Just curious, Kirk, were you raised on the left or just brought to it in your youth? My family are proud Democrats, but we didn't really talk much politics and I had no idea what the conclusions of either platform really were... though I think they were blue collar democrats more than the "socialist" variety. My family is still very traditional.
I think you and I would get along just fine, Oliver
I don't have as many issues with immigration here as other folk might. Many of my friends are either first or second generation Americans, but... it's not tenable to continue with the influx we do have. I don't think it is preventable though the way that politicians promise? And with as significant of a border we do have with Mexico for example, I think the issue is more the crime and the drug wars that are coming over... for example, we had a huge problem 5-10 years back with cartel violence entering into Texas and it was considered dangerous to go into particular parts of Mexico or near certain parts of the border where the cartels sort of "ran" things.
I do think that for what we have in large borders, we do sit between oceans... and unlike the UK, we don't have to deal with as many different types of inputs from regions. There's a paywall effectively with dealing with the US geographically... like, you'd need to jump on a plane or build a ship or something to get here to bring any sort of issues. So I think, of the immigration issues... we have it much easier than those in Europe where many more factors come into play. Whereas the US really only has to worry about two countries ...and neither are particularly bad neighbors tbqh... both countries are great neighbors and wonderful allies to have imo
But yeah, I don't know that the wall will be effectively, but we absolutely do need to start enforcing our immigration laws... open borders and sanctuary states are not tenable for the long-term.
And yes, a flat tax and a much more simplified (and yet robust) tax code without all the bells and whistles ftw.
What is allegiance? I think "Pledge of Allegiance" when I read that term...
I think a lot of people are noticing what you mention about the left. I don't think of it as a right-leaning idea that people generally don't want to lumped into categories. We grew up in the generation of non-conformity and eschewing group labels... so it's a bit of a whiplash to have it shift a totally different direction.
I don't think we've seen genuine austerity measures in the US for a long time. I would like to see some cuts, but in sensible areas, like types of welfare that only increase the deficit and encourage endless child bearing... single motherhood shouldn't be something that is
profitable, but sadly it is more-so than other forms of social welfare... disability (SSI), etc though, they are not paid anywhere near a living wage and contributes to homelessness, as well as the lack of proper mental health care. And while being recipients they are eligible for different types of housing... but still, who wants to live in a roach infested drug den and with all it's associated drama? Most people who are making it "OK" on disability often have a relative to live with... but not all do obviously. Actually, I think people on disability should be allowed the option to work a small amount and maybe encouraged if it's a certain type of job where little a warm body and some attention is all that's needed, so as to allow them some level of emotional comfort and physical independence (mainly the emotional benefits)... if they are at all capable. Not all disabled folk are 100% disabled, and that's pretty much the clearance for acquiring welfare... there's a difference between not being 100% independent, but then being so physically disabled that without help, they would not be able to survive by their own means... there was a period in my life I was very sick, that it became an option a good friend who was a disability lawyer said he could help me get through the application process pro-bono... but the idea of restricting myself from being able to work or contribute at all was soul-crushing... and to go through that process, I could never go back to work or I would likely be denied care entirely even if it something did change later again where I was even worse off... the system here is quite sensitive to any suggestion you are even slightly capable of working to maintain an income. That would be a major red flag to the judge in charge of the appeals process (just about guaranteed you will have to appeal), so yeah...
Sounds like you are a maybe an independent. But, do you have firm beliefs on policy? Not necessarily social issues, but things like the economy I think is what squares most folk into either camp... like on the left, they would favor more distribution of wealth and higher govt resources and regulation, whereas right, those folk are more towards the spectrum of financial independence and limited govt... limited govt there though would seem to differ from what would be proposed here? Especially with something like the EU in the picture.