Reply #34: I am not "a consesrvative" but here are my answers: [View All]

I don't like the lables we use, therefore the caveat. I am a libertarian, if anything, which shares some concepts with republicans as well as democrats and then a healthy amount of ideas that niether share. But, compared to most people here, I am probably what most of you would like to call a conservative, so I will share my thoughts with you on these questions:



1) Is there anything about conservatives or the Republican party that you don't agree with? If so, what is it and why do you disagree?

Yes. I strongly object to social conservatism and religious conservatism when it comes to pushing an agenda that will get codified into law. I believe in maximum freedom. Some republicans are intent on reducing freedom. But this goes for some democrats as well. Freedom is freedom, rights are rights. What you as a democrat may be at peace with when it comes to losing certain rights (think 2nd Ammendment) are as important to me as all other rights.

I somewhat strongly object to the PATRIOT act- it seems that it is possible that rights have been or could be violated under this act. However, it appears that there are some provisions to safeguard the public from PATRIOT act abuses, such as obtaining consent from judges before the use of the powers, etc.

I am against the war on drugs. I am against the imprisonment of non-violent drug offenders.

I am against all forms of welfare- most especially corporate welfare. I hate the idea of lobbies and PACs that contribute money to a politician and expect something in return. I'd like to see all politicians lose a substantial amount of their power so that such lobbies and PACs will lose their influence.




2) Is there anything about the Democratic party values that you find yourself in agreement with? If so, what is it and why do you agree?

Yes. General core values such as liberty, equality and upholding of rights, especially as they pertain to the "little guy," and others that may not be able to defend themselves against government. I like the tolerance and inclusion that most democrats feel toward people of other races, ethnicities and sexual / religious preferences. But I honestly feel that republicans and conservatives are beginning to adopt this point of view as well. Credit the dems for getting it going though. However, once democrats start advocating "extra" rights and privelages to the "disenfranchised," ala Affirmative Action, reparations or other little goodies like drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, that is when I part company.




3) What do you like and dislike about Bush?

I like the tax-cut. I like his vigorous prosecution of the war against the terrorists. I like the fact that he seems to have very personal convictions about this war, in spite of some very heavy opposition. I think in general, he believes in what he's doing. I think Bush is a plain-spoken sort and doesn't attempt to intentionally deceive.

What I don't like: I don't like the steel tariffs. I don't like that he has not reduced spending on any programs and that the budget and deficit are ballooning. I don't like his prescription drug benefit plan. I don't like his concept of the "compassionate conservative." Try as any republican might, he is not going to win many of the hearts and minds of democrats by acting like a lighter version of one, he's only going to lose favor within his own party.




4) What is more important to you...protecting the 2nd Amendment or preventing homosexuals from having the same legal rights and responsibilities married couples have?

These two concepts are not mutually exclusive- and I happen to believe in both "rights." I am ardently pro 2nd and I am ardently pro rights to those that have a civil union that is legally recognized. I would toss a bone to the conservatives and not call this union a "marriage" but I would give the exact same benefits and rights that married couples enjoy.



5) Would you be against giving up the Bush tax cuts if you were guaranteed better schools, health coverage, better homeland security and a program that has a proven record of reducing child abuse and neglect by over half?

In theory Yes- but there are no guarantees in government, so, in reality No. No one could ever convince me that throwing the equivalent amount of money into the education system will improve it substantially. In our beloved LAUSD (which my wife belongs to, she is a public school teacher) we have fat-assed (sorry, you can feel the venom) administrators and beaurocrats making over 100k a year, doing nothing, or worse, interfering in the process, or EVEN worse making huge blunders such as the Belmont Learning Complex- while teachers slave for far less money. I am not necessarily saying that teachers should be paid more. I am saying that LAUSD has stupid priorities and I would not trust them to use any additional funds wisely.