Would you consider yourself politically moderate?

[Tabula Rasa]

If so, then why?

 

I have conservative views on some topics and liberal views on other topics. All-or-nothing politics is getting old.

[Epitaph]

Na. I'll say it if it needs to be said or if I believe it has logical merit. I'd like to say that feelings are inconsequential to the bigger picture but that isn't neccessarily true either, Sometimes dexterity is required in communication but if feelings stand in the way of truth then feelings be damned. 

 

I never much liked the political spectrum either. It's all been manipulated into "my side your side." Too many are so focused on flying their side's colours and sticking to their respective banner that it totally blinds them to the other side's rational points to be made, and in all the squabbling nothing of true lasting quality is ever accomplished. It all feeds into dividing a conquering. A country can't fix itself up and get its shit together when everything from race, sex, religious or political ideology is divided and scrutinized and fought over by the inhabitants. Try telling a tryhard fan of any side stuff like this and they won't hear a damn word you're saying. My solution is popcorn. I try to exist outside the vicious circle as much as I can.

[The Dryad]

As far as the whole "conservative" "liberal" "Republican"or "Democrat" thing, I kinda view both parties as a two headed snake, which ever head you pet is still gonna bite you. I even voted for Jill Stein even though I knew she wouldn't win, but Bernie wasn't available, so... But....I guess I'm technically liberal, but admittedly I has some traditional ways, but I feel like those traditional ways should not be at the expense of other people.

[TheAP]

I'd say I am pretty liberal in most areas that I know enough about to have an opinion. I might even be considered "far-left" in some respects. However, I do dislike some of the hypocritical or overly aggressive attitudes displayed by some liberals, and my responses to those might be the only way I could be considered at all "conservative".

[Atheno]

I'd say independent rather than moderate.  I'd also say I'm kinda ignorant so I don't have strong opinions on a number of issues.

In some ways I'm fairly liberal, but I have some views that would be considered conservative as well.  I'm a selfish person so some of the liberal views are completely hypocritical.

[Polygon]

In general, I'm pretty staunchly left, but I'm not extreme to the extent that I'll die on a hill for every little political belief I have. I fancy myself an independent, but if you really laid out a political test in front of me the results would be indistinguishable from your common garden hippie liberal. 

[Haze.]

I am politically moderate (or independent).

 

I identified as conservative as a child (because my family is), but I soon realised I have some differing viewpoints...

And they were liberal! *sarcastic gasp of betrayal*

 

Since then I have realised that I have a fair amount of viewpoints on both sides of the coin. Honestly, I think the two-party system is stupid. It creates unnecessary animosity and alliance not based on what people necessarily believe. I think everyone should develop their own views and vote on things based on each. of. their. personal. views.

 

But that's my opinion. Other people are allowed to have their opinions. Which is my case in point.

 

I could go into more detail here, supporting my point, but I won't. This is not a political debate in the Hot Box, and I don't want to create one right now.

[Lonemathsytoothbrushthief]

I'm pro a decentralised society built on mutual aid and collective property, pro prison abolition, pro legalising sex work and drug possession, against governments, against capitalists and pro political moderates getting some spice in their politics and coming over to the far left. We're way more fun than the right would have you believe I swear.

[Gloomy]

On most social issues I have liberal views and on most economic issues I have conservative views. So I'm not 100% liberal or conservative, but I'm still a bit away from the center, more towards the libertarian side.

[Sally]

I'm extremely leftist for an American, but Europeans would probably consider me moderate.   Re social v economic, it really isn't possible in the US to be socially liberal and economically conservative.  We have such a shredded social safety net, we need a lot of voted-on tax money to pay for social programs, because they're not built into the economy.  

[Cimmerian]

Nope, I don't--- but part of that is probably because the word has a negative connotation to me due to several politicians who claim to be 'moderate' in politics just as an excuse to switch their stances a lot to gain favor with whoever or whatever is most useful for their career at the time.

