NationStates Jolt Archive

Wherever I turn, it seems I'm either shoved with war-hating, Democrat loving, left-thinking liberal talk, or Iraq-blasting, Bush loving, right-thikning conservative rhetoric.

Does anyone out here think of themselves as moderate? People who neither adore nor despise Kerry or Bush? People who think that America is neither the worst or greatest nation in the history of the universe? Surely, there must be some unaligned people here.

Not me. By the terms that you've set.

Not me. By the terms that you've set.
I was giving an example. Feel free to stretch the terms as liberally or conseratively as you wish.

I was giving an example. Feel free to stretch the terms as liberally or conseratively as you wish.
I don't think I realy can. Since I consider the Americanisation of the world as one of the biggests threats we are facing today. Sorry.

i am not a moderate, but i am outside the typical partisan division that is forced upon us by the unwashed majority. i feel your pain. believe me, it ticks me off whenever i talk about economics and am called a "conservative," just like it ticks me off when i talk about civil rights and am called a "liberal." i'm neither and both, and i resent being smashed into anybody's political mould.

I think of myself as a moderate but with the neo-cons I am probably becoming more liberal.

I can't stand the shrub but I am not exactly awestruck by Kerry.

I would probably be happier if he just opened all his military records for scrutiny.

Old military family and we don't exacly shine to people who "exagerate" their war experiences.

But that is just me! ;)

I consider myself a moderate (with a slight conservative slant). However, it looks like I am not a moderate according to your definition because I despise both Kerry and Bush, whereas you demand indifference to both.

i think I'd call myself a moderate, insofar as I try to appreciate the fact that there are multiple valid sides to most any argument. but that doesn't mean I dont have strong opinions about specific issues or politicians. I despise Bush. But I agree (generally) with conservative dogma regarding central government size, and some fiscal policy. I don't adore Kerry, but I have been adamently opposed to the war in Iraq since we began. I don't know where my politics place me, but there ya go.

I am by practice a "moderate Republican" in that I feel it is wrong to limit the powers of any branch of the government to check the power of another branch as has been attempted by the far right when they sought to introduce legislature to make it impossible for the courts to override descriminatory legislature in the guise of the protection of marriage ammendment. This was a smoke screen using an emotionally charged issue (same sex marriage) to undermine the constitution and in effect strip the courts of the auithority to check the power of the legislative branch of the government. This is a short sighted grab for power which could as easily be used as a weapon by the far left should their star once again rise on the political horizon.
My economic values are definately conservative (you don't work, you don't eat) but my views on foreign affairs are maddening to most conservatives as I feel it is imperative for the US to never act in a bullying or unilateral way without the cooperation, or at least assent, of out traditional allies.
I have almost always voted unflinchingly Republican but, I am coming to the unnerving realization that our present administration is completely incompetent. With that being said, I still have grave reservations about putting a Socialist and an ambulance chaser in the White House.
Well, enough of my rambling. I am interested in what everyone has to say on the subject. Perhaps it will help me sort out this unfortunate delimma. :confused:

Well, by your definition I am certainly not moderate. I am not unaligned. I can say that I do not adore or hate John Kerry or George Bush. I also can say that I do not think that the United States is the greatest nation in the history of the universe. That honor goes to the Zylmorians of Qylar III in the Pegasus Galaxy. I do like George Bush. He is a good man who has made decisions that I haven't always agreed with. I also think that John Kerry is an ok guy. I like George Bush better as a person, but that doesn't mean that he will be my choice for president. It doesn't mean that I won't vote for him either. I will vote for him on the basis of how he did the job, and I will do that by judging him in comparison with the only people who can possibly be fairly compared to him, past presidents. John Kerry will get the same treatment. I will see how he stacks up to those who have held the office of president before him. Anyways, I am just saying that not all people are right or left wing partisans...there is actually a huge group of us who are grey. I am to the right side and the more authoritarian end of that grey area, but that doesn't make me partisan. I can have my views and still be fair minded.

I'm a moderator. Does that count?

I'm a moderator. Does that count?

Lol :p

Well, by your definition I am certainly not moderate.
Don't worry too much about my definition. I was just using a brief example of what I've been hearing from TV, radio, message boards, etc.

I think I'm a populist-ish moderate. I'm against gay marriage. I'm pro-life, but go both ways with it (life for unborn children and criminals). I think Bush is a dimwit and Kerry is a two-faced jackal. I'm convinced that Saddam had to go, but I don't know if America should have been one to do it. I know the US isn't supposed to be the world police, but the UN didn't seem to be doing too great either. I think the US needs a multi-party system, not this "Vote for one of two white dudes" business. I'm very against the Patriot Act and against most censorship.

I'm a true Moderate.

That Political Compass thing told me I'm a moderate.

I agree with half of Bush's policies half of Kerry's policies.

But I think I'm starting to lean to the left because of NationStates.

Damn you! Damn you and your leftist propaganda! :p

Don't worry too much about my definition. I was just using a brief example of what I've been hearing from TV, radio, message boards, etc.

