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How many liberals to you actually know?

What % of people you know personally would self-ID as liberal?

  • Total voters
    66
Cephus said:
There's a lot of people who just never grow up. Getting older and becoming more mature are two entirely different things. There are plenty of people who give up on their liberalism because they fail to see any way to bring it to fruition. Their idealism has no realism. They may still report being liberal but they realize that there is no actual path to their liberal utopia. There is no "better world". There is no perfection that we will ever achieve, no matter how hard we try. There is only reality and the sooner people deal with that and give up on their fantasies, the better we'll all be.
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Most liberals that I've met are aware that they'll never create a perfect world. What they do know is that even in the practical, real world, some of the ideas that are considered liberal can be brought to fruition and at least create some incremental improvements.

The desire of conservatives to maintain the status quo serves as an effective check against the liberal ideas that don't work so well in practice.
 
whysoserious said:
I could be wrong, but I believe it's a thread where you challenge people to formal debates. If you're so sure my politics are infantile, then I don't see why you'd have to worry.
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Then challenge away.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
To your edits: That's a peculiar legacy of American culture, which stems from the historical belief that we're a nation of boundless opportunities and complete class mobility. The pioneers and rags-to-riches types were our mythological heroes.

Of course, the idea of total class mobility was never true, but that part of the American mindset is likely to be in effect for at least a couple more generations.
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Yeah, I cant believe you Americans. I wont call your society and citizens stupid because the mods will give me an infraction. Even though Bill Clinton used the slogan "Its the economy stupid" to win a US election. The mods said that I cant call Americans stupid. Well, yeah, I dont think things will get any better, only worse. For Americans.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
Most liberals that I've met are aware that they'll never create a perfect world. What they do know is that even in the practical, real world, some of the ideas that are considered liberal can be brought to fruition and at least create some incremental improvements.

The desire of conservatives to maintain the status quo serves as an effective check against the liberal ideas that don't work so well in practice.
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But that's a misconception, most conservatives don't want to maintain the status quo for all times, they want to preserve ideas that have demonstrably worked in the past until there is reason to think that new ideas are called for. Conservatives aren't against change, they are against change simply for the sake of change. I don't see many conservatives out there writing with quill pens on parchment, do you?
 
I'm a Democrat and I'll say we were stupid for running away from the economy--ZERO for a National strategy.
GOP spinners were amazed the DEMs didn't run on 50 some months of private sector job growth, 2nd quarter GDP, blah--blah--blah.

The GOP is already starting to take credit for this economy, now that they've take control of both chambers.
Just as they discovered we had a deficit problem as soon as Obama took office .

spangledbanner said:
Yeah, I cant believe you Americans. I wont call your society and citizens stupid because the mods will give me an infraction. Even though Bill Clinton used the slogan "Its the economy stupid" to win a US election. The mods said that I cant call Americans stupid. Well, yeah, I dont think things will get any better, only worse. For Americans.
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Cephus said:
But that's a misconception, most conservatives don't want to maintain the status quo for all times, they want to preserve ideas that have demonstrably worked in the past until there is reason to think that new ideas are called for. Conservatives aren't against change, they are against change simply for the sake of change. I don't see many conservatives out there writing with quill pens on parchment, do you?
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If Obama proclaimed that ball-point pens and pressed paper were the best way to write, I'm sure that at least a couple of partisan "conservatives" in Congress would say that quill and parchment are better. lol
 
Cephus said:
But that's a misconception, most conservatives don't want to maintain the status quo for all times, they want to preserve ideas that have demonstrably worked in the past until there is reason to think that new ideas are called for. Conservatives aren't against change, they are against change simply for the sake of change. I don't see many conservatives out there writing with quill pens on parchment, do you?
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I don't see conservatives on the forefront of any subject. I don't see them revolutionizing any field. I don't see republicans fixing one problem out there either. The problem with conservatives is they only know one word:

Cut. And then they don't even do that right (or at all some of the time). Not fix. Not streamline. Not improve. Cut. Cut because they don't understand it. Cut because they don't "believe" in it. Cut because it doesn't benefit them. Maybe if they could fix that language and open their heads up to the ideas and problems then they could be the party they want to be. And they could be a party I am interested in.

