# So where do you depart on typical politcal party stances that you normally vote with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241 "2015-05-04T14:08:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/21 "2015-05-06T00:18:01Z")
I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative, whatever that means. I vote democratic almost exclusively because I consider the republican economic platform a disaster for our nations economy. However, I believe strongly in the second amendment, and find almost all “common-sense gun control” to be ineffectual if not outright ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/22 "2015-05-06T01:52:31Z")
I’m a pretty solid Democrat, but I voted for a staunch Republican in the last election because we have a school district here that’s both academically and financially bankrupt, and he seemed to be the only politician in either party who was genuinely trying to save it, rather than posturing about it. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/23 "2015-05-06T02:37:53Z")
I’m socially conservative but fiscally liberal. Right now, the latter is more important than the former. I also think that that’s the way to help my socially conservative causes. I pretty much vote in line with my Catholicism. Except on gay marriage. I really don’t care. As long as gay marriage isn’t forced within the Church (which it isn’t and I don’t ever see that happening), I won’t fight it. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/24 "2015-05-06T02:58:12Z")
I generally support the Democratic Party in the United States but: -I am strongly pro-life and as a result opposed to legalized abortion on demand in the vast majority of cases. I think the Democratic Party has become far too obsessively “pro-choice” in its identity to the point that it opposes even something like a 20-week abortion ban which is far more libertine than abortion laws in say France or Germany. -I strongly agree with **BobLibDem** on Democratic opposition to nuclear power. There is literally no way the United States can seriously reduce the use of fossil fuels without a massive expansion of nuclear power as is the case with say France. I agree with him too that nuclear power will require extensive government regulation and preferably simply nationalizing nuclear power corporations. -I think a lot of gun control measures are both unconstitutional by any plain reading of the Second Amendment and ineffective. -While I support a path to citizenship for law-abiding illegal immigrants currently in this country, I’m also opposed to multiculturalism and instead strongly support “melting pot”/assimilationist policies as well as making English the official language of the United States -In a lot of my philosophical reasoning I’m different from many liberals to-day. For example I believe in the superiority of Western Civilization and that we should unapologetically seek the “Westernization” of the globe. Additionally, I have a very dim view of human nature which in turn leads me to support a strong role for the State in regulating the economy and provisioning social welfare/insurance for its citizens. A lot of my policy differences with Democrats are either that they do not go far enough (as with the Drug Wars) or simply that they don’t propose certain policies that would be highly effective (such as the German model for universal health care ) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/25 "2015-05-06T02:59:07Z")
Supporter of Democrats here. Keystone Pipeline is a big thing were I part ways with most Dems – I don’t mind much if it gets built. Then, there are a few things where I part ways with the more progressive anong the Dems (with whom I otherwise usually agree): I’m not as critical about drone strikes per se; I don’t support Edward Snowden’s actions; and I am skeptical of “moderate Islam” as a force for much good. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/26 "2015-05-06T03:48:50Z")
My voting is say 70-80% Democrats but I disagree with the DNC when it comes to guns and a couple minor religious issues. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/27 "2015-05-06T04:32:49Z")
I’m a yellow dog Democrat…but I like free trade and am suspicious of protectionism. I like global and regional free trade deals. (But…I’m also pretty strongly pro-Union. So it goes.) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/28 "2015-05-06T05:06:42Z")
I vote Republican. I’m very pro-life and _also_ very much in favor of gay folks being able to adopt - if more babies are born they’ll need good homes so I’m not about to object to people of any orientation who really want kids getting them. I’m also in favor of gay marriage because it’s only fair that **all** adults get to formalize their relationship, assign whoever they please to be their medical proxy and heirs to their estate if they die etc. Though I tend to roll my eyes at the alarmist global warming stuff, I’m in favor of a lot of efforts to reduce air and water pollution. Whether or not the seas will rise and we’ll finally be rid of snow (yay! yeah, I know, it’s supposed to be a bug not a feature, but come on) remains to be seen, but it’s a proven fact that air pollution leads to increases in asthma and other medical issues, so even if it’s a move popularized for what I consider the wrong reasons, I’m happy to see less pollution. Lastly, I’m in support of decriminalizing marijuana. 10% of people in US prisons are there for pot and that’s insane. Either make it legal or make it a fine, but no one should be in jail for it. I’m even okay with them not continuing to make dealing a imprison-able offense as long as that’s the only drug they’re dealing. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/29 "2015-05-06T16:21:19Z")
I’d be a social democrat, if we had such a party in the United States. As it is, I’m a Democrat of the progressive Sanders-Warren-Grijalva wing - my darkest day came when Russ Feingold was defeated. But I think that campaign finance reform, overturning _Citizens United_, and eliminating corporate personhood are absolutely crucial to preservation of any sort of democracy in this country. Neither party will ever purge dirty money to the extent I think necessary. I also agree with **BobLibDem** about nuclear energy, and like **Quin Shi Huangdi** am an unabashed Western supremacist. Enlightenment values are the best our species have derived, I think. I’ll probably vote for Hillary, but I’ll be holding my nose when I do. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/30 "2015-05-06T16:44:51Z")
