To The Left, Quick March

Now, I know the name of this blog makes people think I'm liberal.  And I am, on many issues, but I'm conservative on plenty; and I'm not far-left on the majority of issues.  I know, I know, Ronald Reagan is now considered a socialist apostate by "true conservatives," so even if I was to the right of him I'd be considered a liberal.  But I consider myself a slightly-left-leaning moderate, and an independent voter.  I research all the candidates, and all the arguments for issues, before deciding.  I hate party-line voting, and those little flyers with all the candidates for a particular party.  I like it when politicians, on either side, go against the "true believers" once in awhile.  I like talking to people who actually think about issues, and have nuanced views, and are aware that there can be multiple "right" ways of looking at things.

I'd be more conservative if the conservatives were more reasonable, more fact-based.  The crazier mainstream conservatives get, the more I lean left.  The fact that Donald Trump is considered a viable Republican candidate says something about where conservatives stand right now.  Obama and Clinton are moderates, which is obvious when you watch what they say and do.  That they are considered screaming liberals by conservatives says something about how far the right has moved over the last few decades.

Here's where I stand on a few issues.  Again, definitely left-leaning, but overall still moderate.

Abortion- It should be safe, legal, and rare.  I don't think anyone wants more abortions.  But to say that it should be illegal even in cases of rape, incest, or threats to the mother's health is as abhorrent to me as, say, China's old one-child policy.  There is a middle ground, and it is roughly where we are now, with legal abortion but also plenty of sex ed and contraception available so that there are as few as possible.  Of course, Republicans want to get rid of sex ed and contraception, so, hm...

Environment- I am glad that we are (slowly) moving toward renewable power.  We have a long way to go, and in the meantime we need to use oil, coal, and nuclear power to get by.  But subsidies for those dirty forms of energy should be gradually reduced, as we increase subsidies for renewables till they can stand on their own to supply more of our needs.  This, along with climate change, is a national security issue, so you would think conservatives would support these changes.  But no, they want cheap gas no matter the cost to health (and to human lives, here and abroad.)

Gun control- Again, I figure we are close to where we need to be.  I don't think all guns should be confiscated; there are very few people who want to do that, despite the fear-mongering of gun nuts.  I think almost anyone should be able to get, well, almost anything.  But there should be registration, people with violent criminal records or severe mental health issues should not be allowed to buy guns, everyone should go through a background check, and everyone should go through long training courses.  I see this as a common sense position.  The fact that some people think it is not says more about their state of mind than mine.

Regulation- "That government is best which governs least."  But exactly what that "least" is may not be clear, and certainly it doesn't mean "not at all."  We need regulations, for safety and health and to keep people's greed from letting them take advantage of others by, I don't know, reselling junk bonds.  I don't want any more regulation than necessary, but I know how important regulation is.  Aviation, highways, food, etc.- sometimes things need to be tightly regulated.  You would think conservatives, with their fetish for law and order, would understand stuff like this.  But, nope.

Religion- Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of our democracy, and is in the first amendment to the Constitution.  But freedom to practice your religion does not mean that everyone has to follow it.  Worship as you wish, and live by your religion.  Don't try to impose it on others.  One of the amazing things about American democracy is that we don't have an official religion. The Founders made sure of it.  Please respect their judgment.

War- I support some interventions abroad.  I also support the troops during and after, unlike many Republicans, who cut funding for the VA, etc., but want more and more spending for military hardware and more and more military adventures any time someone looks at us sideways. I don't think we should get involved everywhere, but there are times and places where we need to defend our interests, or where we have the ability to help (for example, in Indonesia and Haiti.)

Welfare- Most people on welfare, food stamps, etc., need it, only use it briefly, and are working while they use it.  Don't call them lazy, or act like you don't know how much getting rid of it would hurt kids and the elderly.  Yes, I think anyone who can work should work, on or off of welfare.  And there is a little fraud, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater- work to get rid of the fraud and make the system better. Should we get rid of the military because there is fraud?  Or insurance?  Of course not- you fix the problem, without destroying the necessary part.

Well.  That's just a few issues, but you can get some idea of where I stand.  Am I a bleeding-heart liberal?  Middle of the road?  Let me know.  Of course, if you call me a libtard you will get blocked immediately, for a couple of reasons, but other than that I do want to hear what you think.