wilkes

nixon was a super-shady character no doubt

Personally, I'm a 1966-model Harry S Truman; (May 08, 1884-Dec 26, 1972) moderate; FWIW, Harry once referred to Nixon as a shifty-eyed liar who shouldn't be trusted.

i agree GW. ....i think libertarian is the way forward but people will have to get so sick of one party or the other before a libertarian would ever have a chance.

pollock-- i agree.....alot of people consider themselves libertarian, including myself, but they vote republican or democrat because a libertarian has no chance of winning, so we end up voting as you said for "the lesser of two evils" just to keep the most evil one out of office.

The problem with that idea ( but I do agree with you ) is the R or the D beside the candidates name.

Lets say just for example, that I like what a unaffiliated/libertartian has to say and what they stand for. but kinda like what the R has say and not like anything the D has to say. ( please not just a example ) I then vote for the Lbertarian , he or she does not win because historically they don't ( not always the case ) and then the D wins with one vote.

That is what the third party usually does it trough's the vote. is it nice to have a third choice? Yes but did I get the person I really wanted win no, will my second option win no. So my vote really counted for nothing.

let me frame the conversation a little better. this was kind of a social experiment just for my own curiosity.

Ok the problem with this thread is that it has too many topics.

When one poster for example wants to talk about environmental things, another poster brings up religion.

There is too many talking points to discus in one thread. And when you get someone riled up on thing he or she does not get to make there point and discus it.

This is not helping solve the problems. If we throw everything in a bowl and mix it up nobody gets anything out of it.

Shouldawoulda, lets take religion out of the equation and then respond to your statement. Do you think anybody cares who or what uses the stall beside them for their intended purpose? Back in the 90’s when Florida tourists were being mugged and murdered, NC put law enforcement in the rest areas to protect the tourism. There was very few women of the night but all different kinds of men from stages of undress to wearing dresses and they were not there to “use” the bathroom. The last time I checked, North Carolina had more Democrats than Republicans but didn’t the voters pass that marriage was between a man and a woman. Who decides what statutes come down? Everybody is offended by something. Atheists offended by Christian flags and holidays, vegetarians by meat eaters, environmentalists by oil companies, and I can go on and on. I thought education was the best way to defeat racism, not to hide it and not talk about it. It is the Democrat party than has changed their position on abortion. It has went from the first three months to partial birth to the Virginia governor who happen to be a doctor saying we will deliver the baby and make it comfortable and then decide. That is murder no matter where you live and I don’t know of any society that lasted involved in human sacrifice. I agree the 90’s liberal is now the GOP and the GOP is the old democrat party.

Good point. Concerns over deficits and debt, for instance, don’t last long under a Republican administration. I suppose those particular drums will be beat again closer to the next election.

There are a lot of issues that I could address on this thread but I think I'll just answer the original OP.

"Do any of you who've traditionally viewed yourselves as liberal now identify as moderate, libertarian, or conservative because you're sick of how radicalized the left has become?"

I've always been a left leaning liberal but I do find myself leaning more towards libertarianism! But not because of the radicalization of the left ... The right has become just as radicalized! ... I just have always felt both the Democrat and Republican party has too many flaws for me to support. But I don't really support libertarians either. I mean I vote, but it always feels like I'm just picking the lesser of two evils.

"And to the staunch liberals, are there any liberal policies/ideologies that you don't agree with?"

I'm not particularly keen on the use of the word cisgender. It hasn't reached Wilkes yet but is gaining traction in more liberal places like Boone, for example. I just don't see the need for all the "extra labels" like you are painting yourself in a box.

"Are there any non-left policies/ideologies that you DO agree with?"

Sure, I'm reasonable and can compromise and can see past the D or R label. However a lot of these ideologies aren't actually being carried out! Like how conservatives pretend to be fiscally responsible yet continually wasteful spend so much money on the war machine (military.)

Thank you, Pollock.

Honestly no one so far has been able to tell me - specifically - what I got wrong in my 8:34 post, which, I guess, tells me all I need to know.

Shoulda, no you are not wrong.

You’re wrong in that you try to suggest that one is worse than the other.

Just having an honest discussion.

Feel free to join in if you can.

Don't say we didn't try to tell you the bridge is out.

But I’m not wrong, am I?

The left has no room to criticize anyone over trying to keep the populace in check. The left has become the thought police.

It would be nice if conservatives truly believed in keeping government from intruding in the private lives of citizens. Unfortunately, the right long ago embraced religious and social extremists who want to use government as a hammer to keep the populace (especially certain members of the populace) in “check.” Which, let’s be honest, oppression is always the main goal of any organized religion.

So conservatives pass inane “bathroom bills,” try to inexplicably tell certain people they can’t get married, turn a blind eye to deficiencies in pay for certain groups, keep statutes up commemorating literal traitors to America to appease racists, and want to control a woman’s medical decisions. I mean, those are just the first five I can think of.

Luckily, progressive ideas always win in the end. There are big, ugly, orange bumps in the road sometimes, but progressive ideas always win.

the environmental thing is one of the good things i kept from hippy culture....it's just that back then, i really didn't understand fully why i felt that way other than that it just felt right. Now i understand that there's some good science to it.....like i said before though, my view of the problem and solution is radically different from mainstream environmentalism.

60s hippy here, for clean water and air but not a tree hugger. For tattoos on men and ear rings on women, men stand and women squat. For work, not welfare. Social services and food stamps should be the safety net not a hammock. No white privilege here, just hard work and reasonably clean living. Against abortion , perverts, socialism, for marriage between a man and a woman only. Pro second amendment but against AK type assault weapons. Oppose bump stocks and 30 round clips. Pro police, military, and against legalizing drugs.