What am I?
 

I'm confused by the labels I'm supposed to pick from. I consider myself fiscally conservative, in that I think the government should have a balanced budget, except in the case of a recession, where government funding can help smooth out economic troubles, and war (a defensive one, not an aggressive one like Iraq). But I'm 'liberal' or 'progressive' in that I think one of the few things that government *should* do is provide a safety net for people who can't (or "won't") take care of themselves. The bare minimums of shelter, food, education, and basic healthcare.

I'm socially conservative in that I think that abortion is rarely ethically 'right'. But I'm liberal/progressive in that I think that a blanket ban by the government is the wrong way. That the decision should be between a woman and her doctor. I think the government should encourage adoption, offer free birth control of all kinds, and truly anonymous adoption.

I personally don't understand gay marriage, because I like chicks. But I don't think I, or the government, has the right to define what legal relationship two consenting adults have with each other.

I think war is wrong, unless we're directly under attack, or innocent people are directly under attack.

I think the government should protect the weak against the powerful, and encourage what is best for the country and the world from a longterm perspective, not just the next election.

So, what am I? Liberal? Progressive? Conservative?

The closest thing I identify with so far is the progressive 'agenda' - they're anti war, they believe in 'social justice', environmentalism, etc.

Cool dude, be progressive. Just remember to vote with your head and be very wary of any conservative anything.

:no:

I say go by your personal sense of values and look for causes/candidates that reflect your core values. Don't let labels drive your motivation.

Where do you derive your definition of progressive? From progressive movement pioneers like Woodrow Wilson, George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, the Fabian Movement, FDR, and Benito Mussolini (careful on that one, his beginning was not his end)?

The term progressive is very popular, but do most understand the roots of the progressive movement? The word progressive implies progress, but in what direction, and by what means?

Look at the candidates closely. Examine their policies and their previous voting patterns (if applicable) and then make your call based on which one fits closely to your beliefs.

I wouldn't waste time with labels like Democrat, Republican, etc.

I would say that you seem to be more in aligned as a moderate democrat than anything else. I only say that though because it is a larger group than left leaning republican (which you would also fit into). What picking a party really came down to for me was, over the course of several elections at different levels, I found myself voting more one way than an other so that's the party I've stayed in.

As far as political philosophy goes, you seem to fall within a group of what, in the '90s, would have been referred to as a New Democrat. Absent personality or sexual escapades, it would seem that you would agree with Bill Clinton's White House policies, generally speaking. But really it doesn't matter. Believe what you believe and vote that way, that's what's important, and when it comes time to check a party box on your voter registration card just say whichever party you would feel more inclined to vote in their primary.

QFT.

It sounds like you're in line with the thinking of moderate Democrats. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should pull a straight D-ticket. What you want to do is to research the positions of the candidates (they're right there on their websites) (See what I did there? All three uses of the words that sound like "theyr" in one parenthetical expression!) and choose based on what lines up with your beliefs.

Don't worry so much about labels. If you find yourself fitting a label 100% perfectly, that's probably when it's time to worry.

You're a free thinker. That's a good thing. Your views sound like they're within earshot of mine, and I generally label myself a progressive. But whatever. Evaluate your candidates carefully, based on issues, and then vote for the one that you think will do the least damage.

Thanks for the feedback...it's pretty much what I thought...I certainly don't think I could ever call myself a republican at this point. I couldn't ever associate myself with a group represented by the likes of Bush, McCain, Coulter, and Limbaugh. It would be nice to have a label when trying to describe my political views. I guess for now I'll stick with 'rabid moderate progressive'.

Crompsin: Why the headshake, out of curiosity?

In comparison with most self-proclaimed conservatives, you're not at all conservative. You definitely fit with the basic tenets of progressivism. This stuff has been part of the progressive movement since it began around 1900. The term fiscal conservative is pretty much meaningless anymore. Favoring a balanced budget isn't fiscal conservatism, it's sanity, but politics is insane. Fiscal conservative used to have some meaning regarding (limited) government spending, but a safety net wasn't really part of that anyway, and now none but the most radical libertarians oppose government spending during economic troubles. In any case, the term has been flogged so much by Reaganites who actually increase spending as much as they can on all of their pet causes that it has ceased to be a meaningful descriptor of political belief.

Social conservatism has, historically had, much less to do with right and wrong than with imposing specific views of right and wrong on the rest of society. Liberals don't support abortion rights because they think it IS "right." It sounds like maybe you're reluctant to come out of the "liberal closet" because the Fox News/conservative talk world has managed to stigmatize liberal views so much (I know because I've been there), and maybe you still want to believe most "conservatives" support what they say about "freedom" and "limited government", when in reality its just a bunch of doublespeak and half-truths. Oh, it's all true, but only within the bounds of their pre-determined limited worldview.

Robot, I prefer the term "independent thinker."

>>Where do you derive your definition of progressive? - Ottopilot

I derive it from the OP's use of it. In other words, however he defines himself I hope he thinks for himself and votes with his head.