Most of us probably hold a least a couple of political beliefs that can or do impact us negatively. For example, I am for estate taxes though I am in line to inherit from one such estate.
What do you support despite its negative or potential negative effect on your life?
The best I can think of would be First amendment issues. I support free speech and freedom of religion even if it means I have to hear offensive speech or tolerate some obnoxious religious expression.
Start with Smoking Bans, my wife and I inherited a nice chunk of Phillip Morris stock and we are both in favor of smoking bans and limitations. So far it does seem to be hurting the stocks however.
I am in favor of high fuel taxes to encourage high efficiency cars and to help pay for R&D of new alternate fuels and energy sources. I commute 40 miles each way every day.
I am in favor of freedom of religion, even though I am basically anti large religion.
I am very much in favor of Universal Health Care being rolled out despite have good coverage and being relatively well off.
I am also in favor of Estate taxes and I would like to see them increased. This might affect us in both directions.
Jim
I am NOT in favor of estate taxes because I now hope to become very good friends with jsgoddess. 
I would have to agree with the free speech and other things of that nature. I fully support the idea, but sometimes other people exercising those freedoms raises my blood pressure.
Hey, good buddy, ole pal, load me some money?
The thing about free speech or freedom of religion is that I guess I see them as being for my benefit, too. I defend someone else’s free speech in the hopes that mine is defended.
Hmm, I really should have asked how long that line was first…
Actually thinking it over, I don’t think it’s any one position. It’s more that I have what look like very mixed views. In some ways I’m rather liberal, in others very convervative…so it makes political choices very difficult for me since there will probably never be a candidate that I can really back wholeheartedly.
I also will inherit from a large estate and I am very much opposed to estate taxes. I am just letting everyone know that God produces a libertarian for every person with guilt induced wayward socialist tendencies so that we don’t have any funny business taking over.
I support smoker’s rights even though I don’t smoke and no one in my family does either. I support some environment things like conservation and careful use even though I may never see those places and they could potentially increase the costs of some goods.
I’m against tax cuts for wealthy people, though I might make enough money that they would benefit me (not sure- I spend as little time as possible thinking about my taxes).
I’m for universal health coverage, even though I have good health insurance through work, and I know I’d be taxed to pay for universal health coverage.
I’m for allowing government services (ballots and the like) in languages other than English, even though I speak English. I think it’s good that businesses cater to the Spanish- or Chinese- or whatever-speaking market, even though that means that I could potentially be at a disadvantage in looking for a job, because I don’t speak those languages. (Do the people who make that objection also object to software being written in computer languages they don’t know?)
I’m for strict enforcement of laws about handicapped parking, even though I’m not handicapped and it has happened that I’ve gone into a parking lot and the only space available was a handicapped space.
I’m for same-sex marriage, though I have no interest in marrying a woman.
Not really a political view, but a view I hold strongly that isn’t in my best interest: I’m against valuing wealthier or more successful people more than others (for example, it always bothers me when I read an article about a teenager being killed, and they throw in a mention that the victim was an honor student- as if it would have been better for a non-honor student to be killed). I was an honor student, but I don’t think that made me any better of a person than anyone else.
And I am not in a position to inherit from a large estate, but I am also opposed to estate taxes. So, now we have…
jsgoddess: will inherit, in favor of estate taxes
Shagnasty: will inherit, against estate taxes
Me: will not inherit, against estate taxes
I assume there are plenty of people in the last category (will not inherit, in favor of estate taxes). Isn’t it interesting, though, that how much $$$ one stands to inherit does not necessarily predict one’s opinion on this subject?
I’m pro-union (actual unions, though, not the organized-crime-hey-it’s-time-for-my-ten-minute-break-I’ma-go-smoke-a-cigarette-don’t-you-DARE-ask-me-to-work-on-my-break-even-if-someone’s-life-is-in-danger kind of union) even though as a member of the lower class (less than $20,000 a year take home) that would inevitably raise prices and make me broke-r.
