If you are a democrat--how would you describe your political philosophy?

[WI_DEM]

Basically I'm asking this question of the Democrats on the board.

[Sammy Pepys]

1. conservative on some things, liberal on others....

...but I'm not dogmatic about anything I believe.

[Dora]

2. This survey will tell you nothing.

It's completely subjective. One Democrat's self-professed "liberalism" is another Democrat's "moderate-ism" is another Democrat's "progressiveism" (which isn't an option in your poll).

And what of those of us who have fiscally conservative values, support gun rights AND gun control, and believe in "tax and spend" programs benefiting the social welfare of all citizens?

[WI_DEM]

3. True which is why I put "Other" category

[Nite Owl]

4. Proudly a liberal democrat

and I don't understand why people think conservatism even fiscally is a good thing. As far as economic issues it isn't conservative to balance a budget and not overspend it's just the responsible thing to do. Responsibility is something that conservatives sorely lack and I wish people would stop using the word as if it were a good thing. We need to reclaim the high ground and it is more than semantics when we use the word in a light that makes them seem the ones to be emulated.

[Jed Dilligan]

5. I think the worst outcomes arise from

people trying to be logically consistent. The Libertarians are a good example--they have some good ideas for society, but when they run up against the economy they are complete idiots. This is because they try to apply the same principles in every sphere and at every scale.

The same is true of hard-line liberals. Kudos to them for fighting corporate power and pollution, but when they simply become anti-Libertarian, like with smoking and guns, they turn into social idiots (though their economic thought is still sound.)

The answer is that there is no one answer. The worst humanitarian disasters in history have been created by people trying to implement ideological purity, be it Free Market (the "Late Victorian Holocausts"), Marxist (Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot), or nationalist (Hitler, Mussolini, Bush).

[blm]

6. I'm an anti-corruption, open government Democrat and I am throwing down against

the Coverup wing of the Democratic party.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2741678&mesg_id=2741678

[tnlefty]

7. I hear ya!!!

It's the corruption, greed that's killin' us!

[blm]

10. It's killing us, democracy, other countries, and leading us towards FASCISM.

I am through with coverup Democrats. They have started this battle with their constant attacks on and undermining of anti-corruption Democrats trying to preserve this country - not difficult for me to line up against them now and call them on their traitorous behavior.

[tnlefty]

22. Plus, we just keep getting criminals recycled through our gov't., and have

people like Henry Kissinger still appearing on the TeeVee as a statesman? :wtf: Negroponte, Mr. Death Squads, appointed as the ambassador to Iraq and now over all of the intel. agencies in our gov.t? What the hell?

I watched DemocracyNow earlier today, the replay is on now if you can watch, and Isabella Allende (I think), neice of Salvador Allende, was being interviewed. I didn't realize that she is an American citizen, but a clip was played of Pinochet's daughter basically stating that no apology was going to be forthcoming from him, that he would merely consider meeting with the families who had relatives disappeared, tortured, and possibly killed during his regime after the coup.

Ms. Allende stated that wasn't good enough. (During the break the actual footage was rolling of the tanks in the streets during the coup), and then she mentioned that the newly-elected president's father was killed by his FRIENDS in the army during the coup, and that she and her mother had been picked up and tortured by some of the same people that she now works with in the gov't.

We just don't hold officials in this country accountable for the misery they cause both here and in other countries and I'm sick of seeing the culprits getting off scott-free because it all gets covered up.

I'll try to get your back!

[blm]

32. heh - I'm just glad more people are getting how it all relates and how it all could

have been prevented with SUNSHINE and respect for citizens back in 1993.

[HereSince1628]

8. So Progressive isn't a category you 'd recognize as distinct from those?

Is Progressive a separate political entity like a Green or do you see one of those categories as the umbrella for Progressive?

[dmosh42]

9. I'm not in a 'box'

I would classify myself as fiscally conservative, socially liberal, internationally against imperialism, but strong on defense. And finally, against big corporations and CEOs, a bigger enemy than Iran or N. Korea.

[sutz12]

23. Ding! Ding! Ding!

Sort of captured my feelings very well.

So I voted moderate. ;)

[More Than A Feeling]

11. Populist

All Americans should have an equal share of the rights, and as equal a share of benefits as possible and prudent, of living in society together. Those who say they deserve more of the above by virtue of being rich, or white, or male, or religious, or politically powerful, or because they are in the media are usurping authority on illegitimate grounds. I have no patience for authoritarianism or elitism. We thought we got rid of aristocracy in America a long time ago, but it just...won't...die!

