Split between left and right

[Anti-Racism]

Hi, I'm Anti-Racism. I'm split between left and right. On the left, I'm a big fan of Earth First and other environmental groups. On the right, I think H.L. Mencken was the last good conservative. My political views confuse most people but I think they're more realistic than anything I hear on the radio, see on TV, or read in a newspaper.

I teach logic, debate, writing and History at the local HS. Been doing it for about a decade now and like it. My class is apolitical in that my students have no idea how I think. That seems fair to me, even though I know they'd like to know. They have to figure their own paths.

[Labrocca]

I like your stance Anti-Racism. I feel very left mostly on environment, energy and some other issues as well but I currently don't like the leftist power base right now. They scare me a lot more than the right-wingers. Not sure though what the 2008 Presidential election will bring though.


Glad to have you aboard and welcome to Democracy Forums.

-Jesse

[sbannon]

I think this thread displays a more honest glance at where the majority of Americans live and think than you'll ever find on television or radio. The media lives on ad revenue, which requires high and active viewing/listening numbers. The easiest way to get that is to lean extreme left or right, sort of a divide and conquer programming strategy. By staying heated and controversial they keep those who support their ideas tuning in, and get those who oppose them to tune in and debate as well.

But most folks I know actually agree with the left on some issues and the right on others. I do it myself (though some here may not agree or believe it), but I'm more right than left on issues of gun ownership for example. I sided with the Oil industry when Congress was debating imposing special taxes or penalties for their record profits--though I suppose this was more of a Republican vs. Democrat debate than right vs. left. Point is I'm a liberal Democrat who gives credit and merit to some Republican and conservative ideas that make more sense to me than the opposition's. I believe I'm more of the norm than an anomaly among my peers in that respect, and I believe that the majority of conservative Republicans in America feel the same with regards to some Democrat or liberal ideas as well.

If you think about it, it's why politicians do the opposite of TV and radio show hosts in election campaigns. Politicians know they have the extreme supporters, so they have to center their campaign rhetoric to energize and gain support from the middle. Unlike the media which needs to sustain it's demographic numbers constantly to sell ad time, politicians only need your support until election day.

Great topic, I hope others chime in on this one.

[Mayberry]

Well here's my 2 cents worth. I think Sbannon's right (egads!) in that a lot of Americans are on the fence between far left and right, myself included. The media drives me nuts with their flame fanning and I tune them out for the most part, though I do like a few conservative radio hosts, mostly Boortz because I like the fair tax, and Michael Savage because he cracks me up. More people should be like Savage, who gives a damn what people think of me. So anyway, I'm in the middle on environmental issues, as in use the Earth responsibly. I'm desperately for energy independence. Basically Libertarian on economical and social issues (with a few exceptions, as you all know). And I'm all for small, limited government. Anti, I liked the link to the Corrupt web site, lots of very interesting and thought provoking stuff there, most of which I agree with, and mostly what I live by. I always feel like the odd man out because basically if it is popular, I don't like it. I've always been that way. I see people that have to follow every trend, buy every new widget, wear the right clothes, etc. as robots. So now I know I'm not alone. Anyway, welcome and looking forward to your posts.

[firefox]

Maybe you are actually libertarian and you don't know it! Check out The World's Smallest Political Quiz (http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz).

[lily]

Welcome Anti-Racism! Read a few of your posts and look forward to reading more.

[wonder cow]

welcome.

[Anti-Racism]

Thanks all! Interesting place.