the type of society any conservative would want.

Anarchy is anti-authoritarian. Conservatives and Nazis (you brought them up not me) are very authoritarian. They are all part of the right (wrong I should say) and believe in a strong centralized government in order to support a platform of belligerent nationalism. Polar opposite of anarchists who rightly or wrongly prefer a state of disorder and chaos. I say it's wrong, but far preferable to the extreme conservative ideal, which is alive and well in North Korea. Substitute god and Jesus for Kim Yung Ill and his dead father and you've got right wingnut paradise.

Anarchy is anti-authoritarian. Conservatives and Nazis (you brought them up not me) are very authoritarian. They are all part of the right (wrong I should say) and believe in a strong centralized government in order to support a platform of belligerent nationalism. Polar opposite of anarchists who rightly or wrongly prefer a state of disorder and chaos. I say it's wrong, but far preferable to the extreme conservative ideal, which is alive and well in North Korea. Substitute god and Jesus for Kim Yung Ill and his dead father and you've got right wingnut paradise.

Where do you place the progressives on your scale?

Where do you place the progressives on your scale?

I really don't know what that word means. I would think that everybody would want to be progressive at least by the dictionary definition. Progress is good, you know, so is change. I think maybe it's a Fox News buzzword for anybody who doesn't agree with their agenda. Seriously, I never understood what that was supposed to mean. They [progressives] don't rely on tradition to make important decisions maybe???? They believe in gay rights??? They're pro-choice??? They're secular maybe?? I think government should be secular. I certainly have no use for religion. If that makes me progressive then I'm guilty as charged. Help me out. I'd have trouble identifying a progressive country. Maybe the good old USA?? I dunno. I think maybe at least half of our country has progressive leanings but I'm not sure. I would say somebody like Rand Paul is regressive. Sarah Palin is manic depressive. Bobby Jindal is unimpressive.

Your use of words ending in "ive" is borderline excessive.

Your use of words ending in "ive" is borderline excessive.

Excessive, yet expressive and impressive.

Anarchy is anti-authoritarian. Conservatives and Nazis (you brought them up not me) are very authoritarian. They are all part of the right (wrong I should say) and believe in a strong centralized government in order to support a platform of belligerent nationalism. Polar opposite of anarchists who rightly or wrongly prefer a state of disorder and chaos. I say it's wrong, but far preferable to the extreme conservative ideal, which is alive and well in North Korea. Substitute god and Jesus for Kim Yung Ill and his dead father and you've got right wingnut paradise.

I get that you hate religion and that is cool. But we are talking political science. Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum the spectrum must go from no government (anarchy) on one end and totalitarianism ( total government control) on the other. A true "conservative" believes in limited government and especially limited federal government. Again I assure you no true conservative wants a North Korea style government.

Sorry if I was too aggressive.

I get that you hate religion and that is cool. But we are talking political science. Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum the spectrum must go from no government (anarchy) on one end and totalitarianism ( total government control) on the other. A true "conservative" believes in limited government and especially limited federal government. Again I assure you no true conservative wants a North Korea style government.

Really, I'd like to see how far today's red state conservatives would try to play the "state's rights" card if the federal government would let them. For some people, life would be miserable, and they would have no recourse.

Sorry if I was too aggressive.

I think it's kind of festive!

I really don't know what that word means. I would think that everybody would want to be progressive at least by the dictionary definition. Progress is good, you know, so is change. I think maybe it's a Fox News buzzword for anybody who doesn't agree with their agenda. Seriously, I never understood what that was supposed to mean. They [progressives] don't rely on tradition to make important decisions maybe???? They believe in gay rights??? They're pro-choice??? They're secular maybe?? I think government should be secular. I certainly have no use for religion. If that makes me progressive then I'm guilty as charged. Help me out. I'd have trouble identifying a progressive country. Maybe the good old USA?? I dunno. I think maybe at least half of our country has progressive leanings but I'm not sure. I would say somebody like Rand Paul is regressive. Sarah Palin is manic depressive. Bobby Jindal is unimpressive.

I chalk that up to the success conservatives have had at fending off their agenda during your life time. ;-) Enjoy your freedoms.

I always thought these groups were ridiculous. It was synonomous to me to saying: Blacks think this way, whites think that way, reds do this, yellows do that. Individual integrity should be the basis for all decision-making. If the other way was working, I would agree with it. Right now, it appears silly and anti-productive like grammar school mentality you can't be in my club if you don't do this. If something is not working, CHANGE IT. It's time for change. A square wheel (political parties) will never get you down the road, but will frustrate your efforts to succeed. Thinking outside the box will move us forward. Members of a group will dissolve their integrity if many others of that group are doing the same or either they will leave. Everything must come back to individual integrity or we will continue to see what we are seeing now.

