How to tell if you're liberal or conservative

[30ashopper]

I have to beg to differ with you, but this is just from my personal experience, which may be diferent from yours. I've known lots of Catholics. Most are what what we call cafeteria Catholics. They pick and choose what rules to follow like food items behind the glass. It's a big country, so if you're going to characterize a religion, your mileage may vary. It's my understanding that one of the places where members take the Catholic dogma the least seriously is in Italy. I even saw an interview of a Vatican priest who thinks it's all a big joke. He may be looking for work.

Of course there is a connection between religion and politics. Conservatives tried to exploit it to win the Presidency. Mission failed. Now I point out that religion contradicts reason because someone on this thread characterizes liberals as "feeling oriented" and conservatives as the rational type. Just pointing out an obvious inconsistency. For the last eight years, the true idealists, Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Rice, Rove, Wolfowitz, you know the ones who thought the Iraqis would greet us as liberators? They were idealists, and they were Republicans, and they were conservatives.

(Neo-conservatives. There's a difference.)

I come from a Catholic family where the rules are followed to the letter. Interestingly enough many in my family who are devout in their faith were democrats until about 1970. That old abortion issue, it really is a sticking point for many.

 

[Matt J]

Libertarians don't have problems with roads being built. However they would prefer a system that isn't nationally funded as our federal representatives have shown a propensity toward using the withholding of highway funds as a method of extortion.

Yeah I think the last time they did that it was to get all states to lower the DUI point to .08.

If it weren't for the federal government we wouldn't have interstates, I'm sure you don't use those or any other federal highway out of protest right?

 

[LuciferSam]

I think the point is that Catholics are RELIGIOUS conservatives for the most part. Any religion that bans female ministers/priests and demands they remain celebate is by definition conservative. That many members vote for liberal Democrats makes my point.
Lucifer, you always try to link conservative politics to religion when the connection often cannot be made. Of course, Lucifer (Satan) is always trying to make religion look bad.:funn::funn::funn:

I now press on with my less government/less taxes crusade.

I don't usually respond twice to anyone, but that wasn't my quote about cult members. There's a little mixup here on the board with the quoting. I really don't think I've ripped into religion on this thread. I have pointed out that conservatives do not always rely on logic and reason, and sometimes that's the result of faith. I'm sure some liberals do the same.

 

[30ashopper]

Yeah I think the last time they did that it was to get all states to lower the DUI point to .08.

If it weren't for the federal government we wouldn't have interstates, I'm sure you don't use those or any other federal highway out of protest right?

Actually I'm a proponent of the interstate highway system because from my understanding it had a profoundly positive impact on commerce and was also a key military asset - Eisenhower's main reason for pushing to build it. States also technically own the part of the system that resides within their borders, but the feds fund part of the maintenance, and this is what they use as leverage to inject federal jurisdiction in areas where they should have none. (The DUI limit is a good example, maximum speed limits are another.) As a libertarian I believe the federal government should respect its limits over the states in all cases, regardless of the consequences. So DUI limits to me are secondary to state autonomy.

What I was doing was simply responding to the statement that libertarians don't like roads. I suppose I should have just dropped it considering how silly a statement it was.

 

[Matt J]

Actually I'm a proponent of the interstate highway system because from my understanding it had a profoundly positive impact on commerce and was also a key military asset - Eisenhower's main reason for pushing to build it. States also technically own the part of the system that resides within their borders, but the feds fund part of the maintenance, and this is what they use as leverage to inject federal jurisdiction in areas where they should have none. (The DUI limit is a good example, maximum speed limits are another.) As a libertarian I believe the federal government should respect its limits over the states in all cases, regardless of the consequences. So DUI limits to me are secondary to state autonomy.

What I was doing was simply responding to the statement that libertarians don't like roads. I suppose I should have just dropped it considering how silly a statement it was.

You might want to try some home work too. The federal government is no longer determining speed limits. That was turned over to the states back during the Clinton Administration IIRC.

As to alcohol limits I prefer the European approach to driving. Mainly that it's not a god given right. Most European countries have a zero tolerance toward driving drunk. Any amount and you lose your license for life, not after getting caught dozens of times and taking a life (lives) like we do here in the states.

 

[poppy]

I think the point is that Catholics are RELIGIOUS conservatives for the most part. Any religion that bans female ministers/priests and demands they remain celebate is by definition conservative. That many members vote for liberal Democrats makes my point.
Lucifer, you always try to link conservative politics to religion when the connection often cannot be made. Of course, Lucifer (Satan) is always trying to make religion look bad.:funn::funn::funn:

I now press on with my less government/less taxes crusade.

I would call any religion that bans female ministers sexist, it doesn't have anything to do with being conservative. Why is it many religions reduce females to second class citizens?

Religion doesn't need help from anyone to make itself look bad.

 

[30ashopper]

You might want to try some home work too. The federal government is no longer determining speed limits. That was turned over to the states back during the Clinton Administration IIRC.

You're right! Interesting history too. That's why I like this board, you guys make me go digging for answers.

National Maximum Speed Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As to alcohol limits I prefer the European approach to driving. Mainly that it's not a god given right. Most European countries have a zero tolerance toward driving drunk. Any amount and you lose your license for life, not after getting caught dozens of times and taking a life (lives) like we do here in the states.

So you're interested in giving the Feds control over issuing all drivers licenses too?

 

[Susan Horn]

Maybe we should spend less time labeling people, and a little more time getting to know each individual personally? Isn't that a basic belief for both of these general groups? Or is there so much hate out there today from the far sides of the poltiical isle that that has become impossible?

I don't think the "far sides" are really as far apart on a lot of important issues as media hyped soundbites have hypnotized many of us into believing.

 

[fisher]

Not to damper the exciting and super-heated chit chit about dollar donations, contributions, and the like.............
I think we need to tun back to my original opinion (see above) to existentially reveal the crux of conservatism. Look to Conservative "seeds" to see from whence this evil came from. It is curable, I have faith Conservatives, go to the Light--do not fear the Light, you will be safe there.

All of my posts were rebutting directly your assertion that libs are selfless and cons are selfish and that libs are empathetic and cons are not. Clearly, based on facts, the opposite is true.

Libs like to talk a big talk about empathy and selflessness, but when the rubber meets the road, its the conservatives that have the most empathy and are the least selfish.

If you disagree. please provide hard evidence in support of your rhetoric.