It's no secret that I lean very liberal socially. I'd say I'm a little more moderate fiscally but not much. I wasn't always that way. I grew up in a very isolated, rural area where being liberal would get you scathing looks at best. To give you a snapshot of the isolation, I remember kids dressing up with "welfare bum" signs (spelled incorrectly on purpose), wearing black face, and marching in our towns Halloween parade complete with entry tags and to gleeful cheers and laughter.
I questioned some of my town's influences before that, but I remember that as a pivotal moment of, "If I feel so strongly that most of these social beliefs here are wrong, that the environmental ennui is scary and that the dog eat dog environment here is not making our poverty situation any better, what about this town's commonly held political beliefs? Should I be on the same page?"
But I want to understand so badly. I want to understand thoughtful, intelligent people who believe strongly in conservativism... Particularly the newer Tea Party type that makes me flinch on a regular basis. I firmly believe that only through understanding (not power grabbing) do we really have a chance at making things better.
So, in that spirit, I would like to ask a few questions. I would love if someone could help me understand. In return, I will state some of my beliefs and please please ask me questions on them. I don't even care if they are rude. I just want to understand us both a little better.
1. I honestly don't agree with abortion for myself in most situations. However the landscape of abortion before it was legalized was not a pretty picture. I also can't understand the "no exceptions," stuff, and the new restrictions that are in place in many states now that make them horribly difficult to do even under extreme circumstances. I also can't get away from the fact that women can be forced by the government to go through a life changing event (pregnancy) that has the potential to ruin her in many ways (again, not my view) with or without the man bc he can walk away with nothing. Even if he's charged with paying child support, it's easy to dodge, and he can be completely unaffected and provide no support for the pregnancy.
2. Would early induction of the pregnancy be allowed if the fetus isn't viable or there's risk to mother or both? Or should they just die because it's God's will?
3. Which leads me to, why is separation of church and state bad? (i know why i think it's good, but I want
to know the other side) Currently, I kind
of get the feeling that people want to make it so that Christian dogma is ok but nothing else, and that isn't what our country is founded on. (to me)
4. Why can't gay people have a legal civil union? How does it destroy marriage when they already have a union that isn't on paper and can be married by churches that are ok with that? Stable families are good right?
5. Why do you think trickle down/supply side economics works? Have you benefitted from it?
6. Do you really think this is an "entitlement society?" Why?
7. Do you think we can meet needs o the poor/middle class individually without social programs?
8. Do you think climate change is a myth? Why?
9. Does the environment always come second to energy development or human needs other than recreation/nature enjoyment? Why?
10. Do you support something like the Blunt Amendment? Why?
11. Is de-regulation of our markets as they currently exist ever helpful? How?
I only picked the things I have a harder time with, and I tried not to get too much into what I think and why, because that's for you to ask. And please just to help me stay respectful an open-minded, do not cite Fox news sources. There may be a few nuggets in there but amidst so much name calling, inaccurate reporting and craziness (the Obama birth certificate crap anyone?) that I just can't abide it. Thanks.
This isn't the post I had planned about being more fierce, but it's one that has weighed on me for a long time. And one last question...
If you only vote for a party for fiscal reasons, but you are completely opposite their social platform (in either direction, and I hear it a lot), how can you deal? Why is that the right path for you?
I questioned some of my town's influences before that, but I remember that as a pivotal moment of, "If I feel so strongly that most of these social beliefs here are wrong, that the environmental ennui is scary and that the dog eat dog environment here is not making our poverty situation any better, what about this town's commonly held political beliefs? Should I be on the same page?"
But I want to understand so badly. I want to understand thoughtful, intelligent people who believe strongly in conservativism... Particularly the newer Tea Party type that makes me flinch on a regular basis. I firmly believe that only through understanding (not power grabbing) do we really have a chance at making things better.
So, in that spirit, I would like to ask a few questions. I would love if someone could help me understand. In return, I will state some of my beliefs and please please ask me questions on them. I don't even care if they are rude. I just want to understand us both a little better.
1. I honestly don't agree with abortion for myself in most situations. However the landscape of abortion before it was legalized was not a pretty picture. I also can't understand the "no exceptions," stuff, and the new restrictions that are in place in many states now that make them horribly difficult to do even under extreme circumstances. I also can't get away from the fact that women can be forced by the government to go through a life changing event (pregnancy) that has the potential to ruin her in many ways (again, not my view) with or without the man bc he can walk away with nothing. Even if he's charged with paying child support, it's easy to dodge, and he can be completely unaffected and provide no support for the pregnancy.
2. Would early induction of the pregnancy be allowed if the fetus isn't viable or there's risk to mother or both? Or should they just die because it's God's will?
3. Which leads me to, why is separation of church and state bad? (i know why i think it's good, but I want
to know the other side) Currently, I kind
of get the feeling that people want to make it so that Christian dogma is ok but nothing else, and that isn't what our country is founded on. (to me)
4. Why can't gay people have a legal civil union? How does it destroy marriage when they already have a union that isn't on paper and can be married by churches that are ok with that? Stable families are good right?
5. Why do you think trickle down/supply side economics works? Have you benefitted from it?
6. Do you really think this is an "entitlement society?" Why?
7. Do you think we can meet needs o the poor/middle class individually without social programs?
8. Do you think climate change is a myth? Why?
9. Does the environment always come second to energy development or human needs other than recreation/nature enjoyment? Why?
10. Do you support something like the Blunt Amendment? Why?
11. Is de-regulation of our markets as they currently exist ever helpful? How?
I only picked the things I have a harder time with, and I tried not to get too much into what I think and why, because that's for you to ask. And please just to help me stay respectful an open-minded, do not cite Fox news sources. There may be a few nuggets in there but amidst so much name calling, inaccurate reporting and craziness (the Obama birth certificate crap anyone?) that I just can't abide it. Thanks.
This isn't the post I had planned about being more fierce, but it's one that has weighed on me for a long time. And one last question...
If you only vote for a party for fiscal reasons, but you are completely opposite their social platform (in either direction, and I hear it a lot), how can you deal? Why is that the right path for you?