In an ideal world we wouldn’t need unions - employers would give people what they’re worth. But you just can’t trust people that much anymore.
~Tasha
Many feminist principles. I hate women and their overvalued lives. Still, I think in the long run that I might benefit somehow, although I’m not holding my breath. In any case, I sure ain’t hanging with the anti-feminists; in spite of what they say, with their principles I am definitely worse off in the long run.
I oppose smoking bans, even though I’m a non-smoker and hate cigarette smoke. I love not having to deal with smoke in bars now, but I still think passing the ban was a mistake.
I oppose copyright laws, even though I’m a programmer and thus nearly everything I do at work is creating copyrightable material (although for most of our projects, the software isn’t exactly what we’re selling). I’ve released code under the GPL and pressured others to make their code available when they started distributing a program based on my code, but copyright is the only thing that gives the GPL its teeth.
I support the taxes used for public education even though I have no kids.
I would support taxes for a universal health care system even though I already have a good health care plan.
I would support a complete decriminalization of all drugs even though I don’t personally have any interest in using any drugs and as an employee in a prison might suffer from the loss of “clients”.
My Hubby has the same opinions. He’s also against the death penalty.
(By the way, I don’t think your job would suffer for lack of "clients. If your state is low on theives, rapists and killers, we’d be glad to send some your way. 
)
Well, okay, we’d probably still find enough criminals to fill up the place. But my job would probably be more difficult - thieves, murderers, and rapists tend to be more high-maintenance than drug users.
I strongly support the right of individuals or developers to build whatever the hell they want on land that they own. Unfortunately this means that in the next few years, the nice open lot behind my new house will be overrun with a bunch of homes littered with bratty kids.
I am strongly in favor of means testing social security even though it means I won’t get any free money from the government when I retire.
I am an engineer. I work for a university-based research institute. 90% of our money comes from Air Force contracts.
In essence, I work for the federal government. Yet I believe government is way too big, and I believe government spending is way too high. If it were up to me, the federal government would be 10% of the size it is today. Of course, if this were to really happen, my job would likely go bye-bye. 
As mostly Libertarian, I oppose a lot of programs that I personally benefit from. For example, Canada’s public healthcare system. Anti-smoking laws, even though I’m a non-smoker. Sin taxes, although I consume very little of those kinds of items (the occasional cigar and about a beer a week).
When I was younger I was dirt poor, but I have always opposed welfare, and in fact my family went to great lengths to avoid going on welfare, when almost everyone in our community was on it, and it was obviously the easier path to take.
When I was young I also opposed ‘remission’ for government student loans (remission is the forgiveness of up to 40% of your student loan upon completion of school, turning the program from a high-risk loan program to a direct cash giveaway). And so when I went to school and had to take student loans, I did not apply for remission and paid the entire amount back plus interest. That’s the biggest sacrifice I’ve made for my beliefs - I could have filled out one form and had about $6,000 written off my debt. Instead, it took me over 10 years to pay off my student loans, and I paid back almost twice what I borrowed when including interest.
I oppose mandatory seatbelt and helmet laws, although I don’t ride a motorcycle and always wear my seatbelt. I never confuse “that’s a good idea” with “that should be a law”.
I’m pro-immigration for highly qualified people, although that tends to push down wages of people like me.
I’m in favor of a carbon tax, even though it would raise my taxes, because I’m opposed to free riders and hidden transaction costs that prevent the market from functioning properly.
:eek:
(I’m not criticizing, understand. Certainly it’s your right. This statement just leapt out at me. )
I have absolutely nothing to gain personally from Universal Health Care, as I’m already fully covered through my job. But I sure do want it.
I frequently challenge naysayers on this issue by volunteering to pay double the taxes I currently pay in order to get health care coverage for everyone. And I would in a heartbeat, given the opportunity.