I normally vote Republican. I don’t mind anymore if gay marriage gets legalized. Society won’t collapse or anything. The only thing I do get worked up over is when people are harrassed or sued because they don’t want to participate in gay marriage. We still have Freedom of Religion in this country, after all. If some baker or flower shop owner doesn’t approve of gay marriage, don’t go trying to force it down their throats. > [@FuriousGeorge](#): > > I tend to be more right-ish in my voting… but gay marriage, abortion, “intelligent design” or “creationism”, and marijuana legalization are among the more important missed opportunities from that side of “smaller government”. Actually, I’d say marijuana legalization is basically a right-wing issue these days. The tendency is increasingly to view it as state/local matter, akin to liquor laws. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/31 "2015-05-06T17:40:55Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > Actually, I’d say marijuana legalization is basically a right-wing issue these days. The tendency is increasingly to view it as state/local matter, akin to liquor laws. [Nope](http://www.gallup.com/poll/179195/majority-continues-support-pot-legalization.aspx). State/local rights is usually a smokescreen, it seems to me. People bring it up when it’s convenient, but most people are not philosophically pure on leaving laws up to states when they like the federal law. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/32 "2015-05-06T18:15:12Z")
I usually vote democrat because they are less dangerously insane than the only other political party that has any hope of being elected. I disagree with them on almost everything, I just disagree with republicans _more_. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/33 "2015-05-06T18:56:01Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Also, we should stop promising new enlistees and officers great pensions for life for eight-to-twenty year “careers.” 20 years is the _minimum_ time in service to get a pension. If someone you know gets paid for their prior military service with a career of less than 20 years, they either took a buyout during military downsizing or they’re getting medical disability. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/34 "2015-05-06T20:48:42Z")
I’m a lifelong Democrat, but I do not agree with illegal immigration amnesty and will not vote for any candidate who has that in his or her campaign platform. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/35 "2015-05-06T21:08:35Z")
> [@bup](#): > > [Nope](http://www.gallup.com/poll/179195/majority-continues-support-pot-legalization.aspx). > > State/local rights is usually a smokescreen, it seems to me. People bring it up when it’s convenient, but most people are not philosophically pure on leaving laws up to states when they like the federal law. Yeah, exactly. I was talking with one fellow Republican who - in the very same conversation - said that state rights should prevent a federal recognition of same-sex marriage, but that federal drug laws should over-ride state drug laws. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/36 "2015-05-06T22:58:19Z")
I am exactly the opposite of Dr. Cube: I usually vote republican because they are less dangerously insane than the only other political party that has any hope of being elected. I disagree with them on almost everything, I just disagree with democrats more. Slee ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/37 "2015-05-07T00:07:23Z")
I vote Democratic, but I’m really more of a socialist. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/38 "2015-05-07T00:28:49Z")
I typically vote Republican, though I’ll never vote a ticket that has Palin in the line of succession. That said, I’m pro-choice, pro-SSM, pro-marijuana and anti-creationism. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/39 "2015-05-07T01:02:07Z")
I’ve always been registered as a republican although voting at local/county level is basically non-partisan for me. Still that means a balance towards voting Republican. Issues between me and typical Republican national platform: - I’m generally towards the pro-abortion side. I can’t say it’s ever influenced a vote. - I’m pro-SSM - I’m far more supportive of relatively open and simple immigration than my party. - I’m strongly supportive of secular government. - I’m more supportive of taxes than my party. Spend wisely and tax appropriately to fund the things that make sense. - I don’t support the occasional spin up of balanced budget amendments. - I support legalization of marijuana. - While I’m closer to my party on use of force internationally, I don’t support those who see every issue as a nail needing to be hammered forcefully. I especially don’t support some of the neo-con unrealistic expectations on the effects and utility of force. - ACA - It wasn’t my preferred reform but it’s not a precursor of the Anti-Chirst and it’s in place. Let’s not repeal and start over… :smack: - I oppose the death penalty as a practical issue. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241/40 "2015-05-07T01:33:38Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The way to pay down our huge debt is to reduce military spending (not armed forces size, which is a great employment program that right-wingers don’t see as socialism, for whatever reason), but reducing spending on more and more high-tech weaponry. Also, we should stop promising new enlistees and officers great pensions for life for eight-to-twenty year “careers.” Believe it or not Hegel was wrestling with size versus capability in the ongoing Army drawdown. The goal was maximum capability for the dollar not size. For the Army and Marines personnel costs are a massive driver so that can’t be ignored without leaving a hollow force that either has equipment issues or can’t afford to train effectively. Moving to a defined contribution type system has been proposed as a means of reducing retirement costs; neither party really wanted to touch it. Requiring a co-pay for family insurance coverage like most employers is some pretty low hanging fruit to cut into personnel costs a touch. As DrCube pointed out it’s 20 years minimum; 15 for medical retirement because they can’t serve anymore. Reserve component can’t collect till 60 (at a much lower rate) although mobilization time can move that earlier. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-do-you-depart-on-typical-politcal-party-stances-that-you-normally-vote-with/719241.md?page=3)