Is Dallas very conservative?

[frogandtoad]

I think my views aline w/you LAnative. I definitely DO care that gays can't get married and I'm very socially liberal. I am also very fiscally conservative and completely dislike the rampant gov't spending.

That said, I find there is just as much criticism toward "liberals" as there is toward "conservatives" on c-d. One group is always painting the other with a very simplified brush. I have read many threads where liberals are "anti-American", "weak", "lazy", "socialist", "free lunch wanting" etc. And have read many criticizing conservatives as you say.

The people who confuse me most are those who identify 100% with either party. I mean really, every single issue lines up perfectly along party lines for them? I find it hard to believe this would be the case with people who think about each issue on their own and don't just follow what they're told to believe.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by frogandtoad

The people who confuse me most are those who identify 100% with either party. I mean really, every single issue lines up perfectly along party lines for them? I find it hard to believe this would be the case with people who think about each issue on their own and don't just follow what they're told to believe.

Rep points for you! I feel exactly the same way!

Seriously who can identify with a party 100%? All that says to me is that these people dont want to think for themselves and would rather have politicians think for them.

[ATLHRLGUY]

I just hope that one day our democracy can progress to have more than a two-party system. I believe the U.S. is the only fully industrialized modern society that JUST supports a two party system. The other parties, Green, Libertarian, Independent, etc. etc. don't have the backing financially or support politically. No one's views can be completely represented by just the democratic or republican party. Yes I know the system is set up to only have two dominate parties, we all took u.s. government in school, but a guy can dream can't he.

[Lakewooder]

Republican judge stands alone in Dallas County | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Dallas-Fort Worth Crime News | Dallas-Fort Worth News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/crime/stories/DN-lonerepublican_08met.ART0.Central.Edition1.4b8b5b7 .html - broken link)

The rest are Democrats.

[Dallas native]

Originally Posted by solytaire

LMAO..I noticed that too!..its like WTH? How NARROW MINDED is that?..lol...I dont dislike the fact that gays cant get married, nor do I dislike the fact that pot is illegal...I just dont care either way...if gays get married, so what?..if pot is legal, so what? -- a ton of people already smoke pot anyway despite the laws....on the other hand, if gays cant get married, so what? If pot remains illegal, who cares? Believe me, I have tried to get into caring about these issues, and I just cant bring myself to care either way. I guess Im just jaded..lol

But seriously, what is with this oversimplified categorization of "Conservative" as small town, backwater, racist, bigoted, war mongering, religious zealot, prostelitizers. And "Liberal" as being the all accepting, enlightened, gay loving, tolerant, welfare check clutching, socialists.

Really? Those are the two classifications of people that we have to choose from? Whatever, I think these categorizations are silly too.

I agree with most of what you say, Solytaire. However, let me appeal to your sense of fairness regarding your stance on gay rights. Gay marriage has no affect on the lives of straight people and that is why a lot of straight people don't get involved. But do you find it acceptable that the majority, based on their prejudices, can vote away the rights of a minority? It took the Supreme Court until 1967 to rule in Loving vs. Virginia that it was unconstitutional for states to prevent marriage between the races. I'm confident that the fight for gay marriage is headed in that same direction and will be legal everywhere in the US within a generation or less. But in the meantime, since you don't seem hostile to gay rights, why not stand up for equality for all? If there were some benign and uncontrollable aspect about you that the majority didn't like, wouldn't you want other people to stand up for your rights regardless of whether it affected them personally?