[ms liberty]

12. See my sig line! n/t

[William769]

13. Other.

Social/Liberal, Fiscal/Conservative.

[Alexander]

14. Liberal Dem with a slight libertarian bent.

For example, I think the Dems overreach on things like gun control, and I believe the Drug War should end and marijuana, at least, should be legal, taxed and regulated.

Small businesses, IMO, aren't really being helped as much as I'd like by either party - although the Dems usually give them about 50% of what they need, whereas the Republicans would only give them about 10%.

I think that taxes should be progressive, however like most other things, I think if we just enforced the tax laws on the books (read about Dukakis and REAP), the government would haul in the tax bucks without needing to raise them beyond Clinton levels.

I'm also not a fan of the "ban smoking everywhere" movement - I have long since quit smoking and I think it's disgusting, but by and large I think people should be allowed to do what they want.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Anarchist - registered Democrat.

Lesser of two evils and all that.

[ItNerd4life]

16. Fiscally conservative (responsible), socially liberal

[longship]

17. I am very liberal.

But I recognize the need for everybody to have a seat at the table, unlike those of a particular moderate organization who seem to have adopted Rovian tactics and are causing a lot of strife in the party with their attacks on certain prominent individuals.

I wish all ideological factions would realize that we govern best when we work together to find the best solutions. There's not a person to waste. Not conservative, not liberal, and not moderate.

[951-Riverside]

18. I'm nether liberal or conservative

Liberals and conservatives are very closed minded people, they stick to these set beliefs and you can never get them to go one way or the other. As for me I'm for whats right and wrong not whats right for liberalism or conservatism.

[dmallind]

19. had to go other

I'm one of the oft-maligned Blue Dog types myself. Big on fiscal restraint, modest taxation levels and regulation of free trade only to avoid direct harm such as in product safety or pollution. I agree with another poster ahead that this isn't really "conservative" even in a fiscal sense but it is sloppy shorthand speech that people understand so I'm OK using the term for my beliefs.

Socially I'm pretty darned liberal in that I have no interest whatsoever in limiting anyone's ability to live, love, recreate or procreate howsoever they choose unless it causes harm to others.

Really my underlying philosophy is moral rather than political in that I come to these positions from a universalized utilitarian of the act/rule type.

I was tempted to go "moderate" as I'm much more of a moderate/centrist than most DU posters but those terms are pretty vague indeed so a largely useless identifier.

[Raine]

20. Moderate,

some things I'm very liberal on and some things I'm conservative on so guess that makes me a moderate. Anyway I don't like labels, they're too restrictive.

[Lilith Velkor]

21. Socialist libertarian, aka anarchist

[WritingIsMyReligion]

24. Liberal nearly without bounds.

:)

[Ksec]

25. It depends on who you ask

To republics Im a Liberal.

To Liberals Im a Centrist.

To my wife Im just an asshole.

[annabanana]

26. .. radical, populist, socialist, progressive democrat here. . . n/t

[ThomWV]

27. I Call Myself A Liberal Democrat, But I'm Also A 2nd Amendment Nut

And I do not see a single bit of conflict with that. Do you?

[aikoaiko]

28. I'm really just left of center so I chose conservative democrat.

No surprise to anyone who ever noticed my posts I suppose.

[BleedingHeartRN]

29. Lefty, pinko. commie, liberal

:evilgrin:

At least in my area of the U.S. I wholeheartedly support social causes such as gay rights, equal access to healthcare and education, assistance for impoverished/oppressed/underrepresented populations, etc.

I am pro reproductive rights, for gun control, and support legislation that encourages public health and safety, such as gun control, helmet and seatbelt laws, anti-tobacco campaigns.

I'm for fiscal responsibility, including reasonable taxation of the working and middle class, and representative taxation of the rich. Most importantly, I think wealthy corporations should be heavily regulated and not receive incentives for marginal compliance. If they can pay their former CEO's million-dollar pensions, then they can pay their fair share of taxes (and fines when necessary).

I am for preservation of our environment, decreased dependency on foreign oil, and responsible campaign spending.

Most importantly, I believe in the betterment of humankind!

[stepnw1f]

30. Liberal Democrat (nt)

[MrSlayer]

31. Moderate I guess.

I swing far left on some things and far right on some others. No real place to pigeonhole me, I'm sure that I'm a Democrat though.