Political Views

[nick4060]

I dont reallly like to define myself as either conservative or liberal, since people tend to use those terms for a lot of different things. I'd call myself a realist, especially concerning foreign policy/national security. I don't have very deep opinions on social issues like abortion/gay rights/etc.

I voted for McCain in '08 mainly because I thought Obama would be more Clinton-like on national security. But looking back at the last two years I have to say I was wrong.

As far as make-up of the military goes, I cant speak for active duty. But as far as cadets go, its diverse but leans towards conservative. One common trend I've noticed is that regardless of their views, cadets dont make much of an effort to be informed. Most of my friends consider themselves strong conservatives but really just take the views from their parents and make vague generalizations. They dont follow current events very closely. That seems pretty common among college students though, cadets or not.

 

[Pima]

Historically just based on republican vs democrat for national election the military make up is 70% republican and 30% democrat.

People confuse parties with social ideologies. It is possible to be a republican and still have liberal beliefs...i.e. DADT, homosexual unions, abortion, etc.

Most military members if FORCED to vote one way or another will choose Republican because the dems are weak in supporting the military.

 

[capolo13]

libertarians are the way of the new generation i can feel a shift in the air!

... oh wait we have a two party, winner take all system sigh...

I think whoever stated the worldview theory is probably right on target. It seems, in general, that Republicans tend to restrict your personal freedoms or tell you want you can and can't do at home, like abortion, or whatever. but for the most part they are into letting you do your own thing economically. Free market! Democrats tend to allow personal freedom, but like to regulate, and to tax to provide safety nets, and health care, and benefits for the disabled and the homeless and whatever else. Not saying its a positive or a negative, i'm just saying.

The military is a highly structed environment, where your personal freedoms can be restricted by the USMJ. Not even that extreme, but you HAVE to wear the uniform, shine your shoes, follow regulations. It seems that a Conservative mindset might fall more easily into this mold, or be drawn to it.

 

[js3486]

Liberalism

“Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain.”

Winston Churchill


Another key tenet of Liberalism is appeasement and I think Churchill summed it up best when he said:

“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last”


The true definition of modern liberalism is: the haunting fear that someone somewhere can take care of themselves.

One last thought, it does not take a village to raise a child it takes a village to raise an idiot.

It take some of all kinds to serve and being a patriot has no political ideology but the reality is government is not the answer to the world's problems.

I am a recovering liberal, I have been clean and sober minded for 18 years....

My apologies if my views offend you or your sensibilities, nothing personal I am just the product of my own life experiences.

 

[js3486]

I voted for McCain in '08 mainly because I thought Obama would be more Clinton-like on national security. But looking back at the last two years I have to say I was wrong.

What do you mena by that?

 

[Pima]

I was curious about that comment too.

I think people need to not look just at the President when it comes to the military. SOD is a big player in the game. Additionally, an even bigger player is the power on the Hill. And the final person that is the game player would be SOS.

IMHO, Clinton was a weak military leader because of Secretary Albright. SOD Cohen could not or would not stand ground against her. She was not a fan of the military and had no problem acknowledging it. She was against Iraq, but for Kosovo, even defending her stance after Leslie Stahl asked her about 500K children dieing under Saddam. Her power with Clinton literally tied Cohen's hands. I do think the best thing he did was to fire Gen. Clark.

 

[Zaphod]

Political views do not dictate love for country.

Perhaps, but they DO dictate how that country is to be maintained after the founding. Liberalism destroys everything this country was founded upon, including its very borders. Take a look and see what is happening all around us now.

Oh, and you'll never hear a Conservative bash someone for having the stones to serve their country and put their life on the line for it. You CANNOT say the same about liberals, who came of age spitting on soldiers and calling anyone in uniform a baby-killer.

The Clintons were famous for putting Colonels in uniform to serve finger-foods to White House guests, and the current scumbag can't be bothered to show up to Arlington on Memorial Day because he's on vacation.

 

[Luigi59]

Liberalism destroys everything this country was founded upon,

You mean basic liberal philosophies? Such as freedom from religious persecution? (1st amendment), freedom of speech and the ability to criticize the government? (1st amendment), and that radical liberal phrase from the Declaration of Independence that states:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

[LineInTheSand]

You mean basic liberal philosophies? Such as freedom from religious persecution? (1st amendment), freedom of speech and the ability to criticize the government? (1st amendment), and that radical liberal phrase from the Declaration of Independence that states:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Back in the time of limited federal government....

THOSE were the days!

 

[js3486]

The Clintons were famous for putting Colonels in uniform to serve finger-foods to White House guests, and the current scumbag can't be bothered to show up to Arlington on Memorial Day because he's on vacation.

Can you say tacky?

 

[bruno]

Perhaps, but they DO dictate how that country is to be maintained after the founding. Liberalism destroys everything this country was founded upon, including its very borders. Take a look and see what is happening all around us now.

Oh, and you'll never hear a Conservative bash someone for having the stones to serve their country and put their life on the line for it. You CANNOT say the same about liberals, who came of age spitting on soldiers and calling anyone in uniform a baby-killer.

The Clintons were famous for putting Colonels in uniform to serve finger-foods to White House guests, and the current scumbag can't be bothered to show up to Arlington on Memorial Day because he's on vacation.

Gee- do you think it's that clear cut?
Yes- the Clintons did have a rocky first couple of years with the military and Gen McAfree was insulted by some low level staffer at a White House Cocktail party (interestingly they then promoted him to Southcom and then made him the Drug Czar so I guess he didn't have too many hurt feelings).