 

Economically, I'm much more to one side than the other. Socially, I'm fall more to the center as my stance changes depending on if it's government programs or civil rights & liberties that are the focus of the social issue.

[ThaHoward]

On 20.2.2018 at 8:35 AM, Sally said:

I'm extremely leftist for an American, but Europeans would probably consider me moderate.   Re social v economic, it really isn't possible in the US to be socially liberal and economically conservative.  We have such a shredded social safety net, we need a lot of voted-on tax money to pay for social programs, because they're not built into the economy.  

If you still identify as a Trotskyist, you said that one time long ago if not disregard it, that is as far left you can get in Europe. By competing with the other Marxists and Maoists on who's the most extreme. 

 

(Trotsky being the mastermind behin the Red Terror, responsible for countless war crimes, believing in only a state of permament revolution (e.g. war) will end capitalism, the coup against the democratic government, a political extremist in all regards, going to war for spreading his ideology and being the mastermind behind the Stalinist collectivization and many other horrible stuff. Those who support him either do it because it is "cool" i.e being ignorant or because they actually believe in such stuff, i.e being extremists).

[XYZ96]

I think I'm moderate left.. I'm definitely left-wing, but I'm not far left, and am pretty happy with the system of things where I live, sure they aren't perfect, but I don't want any radical changes... 

Politically I'm probably a left wing liberal (liberal in the sense of you do you, not in the sense of liberal=left), but none of my views are radical or extreme or without compromise...  so, I see myself as fairly moderate, but still left (so not center..), the parties I prefer are also all left of center (or satire) parties, but not far or hard left parties.. 

 

So.. to be more exact:

Spoiler

I believe all people are born 100% equal, I believe everyone should have the same opportunity to become anything they like, as long as they don't harm others (so you know, I don't think we should be ok with it, if people become serial murders..). I believe the only way to properly do that, is with a good social security net, slight economic regulation (not enough to hinder capitalism, but enough to prevent things like monopolies or people who can't afford to eat, there are multiple ways to prevent those, ranging from enforcing certain laws to having strong unions, to probably other things..), disability rights and accommodations (you know, like ramps for wheel chairs and stuff) and freedom to express oneself, think for oneself and having the right to privacy. However, I do not believe capitalism should be abolished. I am fully for capitalism. I also think people should be allowed to choose what they do and who they are, with some exceptions*, as long as it doesn't harm others.. 

 

(*exceptions: I think everyone should have to have and pay for health/accident/long-term-care/old people insurance, also I am for mandatory school..) 

 

Though all of that is pretty broad, and reading that, I'm not sure if you could actually look at that and say with absolute certainty, "yep, left-winger", I mean you can be right-wing and basically say the same things or similar things at least... but I think that shows at least that I'm not extreme or radical or really even hard left/right or a radical liberal/authoritarian.. 

But in a more clear sense, my views tend to line up pretty well with social democracy, which is a left wing ideology, but not a socialist ideology and not extreme, and seeing as I'm not radical, extreme or hard left, I guess I'm moderate left.. 

 

--ramblings over--

 

[vmdraco]

I think I do.  I'm definitely liberal, but don't ID with far left ideologies, though I'm more likely going to take their sides when it comes to social issues than I would a conservative.  A lot of political quizzes put me annoying close to the "far left" area, but I'm more politically left of center.  There are few quizzes that ask good questions though, however this one has been the most thorough so far.  

[uhtred]

I see myself as anti-extremist.  I understand that there are going to be a  lot of opinions and that for a country to work, people need to compromise - even on important things.    I do have some political hard limits but I try not to have too many. 

[RK800]

Nope. I'm a leftist through and through.

[Guest]

I'm anti-capitalist, pro-socialist, anti-authoritarian, anti-national border.

To be moderate in this world means to support an oppressive status-quo.