Until that day, they're just a bunch of Ebenezer Scrooges as far as I am concerned. And a bah humbug to you, sir.
 
whysoserious said:
I don't see conservatives on the forefront of any subject. I don't see them revolutionizing any field. I don't see republicans fixing one problem out there either. The problem with conservatives is they only know one word:

Cut. And then they don't even do that right (or at all some of the time). Not fix. Not streamline. Not improve. Cut. Cut because they don't understand it. Cut because they don't "believe" in it. Cut because it doesn't benefit them. Maybe if they could fix that language and open their heads up to the ideas and problems then they could be the party they want to be. And they could be a party I am interested in.

Until that day, they're just a bunch of Ebenezer Scrooges as far as I am concerned. And a bah humbug to you, sir.
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:lamo
 
Im definitely one of the most left wing people I know. I only personally know 1 other person that is more "left than me" and he is an anarchist. But I would probably say 45-50% I know...
 
Mostly liberal (and by liberal I refer to modern liberals, not the classical ones like myself) in my area although they differ. Some are probably closer in line with Libertarian ideology but they say they're liberal. A lot of them seem to have a poor grasp of politics and economics so a lot of their liberal leanings can probably be attributed to their parents and the mostly liberal, bordering on communist, teachers in schools in my area.
 
I know a lot of Liberals. I know a lot of Conservatives. I know a lot of people who don't give a **** about politics. I know a lot of people within 50 miles of me. Do you want me to go through all of them in my head and tick off how I think they would respond to the question?
 
tres borrachos said:
I know a lot of Liberals. I know a lot of Conservatives. I know a lot of people who don't give a **** about politics. I know a lot of people within 50 miles of me. Do you want me to go through all of them in my head and tick off how I think they would respond to the question?
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A ballpark estimate is fine, thanks...
 
Generally speaking, I tend to avoid politics where my friends and acquaintances are concerned. Things are simply a lot less stressful that way. However, seeing as how most of the people I hang out with are either military, or in military related fields, I would say that they trend toward the moderate "Right" of the political spectrum on most issues.

Where more politically outspoken companions are concerned, I gravitate towards Conservatives.

Outspoken Liberals simply feel more like sparring partners than actual "friends." While that can be fun from time to time, it also gets old pretty quickly.

My brother, on the other hand, given his choice to pursue stand up comedy as a hobby, is basically in the "belly of the beast" where Liberal political leans are concerned. Honestly, I get the impression that he's just barely tolerated by most of the people he hangs out with for that exact reason.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
A ballpark estimate is fine, thanks...
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Let's see. I know 2874 people within 50 miles of me. Let me think about each and every one of them.

I can't ballpark. I live inside of 50 miles from Boston where most people are Liberal. I live in NH where most people actually from here are Conservative but we have Liberals migrating here from MA daily.

I can only ballpark people who I have actually discussed politics with and that would be a small smattering. And of those, most are Conservative. I live in a very upper middle class town.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
This question applies to all the adults who you’ve actually met, seen, interacted with, and who live within approximately 50 miles of you.

They can be family members, friends, co-workers, fellow students, club members, whoever. The only other requirement is that both of you have to know each other by name.

Now imagine that you asked each of these people, individually and privately, the following question: “How would you describe yourself politically?”

What percentage of them would say something like “liberal” or “mostly liberal?”
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far to many.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
This question applies to all the adults who you’ve actually met, seen, interacted with, and who live within approximately 50 miles of you.

They can be family members, friends, co-workers, fellow students, club members, whoever. The only other requirement is that both of you have to know each other by name.

Now imagine that you asked each of these people, individually and privately, the following question: “How would you describe yourself politically?”

What percentage of them would say something like “liberal” or “mostly liberal?”
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One is too many...

I was raised by Ivy league Liberals and most of my extended Family are Democrats.

I have a Family member who teaches at Berkeley.

I love them dearly but we'll never agree Politically.
 
Fenton said:
One is too many...

I was raised by Ivy league Liberals and most of my extended Family are Democrats.

I have a Family member who teaches at Berkeley.

I love them dearly but we'll never agree Politically.
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Ah. You're still growing out of your teenage rebellion phase. That explains it.
 
tres borrachos said:
I know a lot of Liberals. I know a lot of Conservatives. I know a lot of people who don't give a **** about politics. I know a lot of people within 50 miles of me. Do you want me to go through all of them in my head and tick off how I think they would respond to the question?
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Yes. Name them all. ;)
 
Unrepresented said:
Ah. You're still growing out of your teenage rebellion phase. That explains it.
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Lol .....I'm in my Mid-40s.

One of my most beloved Family members is a Liberal who lives in Berkely. My parents were Ivy Liberals and so were their Sisters and Brothers.
 
Fenton said:
Lol .....I'm in my Mid-40s.

