I've heard it said that when people are young, they're liberal and vote Democrat. When they age, they are more conservative and may vote Republican. Personally, I'm 78 and I've always been a Democrat and will probably die as one. I am a little left of center when it comes to social issues ad a little right of center when it comes to money issues. I believe that there are more folks who are centrists than on either extreme.
I believe that as I gain more empathy, I become more liberal. The more we help others succeed, the better off everyone becomes. But, I know some older people who feel that they worked for what they have and believe that giving others a helping hand is unfair and takes away from their ability to prosper. This is why the US is on its way to becoming a plutocracy, in my opinion.
I believe that everyone should have the same opportunities to make a good life for themselves. To that end, providing a good basic education and the opportunity to go further is important. What I don't believe we should be doing is giving people endless years of welfare unless they are old or physically/mentally infirm an cannot fend for themselves. We do no one any favor by fully supporting them rather than saying, you go out and get a job. If you need $200 a week to make ends meet and you can only earn $150, we'll provide the additional $50. The way it is now, welfare recipients can't earn much and still keep their benefits. This takes away all incentive for them to work. President Clinton enacted legislation that provided welfare for a maximum of 5 years and that was the lifetime cap. I know several Russian immigrants that lived in my development who used that time and those funds to learn English, find a good job, hone their skills and qualify for any licenses they may have had in their home countries so they could ply that trade or profession in the states. Then the next Congress repealed that.
"If a man isn't a socialist at the age of twenty, he has no heart. If he isn't a conservative by the age of fifty, he has no brain." - Winston Churchill
I disagree. Memory is a function of the brain. I remember why I was a socialist in my youth ... and nothing has changed. However, middle-age is sometimes described as the age at which a broad mind and a narrow waist switch places.
Cool sayings. The way I look at it, it is the human imperative or multiple factors telling people covertly what to do because things change and so do values. I agree with your assessment of the situation. What I don't accord with is an Independent. A wasted vote. Is that Princess Diana way to the in seated right?
This post was edited by CosmicWunderkind at April 20, 2024 11:12 PM MDT
An independent is fine provided that their policies are sound. In Australia, the Liberal Party (a misnomer, they're our major conservative party in coalition with the National Party who dominate rural seats) were reduced to a rump at the last federal election. They lost a LOT of traditionally LNP seats to conservative independents, who are fiscally and socially conservative but saw the Party as having lost touch - and the electorate by and large agreed with them, including many to whom voting Liberal had been part of their religion. Labor won by a landslide - and I became acquainted with the now Prime Minister over thirty years ago when we were both students. He was very kind to me, a lost kid, and I've never forgotten that. I can't say I know him now - politics will have changed him and I don't know by how much.
This post was edited by Slartibartfast at April 21, 2024 8:40 AM MDT
My laurels have been shook and I'm honored to be included in your transmogrifying annulment..ahh philosophically , what is a saying for when "life is being caught"? I have to study this about 3 times slowly to digest this dollop of information. I have reduced myself by my laurel canons at this point to find a very serious British detective movie. I read Prince Harry. I loved it. My first Barnes and Noble pick. Harry can write. Is Scottish about the same as British because Wishbone Ash was progressive to a fault. LNP means..local national parliament? Oh.National Liberal Party. I pride myself for asking for a job at the local Chamber Of Commerce. Am I really a bumbling schwab?
This post was edited by CosmicWunderkind at April 20, 2024 11:59 PM MDT
Spunky 