How do you define your political views and why?

[Mandy]

What is your political party affiliation, how do you describe yourself, ie a conservative Republican, or a liberal Democrat and why? What views do you have that support you belonging to your party?

[Zardoz]

Independent liberal, I believe in personal liberty.

[olcaykar-turkey]

political scientist. I like idealism

[justagirl]

I'm a registered Independent. I try to look at each issue individually and make my decision based on the infromation I gather. Sometimes that falls on the liberal side, sometimes conservative. Sometimes neither. I try to be a free thinker.

[jim t]

liberal democrat. I base it on kindness and compassion, and I have personally seen what extreme poverty can do. ( I lived in the Phillipines for a year). I also visited Russia while it was still communist so I know what it's like to have a paranoid "security minded" govt who fears their own citizens as much as outsiders. I'm not neceassrily pro "big Government" but it's better than "Big Brother"

[Chainsaw]

Conservative. I align myself with Republicans because they are most aligned with my values.

I believe in the 3 components of conservatism

Social-against abortion. Support marriage between 1 man and 1 woman.

Fiscal-I believe in free markets because they work. I have run businesses for years and when business makes money and the government stays out, the economy does well.

Defense-I am furious at illegal immigration. I am sick of rights being given to terrorists. Terrorists are our enemies. Use force to destroy them.

Republicans used to support these as a party. The elites have taken over and sell out these principles.

The 2008 platform includes 4 components.

1. Limited government-get government out of our lives. I do not need a bureaucrat to tell me how to run my life, retirement, health care, etc.

2. Strong National Defense-close the borders, take the jobs from illegals and they will leave. Use force to defeat our enemy.

3. Lowering taxes-cut tax rates and allow individuals to keep money in the economy.

4. Personal responsibility-initiative is the key to success. Dependence on the government is the key to poverty.

I believe in all 4. Many elected officials in our party do not.

[Darth Scorn]

I'm a Libertarian. I tend to vote republican because, more often than not, they have similar views to mine.

I believe in lower taxes. I see the ridiculous government spending and it needs to stop. I clearly remember the Pentagon paying $50,000 for a hammer and $10 for nails. While this is an exceptional instance, government agencies have a similar mentality.

I want the government to do less for me and intrude less. Let me do things for myself. I don't need you to buy my health care, I don't need you to tell me what not to eat, I don't need you to tell me not to smoke.

I don't think it's the government's responsibility to protect us for ourselves. If we want to make self destructive choices to not wear seat belts, or to drink, or to do crack that should be on our heads.

I do want the government to protect us from external threats. I do want the government to protect us from foreign countries that wish us harm, and I do want the government to police internal criminals.

With the exception of rape, incest, medical issues and things of that nature, I'm opposed to abortion. The fetus is growing with in it's mother and is completly at her mercy. I'm sure it doesn't want to die. The only way that a pro-choice stance makes sense to me is if the fetus isn't human. So far I have not heard a complelling argument of that.

I think citizens have the right to have and bear arms. Places with gun bans like Chicago and D.C. seem to support the stance that gun bans do not work, because criminals (by definition) do not obey the law. If a citizen was armed, the criminal would think twice about commiting a crime at them, or be shot and be unable to commit crimes.

If homosexuals want to be married or have a similar state, I don't care. I don't see why that needs to be restricted.

[grumpyoldman]

Moderate Democrat. Although I am pro-life, pro gun, pro death penalty, anti gay marriage, I am also pro-social programs, anti corporate welfare, anti tax cuts for the rich and businesses, because the reasons for them do not accomplish what they are designed to do. I believe in capitalism to an extent but not enough to allow obvious monopolies like big oil and Pharmaceuticals to gouge people when it effects the necessities of life. Bottom line, I disagree with conservative economics more than I agree with their morals. They affect the lives of me and my family more.

[T K]

I belong to the Veterans' Party, but don't vote.

I believe that the only person who SHOULD govern me is me.