[Underscore]

I've always thought about this being so engaged in politics.

I grew/am growing up in a very conservatively minded household (on fiscal/money issues) and this has taught me that if you do a job, you do it to the very best of your ability. However, from growing up and education I've learnt the value of human kindness and empathy.

It's led me to advocate the idea that as long as you put the hard work in, you should be able to get any help you need to make the difference and get you a good lifestyle. It's why I resent the 'take take take' attitude of some of the citizens in this country.

I believe yes, there should be a welfare state, but no it shouldn't be a free pick and mix.

It's why not a socialist/conservative and more a liberal.

[arista]

Liberals sit on the fence,
will never get full power
in England

[LeatherTrumpet]

you either have a cake

or you eat your cake

but you canny dae both


Liberal my arse

[Oliver_W]

I lean right on most issues, but I guess trying to break down where specific views come from can be interesting...

* Flat tax rate - I've never understood how progressive tax rates are fair, as someone who earns huge amounts of money would be paying huge amounts of tax in their 20%, and that is their fair share. Neither major party really seems to advocate this, but tax hikes for the rich seems to be a left thing.

* Low immigration - this comes from environmentalism. I don't want to see the countryside destroyed and built over to make way for more people. Populations grow and change, yes, but keeping it on the low end will mean
a) less green being built over
b) less pollution
c) less negative effects from incompatible cultures

* Welfare state - I think if you want something, you should earn it. Some people are disabled and can't work, they should be looked after - duh. Obviously a safety net should exist, but not as a way of life.

* Gay marriage - I don't really care either way, but I'm leaning in support of it. It's more of "sure, why not" than "YES!" That's not really left or right though, these days.

[Underscore]

Originally Posted by arista

Liberals sit on the fence,
will never get full power
in England

Fact is, the political parties ruling England right now are liberal to some extent.

[Underscore]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

* Welfare state - I think if you want something, you should earn it. Some people are disabled and can't work, they should be looked after - duh. Obviously a safety net should exist, but not as a way of life.

Exactly how I was brought up. I was taught the value of hard work and pulling yourself up by your boot straps not relying on folk to help you out at every turn.

[Alf]

I bought mine from Argos.

[Elliot]

I’m mostly left/ far left leaning on most issues, and this mostly stems off of interactions I’ve had with people irl in school and online, which has kinda made me realise how bs certain stuff my heavily conserstive family preach. I’m not hyper political but yeah

[Underscore]

Originally Posted by Elliot

I’m mostly left/ far left leaning on most issues, and this mostly stems off of interactions I’ve had with people irl in school and online, which has kinda made me realise how bs certain stuff my heavily conserstive family preach. I’m not hyper political but yeah

See from my conservative family and left wing friends/other folk as well as my education, I've landed in a centrist kind of position

[arista]

Originally Posted by Alf

I bought mine from Argos.

What was it ?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

you either have a cake

or you eat your cake

but you canny dae both


Liberal my arse

Well you need to have a cake in order to eat it, so...

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

* Welfare state - I think if you want something, you should earn it. Some people are disabled and can't work, they should be looked after - duh. Obviously a safety net should exist, but not as a way of life.

Originally Posted by Underscore

Exactly how I was brought up. I was taught the value of hard work and pulling yourself up by your boot straps not relying on folk to help you out at every turn.

Hard work means nothing if you cannot find work or do not have the opportunities in order to help yourself.

I agree, abuse of these systems should not be tolerated, but those are a very small minority.

[LeatherTrumpet]

gay people should suffer as well


re: marriage

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

gay people should suffer

[Toy Soldier]

A combination of pragmatic logic and empathy, which is why I'm technically a centrist .

[Maru]

I can't really say family I think. We were what is considered traditional, but not in the toxic way that other people often cite. We almost never talked politics, and not that much about religion. When the Clinton scandal was going on, that's the most we mentioned it. Like I remember when Bill Clinton did that embarassing "I did not have sex with that woman"... that's one of my earliest truly "political" moments.

The only thing that was ever told me when I asked is that our family votes Democrat. From doing research now that I'm older, I'm thinking they were "bluedog" Democrats. That was the older generation of Democrat in the US. So maybe that had influence on me in a subconscious/non-aware way. I probably would still be the same, but I think the moral center has moved quite a bit left, and so it's pushed me more right. I probably have a bigger chance of joining a religion than joining either political party at this point...

I'm thinking it's the city I grew up in that set the baseline in terms of my views on economics, taxation, welfare, etc. I have a neurological condition running in my family and that affects my views on things like Disability. However, I agree with Under & Oliver about welfare. I do think the welfare "state" needs to be amended, and I do think there is better solutions in smaller governing. What we "save" there I'd rather see go into bringing back public psychiatry and the criminal justice system. As well as to putting into research for both to help tackle crime and
"generational" poverty/criminality. I was still in MD during the Recession, and Houston did quite well relatively speaking. We were struggling with the high cost-of-living while I was college there, so that definitely affected my views on taxation/subsidization.

Education as well to some degree, particularly civics which I was lucky to have good professors in TX as well as a good AP program in HS (Honors). I didn't really become politically "aware" of myself though until Obama's first campaign. I just knew my stances on the main issues and voted as an Independent during general elections. I didn't started voting in primaries (candidate selection) until Obama's 2nd term.

I would say it's a culmination of factors. Circumstantial events in my life and evidence-based.

[bitontheslide]

My political philosophy is my own, shaped through all the years I have lived. I don't shape my opinions like a sheep on what political parties put forward, I shape my opinions on what I think is right