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Since people were talking about 'true conservatives' in another thread, I was wondering if we could compile two lists of the key characteristics/priorities/goals of both true liberals and true conservatives in the US It should be as objective as possible, so please no 'liberals try to kill off the babies of the poor', 'conservatives are retarded', etc. Of course it is OK to discuss those characteristics/priorities/goals, but in a civilized way
I think I can summarize quickly the key differences between conservative and liberal in modern US politics. Conservatives want money and power, but liberals want money and power. This is why they fight often.
Conservatives are against a safety net for citizens.
Liberals want safety nets such as public schools, universal health care, unemployment benefits, financial aid for college students, etc.
Liberals are for the right for a woman to be in control of her reproductive system. Conservatives are against a woman's right to choose.
Liberals are in favor of gay rights, Conservatives are against gay rights or think people choose to be gay, therefore if the gays would clean up their act, there would be no squabbles about civil unions vs marriage vs domestic partnerships, adoption by same-sex couples, etc.
if you listen to both sides, I don't know how you could be completely in favor of either party. I listen to these people arguing in my college classes and 98 percent of everyone who opens their mouth has no idea what they are talking about. Some hipster girl was going on and on about how Canada was superior to the United States, mainly in respect to Canada's health care system....and when I asked her what specifically makes Canada's health care system so wonderful...she couldn't come up with an answer. People are just jumping on band wagons without actually doing any research themselves besides believing whatever propaganda is fed to them. whether or not you advocate a certain political policy, check out the facts first. it seems like no one really cares how much of our income is being swallowed up by taxes, or that the IRS is the largest law enforcement agency in the world. of course that wouldn't matter to an unemployed college student wearing a damn Burger King crown, but to the majority of us that go to work every day, I think we ought to know where all this money is going.
if you listen to both sides, I don't know how you could be completely in favor of either party. I listen to these people arguing in my college classes and 98 percent of everyone who opens their mouth has no idea what they are talking about. Some hipster girl was going on and on about how Canada was superior to the United States, mainly in respect to Canada's health care system....and when I asked her what specifically makes Canada's health care system so wonderful...she couldn't come up with an answer. People are just jumping on band wagons without actually doing any research themselves besides believing whatever propaganda is fed to them. whether or not you advocate a certain political policy, check out the facts first. it seems like no one really cares how much of our income is being swallowed up by taxes, or that the IRS is the largest law enforcement agency in the world. of course that wouldn't matter to an unemployed college student wearing a damn Burger King crown, but to the majority of us that go to work every day, I think we ought to know where all this money is going.
I've done my research. Just because ONE "hipster girl" doesn't know her facts doesn't mean everyone else doesn't.
I agree there are people on both sides who don't know what they're talking about but don't assume everyone is like thus. Come on now.
A lot my income isn't going to taxes and I wouldn't mind paying more in taxes if I knew I was going to get more from those taxes. Currently my taxes are going towards bonuses for Wall Street bankers, for profit health insurance companies, Big Pharma, Big Energy, and Big Agriculture. I am sure there is more but I'd rather my government work for me than on behalf of big interests. That's a huge reason why I'm a Socialist.
We are letting our government be taken over. There are a few good seeds in Congress looking out for the people but there aren't enough of them.
True Conservatives seek a limited government that seeks to protect and lead and not to provide. We seek responsible fiscal policy. We seek opportunity in terms of business. We seek to be able to practice ANY religion that we so choose without government and left wing oppression of said religion. We believe in charity before government handouts. We don't want authoritative figures as we don't want to be ruled. We think that large government is oppressive and seeks to make people SLAVES to the state, not individuals, and were cerainly don't believe in one state. We are all for freedom of thought but just because you disagree with what you say doesn't give you the right to try and stifle what we have to say. And we also believe in freedom of speech but that there are consequences to that freedom of speech. We believe in personal responsibility as opposed to a nanny state, individualism rather than collectivism, voluntary unity as opposed to mandatory or forced participation, and altruism or teaching the right thing to do. We don't think it takes a village to raise a child, we think it take some responsible parents who will take the time to devote to their children. We believe in education and we believe proper education starts in the home.
The simplest way to discriminate between predators and non-predators is to ask this question:
Do you support / oppose involuntary servitude?
If you support involuntary servitude, via confiscatory taxation, you're a predator, regardless of which "wing" you fly.
If you oppose involuntary servitude, and respect the property rights of all people, you're not a predator, regardless of ideology.
Now, for some formal references-
From the Communist manifesto:
"In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property."
COMMUNISM - the ownership of property, or means of production, distribution and supply, by the whole of a classless society, with wealth shared on the principle of 'to each according to his need', each yielding fully 'according to his ability'.
- - - Webster's Dictionary.
SOCIALISM - A political and economic theory advocating collective ownership of the means of production and control of distribution. It is based upon the belief that all, while contributing to the good of the community, are equally entitled to the care and protection which the community can provide.
--- Webster's dictionary
Communism and socialism establish collective ownership and abolish absolute ownership by individuals.
Amendment V, US Constitution 1789
... nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
PRIVATE PROPERTY - "As protected from being taken for public uses, is such property as belongs absolutely to an individual, and of which he has the exclusive right of disposition. Property of a specific, fixed and tangible nature, capable of being in possession and transmitted to another, such as houses, lands, and chattels."
- - - Black's Law dictionary, sixth ed., p.1217
If the government can take your property without paying just compensation, then you don't own private property anymore.
Welcome to the People's Democratic Socialist Republic of America.
I've done my research. Just because ONE "hipster girl" doesn't know her facts doesn't mean everyone else doesn't.
I agree there are people on both sides who don't know what they're talking about but don't assume everyone is like thus. Come on now.
A lot my income isn't going to taxes and I wouldn't mind paying more in taxes if I knew I was going to get more from those taxes. Currently my taxes are going towards bonuses for Wall Street bankers, for profit health insurance companies, Big Pharma, Big Energy, and Big Agriculture. I am sure there is more but I'd rather my government work for me than on behalf of big interests. That's a huge reason why I'm a Socialist.
We are letting our government be taken over. There are a few good seeds in Congress looking out for the people but there aren't enough of them.
I didn't say I was for or against the health care bill, or any policy for that matter. I mean, I am a registered Democrat. I just used it as an example that most people have no idea what they are talking about or presumably in favor of. That does not mean there aren't many exceptions. As for socialism....good luck with that happening.
It probably is way easier to maintain a good health care system in Canada. Its populations is much smaller, unemployment is much lower, the gap between the lower class and the upper class is much smaller.
Amendment V, US Constitution 1789
... nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
PRIVATE PROPERTY - "As protected from being taken for public uses, is such property as belongs absolutely to an individual, and of which he has the exclusive right of disposition. Property of a specific, fixed and tangible nature, capable of being in possession and transmitted to another, such as houses, lands, and chattels."
- - - Black's Law dictionary, sixth ed., p.1217
If the government can take your property without paying just compensation, then you don't own private property anymore.
Welcome to the People's Democratic Socialist Republic of America.
Of course nobody likes to have his stuff taken away. But then again, shouldn't it also matter where those absolute possessions have come from? If they were secured by means that are regarded as immoral by the majority, should they still be untouchable?
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It should be as objective as possible, so please no 'liberals try to kill off the babies of the poor', 'conservatives are retarded', etc. 
Of course it is OK to discuss those characteristics/priorities/goals, but in a civilized way 
