Thanks, Charles. There is probably a lot of folks in your camp. In the current environment, do you consider yourself fairly moderate overall when considering policies or platforms of “both” sides? In the current environment I consider myself right-wing, not on the right-fringe mind you. I think I’ve been left of center occasionally in the past but I’m pretty much, as I said, more to the right.
jeebling wrote:
i actually consider myself left of center but by no means an extremist.
for example - i fully support LGBTQ+ rights and believe they should have every right afforded anyone else when it comes to marriage, Family Planning, equality, protections against discriminations etc... i do find myself often not agreeing with medical procedures related to trans individuals that are minors though which many on the left seem ok with however, i tend to defer to the medical professionals for these types of things as i have no knowledge or training on the matter.
I believe in the second Amendment and the right it affords us in this country to own and posses firearms... i also believe that some restrictions on this meant to protect the citizenry at large is a good thing...
I believe that birth right citizenship should remain and that those that may have been brought into the country illegally as small children with no knowledge of the crime and that have never known anywhere else to be home (especially those that have reached adult hood) or "dreamers" as they are often called, should be allowed to remain with an expedited path to citizen ship while i also believe that we should not have an "Open Border" and must do more to protect our nation. but, i also think we should process asylum seekers more quickly and with more compassion then the "right" seems to be interested in...
i believe the last election was won legitimately and the claims that it was "stolen" are such a joke that i refuse to even debate it any further...
I believe any and all statues erected, streets or schools names for and the like of confederate "heroes" built between the 1890s and 1960s, which matches up exactly with the era of Jim Crow segregation should be changed and or moved to museums/historical parks.
i believe the confederate flag has nothing to do with heritage and is should not be flown in the US... they didn't want to be part of this country and thus were traitors... those that claim it is "heritage" are idiots considering all the things in life that lasted longer then the confederacy and yet are not considered "heritage" and no one flys a flag know to be associated with hate groups for those things.
i am able to separate the BLM movement for which i believe is/was valid from the BLM "Group" which has been proven to not be a good thing...
i believe police should be held accountable for the many violations of citizens rights, brutality, and undeniable bias toward minorities... but, i also believe that as a whole, the police try to do the right thing and should not be "defunded". that being said, they also should not have tanks and other weapons typically used by the limitary...
as someone that has served this country in a civilian role for well over 20 years, 15 of that over seas in several countries and has spent decades on and around military bases i fully support our troops and believe they should be treated better both while active and as veterans. The VA needs more funding and support. i am also tired of the endless wars we continue to fight on the behalf of others and in some cases solely for $$$ but believe we have a duty to stand with our allies and held defend them against tyrants.
I am personally, anti abortion and would never advocate for an abortion of my own child, grand child or anyone else... but, i also support a women's right to choose and believe medical decisions should be left to the women and her Dr. not a politician... not allowing abortion in the case of incest, rape, or medical necessity is just as barbaric as the act of abortion itself.
i am an Athiest, that believes you have the right to worship and believe anything you want about a bearded sky wizard or any other deity but this nation is not and was never meant to be ruled by religion. god should not have been added to our money in the 50s, should not be part of our "pledge of allegiance" and has no place in any government buildings.
this is just a short list of the things that i believe make me "left of center" but could go on, some of my believes would get me lambasted by the left and certainly dragged by a lynch mob of the right... i have had both sides tell me how wrong i am, i have been called a race traitor and "**** lover" by trump supporters and have been called an apologist by extremists on the left when discussing some of the above...
and for those that i know will jump at the chance in this thread, i have no interest in debating any of my beliefs above so don't bother...