Where do you feel you stand politically?

[sunnyside]

I was just thinking about a number of the discussions I've had here, and it always seems like I'm taking what could be considered a conservative side.

However I don't think of myself as a conservative. In practice I'm a split ticket voter, and, while not without some reservations, I have always supported the Democrat in presidential elections, though I seem to lean a bit more Republican in local positions.

In any case while I'm not sure "moderate" is how I would describe myself I seem to be about the center of US politics, and I like to think I bring an open mind to issues.

Anyway so I got to wondering about the rest of you. Some of you may belong to political parties or philosophies I haven't even heard of. And I'm also curious how you feel you fit into the political spectrum of your own country. A liberal in one country may well be considered conservative to someone from a different country, or things might not even be measured along such an axis.

[Sionnach Glic]

In terms of European politics, I'm fairly left-leaning. I might term myself a socialist of sorts, but not as far left as most. A diet socialist, I suppose.

Of course, in terms of US politics I'm practicaly a commie.

[Lazar]

I'm a pretty solid leftist by American standards. I identify myself as a social liberal, as in a synthesis of socialism and liberalism.

[Mikey]

I consider myself a moderate liberal. American, that is - by European standards, that probably counts as Francisco Franco.

[Nickswitz]

I'm pretty liberal in almost all my thinking, but I'm almost always one or the other, not near the middle on any issues.

[Captain Seafort]

I'm pretty right-wing by UK standards, even more so by general European standards.

By US standards, as has been pointed out, the fact that I'm a strong supporter of the NHS in concept if not in the finer details puts me pretty much on the left wing of the Democrats.

[Tyyr]

Solidly conservative/rightwing.

[Mikey]

Solidly conservative/rightwing.

No joke?

[Tyyr]

Shocking isn't it?

[stitch626]

I guess I'd be liberal... most of the time.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

I'll get back to you when I figure out the difference between the two.

[Teaos]

I'm a real mix, I'm solidly libratarian when it comes to land ownership and what I do to my own body, its none of the governments business what I choose to put in my body or do on my property.

And while I do believe in low taxes as a rule and personal responcibility in financial matters I also understand that as a society we do need to take care of the whole and thus I do support limited public healthcare and education ect.

[Nickswitz]

Um... Basically Liberal is for more rights and conservative is for more restrictions... Is that a basic explanation of the 2?

[Captain Seafort]

Um... Basically Liberal is for more rights and conservative is for more restrictions... Is that a basic explanation of the 2?

Not quite. Economically, conservatism and liberalism are synonyms - basically the fewer restrictions on commerce the better. This causes problems if taken to extremes, as is currently being demonstrated.

Socially, it depends on the subject and the individual, and varies hugely depending on how people define "conservatism" and "liberalism".

[Lt. Staplic]

I'm pretty moderate in US tearms, idk what I'd be European system (probably conservative though, since the US is very conservative based on European standards IIRC)