OrangeEmpire
The White Debonair
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2005
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I've recently started reading a book (the title and author I won't disclose for fear of derailing the discussion) whose main thesis was that conservative politicians use social issues to lure lower class voters to support conservatives in elections, but ignore these issues once in power and instead focus on economic policies. I won't speak to the merits, or lack thereof, of this theory, but instead ask you:
What do you care about most in politics?
Economic Issues entail anything to do directly with dollars and cents and management of the economy, and include but are not limited to taxes, social programs, regulation, inflation, jobs, labor and trade policy.
Social Issues entail anything to do with social norms and values and include but are not limited to abortion, gun control, fighting crime, church/state separation, women's issues, inequality for minorities and freedom of speech.
Foreign Policy Issues entail our relations with and pursuing our interests with other nations and include but are not limited to the war on terror, the war on iraq, confronting rogue states such as Iran and North Korea and involvement in the U.N and international peacekeeping efforst.
Now I'll grant you that distinctions are not always clear cut. Is the environment or affirmative action a social or an economic issue? Is NAFTA or job oustourcing an economic or foreign policy issue? A strong military has both foreign policy and economic implications. Never the less, I think that broad categories exist and most of us feel most strongly about one.
The second question is more personal. I'm not asking that you divulge who you vote for (although you can if you want to) but rather what do you support most strongly? There's no "other or none of the above" here. When bang comes to cruch and you had to pick one, what do you support most strongly.
Liberal stance on economic issues would likely include opposition to tax cuts for the wealthy, support of a "guaranteed income", opposition to "welfare reform" and support of organized labor.
Conservative stance on economic issues would likely include tax relief, deregulation and support of free trade.
Liberal stance on social issues would likely include support for legal abortions, firearms restrictions and strict separation of church and state.
Conservative stance on social issues would likely include tougher treatment of convicted criminals, prayer and "intelligent design" in the schools and restrictions or outright prohibition of legal abortions.
Liberal stance on foreign policy issues would likely include opposition to the war in Iraq, support for the U.N and a more multilateral approach to foreign relations (this means acting in concert with other allied nations)
Conservative stance on foreign policy issues would likely include support for the war in Iraq, tough military confrontation with Iran, Cuba, North Korea or the like and a more unilateral approach to foreign relations (which means acting alone, without the support of the world if necessary)
Thoughts?
*Note-You may choose more than one with regards to the poll.
What do you care about most in politics?
Economic Issues entail anything to do directly with dollars and cents and management of the economy, and include but are not limited to taxes, social programs, regulation, inflation, jobs, labor and trade policy.
Social Issues entail anything to do with social norms and values and include but are not limited to abortion, gun control, fighting crime, church/state separation, women's issues, inequality for minorities and freedom of speech.
Foreign Policy Issues entail our relations with and pursuing our interests with other nations and include but are not limited to the war on terror, the war on iraq, confronting rogue states such as Iran and North Korea and involvement in the U.N and international peacekeeping efforst.
Now I'll grant you that distinctions are not always clear cut. Is the environment or affirmative action a social or an economic issue? Is NAFTA or job oustourcing an economic or foreign policy issue? A strong military has both foreign policy and economic implications. Never the less, I think that broad categories exist and most of us feel most strongly about one.
The second question is more personal. I'm not asking that you divulge who you vote for (although you can if you want to) but rather what do you support most strongly? There's no "other or none of the above" here. When bang comes to cruch and you had to pick one, what do you support most strongly.
Liberal stance on economic issues would likely include opposition to tax cuts for the wealthy, support of a "guaranteed income", opposition to "welfare reform" and support of organized labor.
Conservative stance on economic issues would likely include tax relief, deregulation and support of free trade.
Liberal stance on social issues would likely include support for legal abortions, firearms restrictions and strict separation of church and state.
Conservative stance on social issues would likely include tougher treatment of convicted criminals, prayer and "intelligent design" in the schools and restrictions or outright prohibition of legal abortions.
Liberal stance on foreign policy issues would likely include opposition to the war in Iraq, support for the U.N and a more multilateral approach to foreign relations (this means acting in concert with other allied nations)
Conservative stance on foreign policy issues would likely include support for the war in Iraq, tough military confrontation with Iran, Cuba, North Korea or the like and a more unilateral approach to foreign relations (which means acting alone, without the support of the world if necessary)
Thoughts?
*Note-You may choose more than one with regards to the poll.
