Where are the moderate Republicans?
- Thread starter AdMan
- Start date
-
- Tags
- republican party
BenBurch
Gatekeeper of The Left
Not sure which.
I do know that I knew what was going to happen before it did happen because I had in fact read the engineering reports on the NO dikes and pump systems as part of a story I was at the time writing.
It was as inevitable as sunrise once a large enough storm appeared.
sarge
Penultimate Amazing
Sorry I missed this thread earlier.
Three years ago, I was a registered Republican, and I described myself as "moderate". By moderate, I mean that my views on every social/political issue were correct, of course.
My political views haven't changed. In a nutshell, here they are:
1. Work your own way out of any messes you get yourself into.
2. Total taxes should be progressive.
3. Goverment should perform only the services that only goverment can perform.
4. Stupid wars are stupid - and expensive.
5. The goverment should consider the Constitution more important than all else. If some action is not specifically prohibited by the Constitution, then goverment should be very reluctent to regulate it, being only so restrictive as necessary to protect the public.
Today, I'm a registered Demorat. My views haven't changed - still a moderate conservative.
Three years ago, I was a registered Republican, and I described myself as "moderate". By moderate, I mean that my views on every social/political issue were correct, of course.
My political views haven't changed. In a nutshell, here they are:
1. Work your own way out of any messes you get yourself into.
2. Total taxes should be progressive.
3. Goverment should perform only the services that only goverment can perform.
4. Stupid wars are stupid - and expensive.
5. The goverment should consider the Constitution more important than all else. If some action is not specifically prohibited by the Constitution, then goverment should be very reluctent to regulate it, being only so restrictive as necessary to protect the public.
Today, I'm a registered Demorat. My views haven't changed - still a moderate conservative.
BenBurch
Gatekeeper of The Left
Except for #3 - "Government should perform services that only government can perform WELL." Is my view.
sarge
Penultimate Amazing
I'm not so sure.
There are some services I'd consider so critical that I only want the goverment to provide them, and the goverment doesn't do them very well. Indeed, profit-minded business is better at all services than goverment ever is, but goverment is always more trustworthy than for-profit enterprise.
Defense, disaster response, air traffic control, and public education come immediately to mind. I want the goverment to provide these services, and with few exceptions I don't want them contracted out.
Road and bridge construction and maintenance can be contracted out, because business will always do it better, but standards compliance should remain with the goverment because we couldn't trust business with that.
Trakar
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2007
- Messages
- 12,637
They call themselves Democrats and they control the White House and the Senate.
RandFan
Mormon Atheist
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2001
- Messages
- 60,135
#3, IMO: Private sector can do welfare and health care but they don't ensure all citizens are taken care of. I think govt involvement needs to be considered on a case by case basis. I think we need to look to other nations to see what can work. #5. The constitution should not be a barrier to social and moral progress. There is no way that people in the 18th century could predict the social and technological advancements the human race would accomplish. That said we should respect the constitution and the rights granted to individuals and the separation of powers.
Trakar
Penultimate Amazing
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2007
- Messages
- 12,637
As a progressive Republican my views are a bit different, based on your above listings:
1. Social safety nets are important in improving the lot of all, and problems are more easily and effectively dealt with on the front-end than the backside. (meddling and intrusion bad/regulation necessary/safety nets good)
2. overall taxation should be progressive.
3. Government = Public, public services should be the basis of societal infrastructure and paid for out of public funds.
4. War/military action is never desirous, and should only be engaged as the last possible resort in the face of imminent and impending or actual attack.
5. The Constitution is a living document intended more as a carrier and protector of the ideals and principles of the founding fathers than as inalterable sacred words to be strictly adhered to throughout eternity.
The only political party I've ever been registered in, is the Republican party. 40 years ago, I was still within the mainstream of the Republican party, 20 years ago I was considered moderate and to the left of most of the Republican party. Today, I am still a Republican, with the same beliefs and yet I'm considered to the left of many, if not most, Democrats.