I always thought these groups were ridiculous. It was synonomous to me to saying: Blacks think this way, whites think that way, reds do this, yellows do that. Individual integrity should be the basis for all decision-making. If the other way was working, I would agree with it. Right now, it appears silly and anti-productive like grammar school mentality you can't be in my club if you don't do this. If something is not working, CHANGE IT. It's time for change. A square wheel (political parties) will never get you down the road, but will frustrate your efforts to succeed. Thinking outside the box will move us forward. Members of a group will dissolve their integrity if many others of that group are doing the same or either they will leave. Everything must come back to individual integrity or we will continue to see what we are seeing now.

I don't approach things this way. I think you have to apply a set of base principals, otherwise you risk long term negative consequences you often can't see initially. "Just change it" is the approach many politicians apply to our problems, look where that got us. There's a lot of "just change it" going on in washington right now with very little consideration of the long term effects.

She didn't say, "just change it", she said, "if something's not working, change it".

I chalk that up to the success conservatives have had at fending off their agenda during your life time. ;-) Enjoy your freedoms.

:roll: The progressive is a bogieman/strawman that gives conservatives a sense of purpose.

:roll: The progressive is a bogieman/strawman that gives conservatives a sense of purpose.

American history between 1930 and 1980 provides ample proof of just how wrong you are about that.

Check your history a bit.

In 1930, we were entering into the most bleak economic period in our nation's history.

American history between 1930 and 1980 provides ample proof of just how wrong you are about that.

How did you get your hands on Joe McCarthy's personal memoirs?

I am a conservative( the right end of the political spectrum.) I belong to the Republican party because the party is closest to my beliefs. As a conservative I believe:
? Government is best when it is closest to the governed.
? Government should exist to protect us from outside threats and keep the peace internally.
? Government must protect individual freedom and rights.
? Those rights are defined as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
? I do not believe government exists to tell citizens what to do with their property as long as that use does not adversely effect the neighbors.
? I do not believe tax dollars should be used to the benefit of one group over another; the government should instead insure a level playing field for all.
? I believe government should function openly and efficiently and only those tax dollars needed should be collected.
All governments, local, state and federal have exceeded their authority and have assumed functions not appropriate for government. The result is economic stagnation, runnaway deficits and huge government borrowing. The obvious cure is for all governments to return to their natural functions and get out of people's business. Taxes and spending would naturally decrease and the economy would naturally expand.
Some quotes that say it all:
Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.
Ronald Reagan

Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.
Ronald Reagan

Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.
Ronald Reagan

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Ronald Reagan

And my favorite:

The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.
Ronald Reagan

Ronald Regan should have been more honest. He should have said "Government exists so that I can say I'm going to balance the budget while running up the biggest deficits in history".

I'm not a conservative because I consider conservatism to be Fascism lite. If I had to choose, I would choose anarchy or death over Fascism. I think the ideal conservative society would be a place like North Korea with greater military might. Conservatives have this attitude of "bow to tradition" or "worship my god" or "get in line and be like us" and I say screw you!

Facism is a political regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized government headed by a dictatorial leader. A government in which one person possesses unlimited power. Facism is severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. This is polar opposite of conservatism. Read the definition again and if it does not smack you between the eyes of what is being attempted in our country today than you need to change the definition of who you think you are.

Where do you place the progressives on your scale?

Progressivism is the political movement which is largely responsible for the growth and vast expansion of centralized administration in the federal government.

Progressives are against the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Well they were definitely against the Constitution since Progressives supported women suffrage rights.

OTOH, one of our greatest presidents ran as a Progressive-Teddy Roosevelt.

Bull Moose years of Theodore Roosevelt by Theodore Roosevelt Association

If you want to slur a war hero, we will have to differ.

The Battle of San Juan Hill — History.com This Day in History — 7/1/1898

I am an "x" because that is what I was raised to believe/do, what a good education has trained me to decide for myself, and what I know in my heart is the right thing.

It has little to do with a label or particular party and everything to do with what I believe and what I value.

"x" varies a great deal depending on what the topic is, what people decide to categorize a certain belief as this week, or the political views of others.

And no matter what label you give yourself or how different you think you are from me politically, you completely agree with me on something - yet another reason why these labels are so dumb.

Facism is a political regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and stands for a centralized government headed by a dictatorial leader. A government in which one person possesses unlimited power. Facism is severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. This is polar opposite of conservatism. Read the definition again and if it does not smack you between the eyes of what is being attempted in our country today than you need to change the definition of who you think you are.

Every time I read one of your posts, I become more and more convinced of my views. Keep it up! Thanks!

Every time I read one of your posts, I become more and more convinced of my views. Keep it up! Thanks!

Exactly.

I am x because it's all determined by genes, biology, and life experience, lessons learned, curiosity or lack thereof, abilities, weaknesses etc. Just sayin', that's one possibility. I am x because nobody ever told me I had to be x, y or z. I just happened to choose x. I like x because if you turn it upside down or flip it from left to right, it's still x. Consistency. That's what it's all about.