You will find Conservatives who "had different priorities" when the draft was going on and we had a big war with 1/2 million guys deployed and 58,000 soldier boys killed. How much difference is there really between the "Chickenhawk" who never managed to find the time to serve when it was important but "supports the troops" and more importantly is responsible for them being sent off, and the protester who also avoids going but protests about the troops going at all? There were I believe about 5000 Guardsmen who were mobilized and served in Vietnam- to be a fighter pilot in the TANG in 1970 was a pretty cushy assignment eagerly sought out by anyone with connections- but if patriotism is serving the country WHEN it needs the service- how patriotic was it to fight your way into the Air Guard when there were real bullets to be fired and fired back at you? ? Conversely - I don't believe that Pat Tilman was all that conservative a guy. He gave up a multimillion dollar contract to serve- and die for his country as a Ranger.

You are right Falcon girl- political views don't dictate love for country and while the service is far more conservative than the country overall - it's not uniform and there are conservatives, liberals, and all shades in between . There are for sure very few really extreme Michael Moore liberals in the service- but the US Military is not just a wing of either the Republican party or the Tea Party.

 

[Zaphod]

You mean basic liberal philosophies? Such as freedom from religious persecution? (1st amendment), freedom of speech and the ability to criticize the government? (1st amendment), and that radical liberal phrase from the Declaration of Independence that states:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Liberalism (capital L) and liberal philosophies (small l) are antonyms. The Liberals of today would be considered tyrants by the Founders.

You want proof?

To begin with, no modern Liberal would tolerate the phrase you quoted above being included in a public document. The "Creator" is not to be mentioned. So much for freedom of speech and religion.

Modern Liberals are perfectly content to enshrine any law that deprives the most innocent among us of the chance to live. So much for the right to life.

Modern Liberals want to control every aspect of your life; what car you drive, what insurance you have, what foods you eat, who can keep and bear arms (no one), etc. So much for the right of liberty.

Modern Liberals go completely orgasmic at the thought of taxing and/or regulating ANYONE or ANYTHING that is profitable or having a good time. You make too much money, or you like your thermostat set to low, or you like to drive too much, etc. So much for the right to pursue happiness.

No, the modern Liberal is anything but liberal in their philosophies. They have bastardized that word just as they've destroyed so many others.

 

[Zaphod]

Can you say tacky?

Can you say "accurate"?

 

[Zaphod]

Gee- do you think it's that clear cut?

Pretty much.

You will find Conservatives who "had different priorities" when the draft was going on and we had a big war with 1/2 million guys deployed and 58,000 soldier boys killed.

Red herring. I never said that Conservatives were perfect. I simply said that you won't find them demeaning our Armed Forces, defunding them, calling them murderers, claiming they lost, comparing them to Phol Pot, Nazis, and the like, using them as waiters, and so on.

the US Military is not just a wing of either the Republican party or the Tea Party.

Just like the Left doesn't have a monopoly on civil rights, compassion, or empathy.

 

[mko1991]

i was surprised when my AP US history teacher, a former Captain in the US Army Rangers held liberal views (he's in his fifties, and white); affirmative action, supporter for the single pay healthcare system (he said the military has tricare, so apparently the federal government is doing its job, why not for the civilian sector), supports banking regulation and probably more left than President Barack Obama . But the one thing that was stuck in my head is that when you're in the military, Officer or Enlisted, your political views should not be above your duties as a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, or Coast Guardsmen as the Constitution was left intentionally vague for future generations to interpret it to their times.

and btw: i also consider myself a proud liberal but of course an American citizen first and just to throw it down further, I believe in the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution trumps the state laws. or else this Union would be in pieces :|

"But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it." - Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address

 

[js3486]

Can you say "accurate"?

Not disputing the Accuracy, just commenting on what I thought of those actions. I joined the Navy to get away from the man who was governor of my state for most of my life only to see him elected Commander-in-Chief a few short years later. That was painful. Lets not forget Carter a USNA grad who almost destroyed the military. So I am not saying being a liberal is counter to being a patriot but being a liberal requires a different perspective about what is right and wrong. From my observations and dealings their decisions are based more on what feels right instead of what is right. Health care is a recent and prime example.

 

[vampsoul]

I personally believe the swinging pendulum of political philosophy is what keeps this country great. No country founded on the principals of freedom and liberty should be dominated by a single political faction or philosophy. The government should always by challenged by the people, so that it remains receptive to and aware of what the people want. Sure, I have my beliefs on when the pendulum swings too far one way or the other (such as during this current administration), but that does not mean I cannot respect the people behind the philosophies who, I think at the heart of it all, are just doing what they feel is right, whether I agree with it or not.

 

[rotcdonde]

Well said, vampsoul. I agree 100%

 

[Zaphod]

Not disputing the Accuracy, just commenting on what I thought of those actions.

Dadgummit!

I KNEW I was going to misinterpret your post!

 

[Zaphod]

I personally believe the swinging pendulum of political philosophy is what keeps this country great. No country founded on the principals of freedom and liberty should be dominated by a single political faction or philosophy. The government should always by challenged by the people, so that it remains receptive to and aware of what the people want. Sure, I have my beliefs on when the pendulum swings too far one way or the other (such as during this current administration), but that does not mean I cannot respect the people behind the philosophies who, I think at the heart of it all, are just doing what they feel is right, whether I agree with it or not.

I agree.

I don't have to agree with someone 100%, so long as I am confident that they are dealing in good faith.

Sadly, I have yet to meet a Liberal who can claim that.