[Skycaptain]

I'm a chameleon, I'll take whatever opportunity gives me the greatest potential gain at the moment

 

Basically I have the political morals of a sewer rat, so I may be overqualified for a political career 

[straightouttamordor]

Communism and Monopoly Capitalism are more similar than people think. Fifty years of life has taught me to oppose them both with vigor.

[CaptainYesterday]

[deleted]

[MiraMeyneth]

I would consider myself centrist or independent. However as I'm still quite young compared to lots of others on AVEN I still am figuring out where I stand.

 

Nonetheless, I grew up in a politically split family (My dad was hardcore right, my mom is very much a left-leaner) and as such after both of them attempting to sway me in the direction of their political ideology I gave up trying to reason with either of them, and ended up becoming very distasteful of politics in the household, as it usually leads to an argument. 

 

So for now I just avoid politics like the plague with my family. However I lean left on some issues, and right on others. I'm rather willfully ignorant on politics as its never really done anything good for me or my family, so the avoidance is mostly for my sanity.

 

[NerotheReaper]

I am more on the independent side of things, I can see both sides on things. I might agree with one side on an issue, or agree with the other side on an issue. To me it is about what is best for the most amount of people. I am not a fan of these political parties, they divide the nation up and seems to have a "them against us" mentality. 

[ThaHoward]

I don't want a major change in the current system and I don't think the political opponents (in the established parties) are extremists and I don't disagree with the Left just for being on the Left. Despite also being firmly on the right I did want the inclusion of the Liberals into the current government to get a broader government and a more moderate one. I also agree with the left side on many issues, and encourage the government parties to work with them to get things done (such as the Liberal and Progress Parties dealing with the Labour Party and Socialist Left and not the Conservatives to allow egg donations) and will not oppose the other side for just the sake of it, and won't throw around saying all who disagree with me are automatically misandrist, misogynist, racists, leftwingers, socialists etc etc. 

 

I'm on the right wing, but I do not fall into dogmas and support cooperation when it is needed and don't label everyone else as some sort of ism, or label the entire right or the entire left of that or that and say there are no moderates among them. I've seen that, and while I do not claim to be a moderate, I will go as far to say they are not moderates at all even if they claim to be moderate or centrist in this thread or in others. 

[ben8884]

I dunno, I guess it depends on who you ask. I am anti capitalism but also in some ways anti authoritarian. I believe in freedom but only up to a point and I think we work better as part of a society.

[ChillaKilla]

Nah

[Spotastic]

I am a moderate libertarian. I want the government out of my business as much as possible, but I understand the need for government programs to help others (I live on welfare and disability assistance). I am all for gun rights,  but I want reasonable restrictions on the types of guns someone can own (no more ak-47s for everyone, please). I want basic human rights protected for EVERYONE regardless of any boxes they may fall into. I don't think the government should have any say on who anyone wants to get married to. I am tired of this drug war that persists just because they are all illegal. What someone else wants to do with their body is none of my business unless it harms others. So yeah, I'm all over the place on the political spectrum.

[Lonemathsytoothbrushthief]

1 minute ago, Spotastic said:

I am a moderate libertarian. I want the government out of my business as much as possible, but I understand the need for government programs to help others (I live on welfare and disability assistance). I am all for gun rights,  but I want reasonable restrictions on the types of guns someone can own (no more ak-47s for everyone, please). I want basic human rights protected for EVERYONE regardless of any boxes they may fall into. I don't think the government should have any say on who anyone wants to get married to. I am tired of this drug war that persists just because they are all illegal. What someone else wants to do with their body is none of my business unless it harms others. So yeah, I'm all over the place on the political spectrum.

You sound like a left libertarian mildly leftist on economic concerns and also against too much authority. It's a consistent position, don't let people fool you, it's political parties which make things inconsistent.

[CaptainYesterday]

[deleted]

[Kelpie]

No, not really. 

[Spotastic]

11 hours ago, CaptainYesterday said:

AK-47s have been banned in America for over two decades.

Only full automatics have been banned. You can still get semi-auto variants in most states.