I think I'm a populist-ish moderate. I'm against gay marriage. I'm pro-life, but go both ways with it (life for unborn children and criminals). I think Bush is a dimwit and Kerry is a two-faced jackal. I'm convinced that Saddam had to go, but I don't know if America should have been one to do it. I know the US isn't supposed to be the world police, but the UN didn't seem to be doing too great either. I think the US needs a multi-party system, not this "Vote for one of two white dudes" business. I'm very against the Patriot Act and against most censorship.
Originally it was a multi-party system, the Vice President was the losing majority Candidate.
Example Clinton versus Bush sr, Bush sr would become Clinton's vice Preisdent in the original system.
However, exventually decided that its better to have only your party and got rid of it.

Don't worry too much about my definition. I was just using a brief example of what I've been hearing from TV, radio, message boards, etc.

I think I'm a populist-ish moderate. I'm against gay marriage. I'm pro-life, but go both ways with it (life for unborn children and criminals). I think Bush is a dimwit and Kerry is a two-faced jackal. I'm convinced that Saddam had to go, but I don't know if America should have been one to do it. I know the US isn't supposed to be the world police, but the UN didn't seem to be doing too great either. I think the US needs a multi-party system, not this "Vote for one of two white dudes" business. I'm very against the Patriot Act and against most censorship.

Well, I must say I agree with you on several points. I am pro-life, but my stance of criminals I imagine is a bit different. I want the death penalty dropped because I think that it is an easy way out for the criminal. Life without the opportunity for parole is a very effective deterrent if you make the prison the prisoner is housed in properly. Forced labor and cells designed to wear away at the person's psyche. (round room with no corners, no windows, lack of any luxury except for a toilet, bed, and a few books, etc) As far as the president and John Kerry go, I don't think Bush is an idiot, if you lived in the South you would understand why, and I don't think Kerry is entirely duplicitous. You see, I can't see the States ever getting a substantial mulit-party system. The democrats represent one broad group of Americans, and the republicans represent the other. Most people are happy with that or are too apathetic with reguards to the political process to change anything. As far as the Patriot act goes, I am all for it. I have yet to see one abuse of it, and until I do I will continue with my belief that it is a greater threat to terrorists than to the American people.

I'm a moderate with a slight liberal tilt, this probably has to do with the fact that we are under a conservative government that isn't doing very well. I liked Old bush, I liked Clinton, and I only hate kerry less because he's had fewer chances to prove his incomptence. If I were gonna vote today, I'd say Wes Clark.

A recent trip to London has revitalized my love of this country. It may not be the best system, but capitalism works.

I'm a moderate with a slight liberal tilt, this probably has to do with the fact that we are under a conservative government that isn't doing very well. I liked Old bush, I liked Clinton, and I only hate kerry less because he's had fewer chances to prove his incomptence. If I were gonna vote today, I'd say Wes Clark.

A recent trip to London has revitalized my love of this country. It may not be the best system, but capitalism works.

But Wesley Clark isn't a candidate.

I'm a moderate with left or right leanings depending on the issue. I am pro-life and pro-choice. I am against the death penalty in all but the most cut and dry cases. I think the welfare system needs a complete overhaul and stricter rules for how long you can stay on it, but does not need to be done away with completely. I feel that affirmative action was a necessary evil, but is now an unnecessary one. I believe that politics needs to stay the hell out of religion and religion needs to stay the hell out of politics, and I feel very strongly about the freedom to choose whatever religion you feel is best. I think that teens should be presented with abstinence as a good choice, but should also be presented with all of the other options, and should have the opportunities to take those options.

I think that the current regime needs to be displaced because they are tearing down the walls of the Constitution by attacking the 1st and 14th amendments, but I don't really want to vote for a guy who gained fame by being "the voice of the fetus" who had a condition that couldn't even be traced to the "malpractice" that supposedly occurred (he scares me even for VP). I also feel that the government should not try to politicize science, as this tears down the very foundations of science.

So, does that make me a moderate? =)

I'm a true Moderate.

That Political Compass thing told me I'm a moderate.

Yeah, it's said I'm a left-leaning moderate.

I'm sort of chameleonish, I think, because I can often see the logic behind various schools of thoughts' arguments.

That said, I'd put myself squarely in the liberal camp- although I don't consider myself to be "far-left"- whatever that means. I'd like to think I have both idealism and realism- one attribute those to whatever ideological camp they want.

My impression is that on a lot of issues I'm either liberal or undecided... maybe some people could throw out some issues for me to chew on?

I'm sure there will be some that snigger when I say this - but I consider myself to be a left-leaning moderate. The issue being, I think, that far too many people associate left and right with their main two local political parties. From that standpoint, a centrist looks like a liberal when stacked up against this iteration of the Republican party.

I've always found it odd that when I castigate the Bush Addministration for its fiscal mismanagment that they attribute this to my inate "liberalism"! lol.