How do you define your politics? A personal quandry.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

I'm a Social Democrat, have been since I was old enough to think about these things, and I hope to always be morally socialist, economically liberal and socially radical. What bothers me is that I am ferociously anti-right more than anything. I find myself wondering which matters more to me, to further my beliefs or to destroy my enemies. I won't settle with winning elections, I take personal affront at the idea of parties such as the (current) Republican Party and the Canadian Alliance, and the fact that a lot of people vote for them. This must be a form of mania, and I feel a little ashamed that I have become like this (but not that much). I don't mind the idea of right-wing parties, mainstream centre-right parties such as the Canadian PC's are perfectly acceptable, but the 'real' right-wing parties bring this out in me. It's personal, although I get the feeling they think of me and people like me in the same way, they want to crush us.

So, what do you think, am I psychotic, or is there anyone else wrestling with this demon?

[LSatyl]

1. Boy, small daemon you have there :-)

I take personal affront at the idea of parties such as the (current) Republican Party and the Canadian Alliance

I take personal affront at the stupidity of my fellow man: being so ignorant that they cannot even see that they are ignorant. Spouting black and white solutions, when all problems are complex. Seeking a scape goat in stead of looking in the mirror. Whine about "feeling insecure" while half the world burns. Pretend to be Christian, while advocating the death penalty. Name themselves compassionate, while they steal the bread from the mouths of the poor.

To be pissed at the institutions (their parties, their companies), is to fall for their smoke and mirrors. No, I'll hate my fellow man, and be thankfull that the Daemon burns strong inside.

To quote Machinehead:

From anger comes a courage, the strength from injustice,
a way to overcome this all: an open mind, with a closed fist.

[schultzee]

2. I used to be moderate and after Reagan I became a flaming liberal

and now after the Bushes ( no. 1 and no. 2) I consider myself a socialist on the style of Sweaden. I would like to see all republicans deported to Latin America where their brand of Corportism is widely practiced.

[SharonAnn]

3. Hmm, I can relate to that. I thought I was a moderate Republican

but when they went right-wing, fundamentalist on me I realized that I couldn't be since there was no such thing as a moderate Republican.

So, for years I called myself Independent since I didn't have time to research much and I only knew what I wasn't, not what I was.
\
Finally I figured out that I'm a Democrat, somewhat moderate and somewhat to the left.

[Cleita]

4. South America has enough problems without adding

them. How about putting them on some of those mothballed aircraft carriers and let them wander the seven seas forever like the Flying Dutchman?

[onebigbadwulf]

5. 100% Socialist

Anti-religion

[Selwynn]

6. I'd rather be known for what I'm for than for everything I'm against.

To me it just doesn't take much of a human being to simply sit around and be furiously angry and everything he or she is against, to let that disagreement turn into a festering and blinding hatred which, regardless of just cause, keeps a person from making better use of his or her life.

Sure part of being pro-active about ideas includes criticism of ideas and positions that are wrong headed. But when the focus shifts from criticism to serve the expression of the ideas to criticism fueled by hatred and obsession with being "anti" someone else, I believe the important beauty of a positive message of hope gets utterly lost.

Everybody gets mad at people who seem to represent the absolute opposite of goodness (usually in the name of goodness too) on so many issues. But there's a difference between always turning that anger back towards positive and pro-active expression of our own ideas, and allowing that anger to become an obsession in which our own rage against the "other guys" is all consuming and more important to us than actually working for any meaningful change.

So that's why I say I'd rather been known for what I'm for than everything I'm against. :)

[Scott Lee]

7. A New Left Red. Through and through.

* Pro Union (IWW member)

* Anti-military hegemonism (opposing the military as mercenary force for big business)

* Pro Feminist, Pro Indigenous Identity and Tribal/Socialist movements (like the Zapatista), Pro Gay Rights.

* Pro firearms

[Cat Atomic]

8. I'm for a social safety net, and for moving power downwards towards

the population and away from concentrated corporate interests. I'm for spending money on infrastructure and public services rather than the military machine.

Call that whatever you want. I suppose I'm probably some breed of socialist/anarchist by today's standards.