Weak reasoning erks me, and politics is full of it.

I’m pragmatic. That’s a label I accept.

LOL.

That is a mighty thin tightrope that you are walking there…and I think you enjoy it as you (from what I have seen on Conservative-leaning blogs)tend to play devil’s advocate when you comment. That’s cool.

(me)At the end of the day, people are still people.

(you)True, but I would like that to be at the start of the day and during the “political” conversations, especially for Blacks.

Actually, people need to learn how to A. acknowledge the diversity of thought and B. don’t take it so daggone personal in political discussions as evident (for example) in the plantation vs. sellout refernces that WE love to use.

Hey, I live in a state full of and ran by Liberals, yet I enjoy living here. If I lived in places like the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, “middle America”, and any other “Conservative” region, I would suffocate.

At the end of the day, people are still people.

True, but I would like that to be at the start of the day and during the “political” conversations, especially for Blacks.

When I tutored in D.C., someone told me there were people from the NAACP and Urban League involved. But I didn’t know who they were. We were all just people.

Then you should remember I did it when people wanted to label me a Republican or conservative because I blasted Clinton, said “Thomas was winning” the rhetorical war, and Democrats weren’t friends of Black people.

I don’t know what my leaning is:

I believe in the right to own a gun, but I think gun registration is a good idea.

I believe in family and that stable and “good” families are the core of great and productive societies. But I don’t label that belief as conservative or liberal.

I believe in the rule of law, but I think the law should be applied equally and fairly. I don’t like mandatory minimums but if they are in place, instead of trying to get rid of them, get people to abide by the law. (I’m thinking about drug slinging).

I think government is too much a part of our lives, directly and indirectly. For example, there is no good reason for the existence of the SBA if you believe in “survival of the fitest.”

I believe in capitalism as it is practiced in the U.S., but the U.S. version of capitalism is actually regulated, ie, restrained capitalism.

I think education is the true and surest way of getting the foundation that is needed to build a “comfortable” life.

Strike that, make it the 2nd, the first is faith.

But neither education nor faith are conservative or liberal values.

There is an important party aspect though (at least in states like PA that allow one to vote in a primary only for their party affiliation).

Come primary time, these fence-sitters can’t vote. Their voices aren’t heard in who gets on the November ballot. They think it shows that they don’t support party positions totally, I think it is silly, and that they are dis-enfranchising themselves.

Let me take a shot at Darkstar’s #4.

I have a theory of circularity. Like the world, everything is round. As one moves away from the true middle ground in the front in either direction, positions become harder. At the back, where the circle meets, the difference between left- and right-wing again merges. Both are so whacky that they become indistinguishable. Radicals meet reactionaries. Nutty Jihad Muslims and crazy Christian fundamentalists; Nazis and Zionists are one.

But most of us operate in the front of the circle where black and white become gray. There is no bright line of separation. Both sides want less crime, better schools, etc, and the difference is how to get it done. No thinking person on the front end of the circle can get nailed into place. He or she moves a little right or left depending on the issue.

OK, off my soapbox.

PS, Saudia – I KNEW I liked you.

Before I answer your questions, tell me what you think you are: Liberal-leaning or Conservative-leaning? From time to time you pose this question and now I think its time you answer it. Weather or not you want to accept it or not is up to you, but the political world is basically divided into these two sorry camps. Although it is true that all people do not 100% grasp the ideologies, the proclivities to either side are in everybody. For me, this is not about stamping a particular label on anybody–this is about finding out why is it so hard for people like yourself to declare what you are while at the same time finding it easy (and for some, enjoyable) to play the role of a rogue sniper.

Shay (bookerrising) referred to you as a moderate-liberal and unless I am mistaken, I don’t recall you challenging her on that. So why all the list of questions now?

No, this whole game of “guess what I am” is something you have been doing for years. I remember how you used to do this same thing on SCAA back in the day and it still has remained the same.

Up until recently, I used to echo the sentiments of so may people that tags like Conservative or Liberal should be tossed. Today I am starting to think differently. I think that if one has proclivities to a certain ideology, then they feel free to say it. For example, those who tend to be Liberal but don’t fully acknowledge it for whatever reason now refer to themselves as “Progressives”. Please tell me what that means? Same goes for Conservatives that play the same game. Again, I know that people in general are a lot bigger than these “titles”, but in the world of politics there are just two wings.

Can a person like some on both sides? I think so. But straight down the middle? No. I have yet to meet such an individual.

For me, based on my values the political world defines me as a Conservative. I’m fine with that. For others it may be Liberal. That’s cool as well. I just personally make it a point to leave the labels where they belong–in political discussion. At the end of the day, people are still people.