One of my most beloved Family members is a Liberal who lives in Berkely. My parents were Ivy Liberals and so were their Sisters and Brothers.
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I figured as much. It's just typical to hear that attributed to liberal thinking, I figured I'd take the cheap shot to return the favor on one of the few times it presented itself.;)
 
whysoserious said:
I don't see conservatives on the forefront of any subject. I don't see them revolutionizing any field. I don't see republicans fixing one problem out there either. The problem with conservatives is they only know one word:

Cut. And then they don't even do that right (or at all some of the time). Not fix. Not streamline. Not improve. Cut. Cut because they don't understand it. Cut because they don't "believe" in it. Cut because it doesn't benefit them. Maybe if they could fix that language and open their heads up to the ideas and problems then they could be the party they want to be. And they could be a party I am interested in.

Until that day, they're just a bunch of Ebenezer Scrooges as far as I am concerned. And a bah humbug to you, sir.
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maybe one day when you finally have something worth taking, you'll start to see what some of us see

you want to keep spending....spending .....spending with OTHER peoples money

if a program didnt work....lets not say it was a bust....lets say we didnt throw enough dollars and resources at it

What too many of you fail to realize is that these debts and bills will eventually come home to roost

maybe not in my lifetime....but my kids, or grandkids?

saddling them with one failed failed program after another....adding debt upon debt....

when is enough, enough? when will you all realize that there is no utopia?

there is no perfectly fair world.....and never will be

that those who succeed mainly do it based upon hard work, and a little luck

and you may not believe in the "dream"......and i feel sad for you because of it

without that dream, there is no way you will work as hard as those who still believe in it......

there are first generation millionaires happening every year in the US.......

that is the dream......some chase it, and succeed

some chase it, and get close

those that dont believe wont chase it........and probably will never come close to hitting it

that is the difference between us.......i still believe......so do my kids, and their kids
 
gdgyva said:
maybe one day when you finally have something worth taking, you'll start to see what some of us see

you want to keep spending....spending .....spending with OTHER peoples money

if a program didnt work....lets not say it was a bust....lets say we didnt throw enough dollars and resources at it

What too many of you fail to realize is that these debts and bills will eventually come home to roost

maybe not in my lifetime....but my kids, or grandkids?

saddling them with one failed failed program after another....adding debt upon debt....

when is enough, enough? when will you all realize that there is no utopia?

there is no perfectly fair world.....and never will be

that those who succeed mainly do it based upon hard work, and a little luck

and you may not believe in the "dream"......and i feel sad for you because of it

without that dream, there is no way you will work as hard as those who still believe in it......

there are first generation millionaires happening every year in the US.......

that is the dream......some chase it, and succeed

some chase it, and get close

those that dont believe wont chase it........and probably will never come close to hitting it

that is the difference between us.......i still believe......so do my kids, and their kids
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This post is one giant ramble and the first sentence is an assumption that you can't make.
 
whysoserious said:
I don't see conservatives on the forefront of any subject. I don't see them revolutionizing any field. I don't see republicans fixing one problem out there either. The problem with conservatives is they only know one word:

Cut. And then they don't even do that right (or at all some of the time). Not fix. Not streamline. Not improve. Cut. Cut because they don't understand it. Cut because they don't "believe" in it. Cut because it doesn't benefit them. Maybe if they could fix that language and open their heads up to the ideas and problems then they could be the party they want to be. And they could be a party I am interested in.
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A bit of a tangent, but I believe you've hit on the biggest problem with the GOP today - although I wouldn't say it's necessarily true for all conservatives.

Republican strategists have come to the conclusion that they simply don't need to do the hard work of fixing anything - and accept responsibility for fixing it - in order to acquire votes. Instead, they discovered that all they really need to do is to use the problems out there to scare their base, and to blame on the Democrats. It's hard to imagine anything so irresponsible, and it's extremely sad that the voters fall for it.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
A bit of a tangent, but I believe you've hit on the biggest problem with the GOP today - although I wouldn't say it's necessarily true for all conservatives.

Republican strategists have come to the conclusion that they simply don't need to do the hard work of fixing anything - and accept responsibility for fixing it - in order to acquire votes. Instead, they discovered that all they really need to do is to use the problems out there to scare their base, and to blame on the Democrats. It's hard to imagine anything so irresponsible, and it's extremely sad that the voters fall for it.
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Agreed, but what really boggles my brain cells is that they still claim being fiscally responsible... and people still fall for it. They haven't been fiscally responsible for at least three decades.
 
Again with the poll spamfest. :roll:
 
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