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Bulldog asked in Politics & GovernmentPolitics · 1 decade ago

conservative or liberal and why?

i call myself a conservative constitutionalist, because i believe in the constitution as written not interpreted to say what you want it to say. i also believe in personal responsability and that you should pay your own way in life not relie on the government to bail you out of your bad decisions

Update:

just wanted to add in response to someone, personal responabilty and no bail out as i see it refers to everyone rich, poor, coporations, everyone period

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    My beliefs are conservative. I believe in self-reliance. Victory in Iraq,and winning the war on terror. I believe in security as the constitution assures us, and the need to secure the borders.

    Ear marks and pork barrel spending needs to be cut. New ideas are needed for education, like vouchers where states compete and less of our tax dollars are spent on bureaucracy.

    Immigration reform and stiff penalties for those hiring illegals.

    Make president Bush's tax cuts permanent. Lower taxes fuel the economy, less taxes give more people the opportunity for disposable income, so more spending increases the GDP, which creates more business expansion, and more jobs, more jobs continue the flow of tax revenue to the government for services needed.

    The only social programs I subscribe to are for the disabled, the elderly, and disadvantaged children. I know there are times when people do need assistance, but ongoing, cyclic welfare is not the answer. A short, limited term of assistance for hard times would meet with my approval.

    "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

    .

  • Jack P
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Well, then I guess I'm a liberal because I believe that though the constitution was written in 1787, the 14th ammendment fundamentally changed the original meaning of the constitution making the states accountable for protecting the rights discussed in the Constitution from the states.

    I also believe that if the 2nd ammendment had been inteneded to protect the people's right to bear arms, the word "people" would have been used rather than "militia".

    I also believe that the government has an important rule to play in the economic lives of their citizens. The free market is great for most things, but sometimes there are market failures where the state has to get involved to make things most fair and productive for everyone involved. Take for example a natural monopoly like water supply. It would not be productive for 5 different companies to have each their own water pipes. It would be way too costly. So, the natural thing to happen is for there to be only 1 water supply company in any given area. But a monopoly does not maximize profit at a rate where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. It falls to the state to hire some pointy headed economists to figure out at what rate marginal revenue equals marginal cost and fix the rate at that level.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I believe in the greatest good for the biggest number of people. I would call myself a 'progressive' because I believe the whole purpose of government is to improve the standard of living of people, working people, not just the top 1%.

    I believe 'good' things are 'good' because good comes from them, not because they are just -good- even if they cause bad results. Capitalism is not God's will or the natural order of things, we use capitalism because it is best for -everyone-. When it stops being best for everyone, when it becomes a tool for destroying liberties and concentrating wealth, then it is broken and needs to be fixed.

    I believe in the Constitution too, and I don't believe -my- party has the right to ignore and flout the Constitution, and that ignoring the Constitution is only bad when the -other- party does it. I think the reason our government grows more and more corrupt every year is that people feel this corruption serves them, that it's in their own interest. I feel that the only way Republicans can continue to support President Bush is that they put party above country.

    I believe that everyone should pay his fair share of taxes. The rich can afford to pay a little more because they -get- more.

    As for paying your own way, the government not bailing out bad decisions, why is that only true for poor and underprivileged people? Why is it not also true for corporations who fail through gross mismanagement?

  • 4 years ago

    definite, nicely this purely demonstrates that maximum folk finally end up being a contradiction in words. are you able to call that a paradox? on condition that the different is authentic for sure. as to if liberal conservatism could be embraced by ability of those conservatives who're extra liberal than certainly conservative, i think of, is something that could desire to be debated liberally in a conservatory way.

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  • 1 decade ago

    Obviously I can't simply tell you what you should be - it depends on your opinions on social and economic issues. If you believe in social progressivism, (i.e. gay rights, racial equality etc.) then you would generally be considered liberal. Conversely, if you believe the religious viewpoint on these issues then you would usually be considered conservative. Also, believing in the constitution doesn't make you either really, as both sides have attempted to twist the words to suit their own end, as well as propose amendments in their own interests. I believe that the constitution should not be interpreted with any partisan bias, but it should be interpreted in the context of modern society, i.e. take into account what the intention was for today's society, not the society that was around when it was written

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Hey Moderation...heres a statistic for you.

    Every Democrat running for President wants to raise taxes on "the rich," but they will have to do something miraculous to outtax President Bush. Based on the latest available tax data, no Administration in modern history has done more to pry tax revenue from the wealthy.

    Last week the Congressional Budget Office joined the IRS in releasing tax numbers for 2005, and part of the news is that the richest 1% paid about 39% of all income taxes that year. The richest 5% paid a tad less than 60%, and the richest 10% paid 70%.

    Maybe you want those evil rich people to pay ALL the taxes??...would THAT make you happy??

    Source(s): Conservative and no not even close to rich...but I'm not driven by jealousy and envy either.
  • 1 decade ago

    the republicans have got off track, competition is not served when they are in power and let there cronies buy up all the copetition and we have no choice than to pay them whatever they charge.. enron bought all power companies in many states aproved by both dems and repubs,, atnt verizon buying up all the airwaves,, they are ours! why give them to those companies,, our whole phone bills are a tax,, our computers here could do all the comunications for us without any phone bills we have the technolagy, but the fcc lets the telecoms rape us and hilds back the technology.. government allows it cause they get taxes off our phone bills ,, no elctions ever talk about simple issues like this cus both parties are in on it.. dems for the welfare money and repubs for the military money.

  • 1 decade ago

    great example of why I'm a liberal: the Founders were for the most part followers of "Enlightenment" thinking... They were tired of Monarchist and Oligarchies (East India Co. the Wal-Mart of its day).

    The commons were developed to HELP man attain his highest potential, ie free higher education; UVirginia, volunteer Fire Dept, Postal Service with subsidized rates for the press, an educated population is a FREE people.

    I don't get why these Lemmings think "Bare-knuckle" capitalism (social Darwinism) is a good thing!!??

  • 1 decade ago

    Neither.

    I'm a libertarian that believes in 'living wage' laws.

    ...but, you're on the right track. You just need to notice the flaw in the free market system as it relates to undermining the power of the people, and their individual liberty (i.e. constitutionally enshrined rights).

    Once you realize this, you are primed to see that minimum 'living wage' laws are a good & necessary way to redistribute society's resources in a way that maximizes the benefits of free-markets, secular government, & personal liberty.

    Then, you will be as close to perfection of political ideology as I can currently know how to be.

    :-) (I say, oh so pompously)

  • 1 decade ago

    i am a liberal.

    i believe that in todays society we all pay taxes,and i want my taxes to go to something that really counts:education,healthcare,individual rights and a change in the tax code.

    i want my money to go to children and elderly and disabled people.mentally ill people

    the top one percent that got 50 percent of the tax cuts pay on average 19% due to corporate loopholes.there is no excuse for that.and i believe that the cuts in education programs and a decent and affordable healthcare system does effect our youth.

    and sadly i cant even agree with republicans on abortion...abortion will never be outlawed,if that happened republicans will never win another election again...and abortions will never stop regardless...

    and the government will never take guns away from its citizens,thats blatant propaganda...but there is nothing wrong with assault rifles being illegal unless you obtain a special permit...sorry but im thinking about the cops on this one.

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