Tea Party, Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian! How to keep it all straight?
By Tiaridakdyl
@Tiaridakdyl (114)
United States
July 1, 2010 6:18pm CST
I can't believe I had to click "I enjoy politics" to post something here - I know NOTHING about politics. That's because whenever I start reading up on things or trying to get involved in any way, I feel helpless, hopeless, and furious!
My brother just told me he's one of the Tea Party people - from what I know, that's conservative. My other brother is the opposite politically. So I asked the Tea Party brother if that means he supports Obama and he said no! What the heck?! My other brother is against Obama but they're supposedly on opposite sides politically. Now I'm even more confused so I typed in Tea Party people and came up with this online (Wikipedia I think):
The Libertarian theme of the "tea party" began with Republican congressman...
That was even worse! So now Libertarians are Republican? I thought Liberals were Democrats and Conservatives were Republican. This makes Libertarians and Liberals different. I'm afraid if I decide to pay attention to politics (and I really should know more than a 2nd grader by now), I'll have to make it a time-consuming hobby. It's my duty as an American citizen and as a member of the global economy, but I'm not looking forward to it. It's been suggested to me that I begin with local politics to understand, follow and get involved. Good idea I think but I'm almost afraid it's too late to stay so far down the scale when so much is going on higher up. I'll just have to be fast.
Are most of you out there familiar with your local political issues and faces?
2 people like this
7 responses
@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
2 Jul 10
Decide the policies and ideas you like and quit being cncerned with labels.
The differences in party's used to be very clear now they are very blurred. We have allowed the democrats to become the party of small business and fiscal responsibility and the republicans have become about big business and completely free marketplace.
The news media likes the labels because it gives them a way to engage the viewer. The tea party has not made up it's mind what it really is except that they don't seem to like anything.
\
I have voted all sides of the spectrum and refuse to label myself anything. If a politician really understands the problem and has a real agenda instead of a plan to get elected I pay a great deal of attention to them regardless of party.
1 person likes this
@Tiaridakdyl (114)
• United States
2 Jul 10
I have to admit something here - I realize to some I may sound young and ignorant so everyone's being helpful and nice about it all. So what I have to admit is that I'm only ignorant (in other words I don't have the excuse of being young), there is no excuse for a citizen to know so little. Yes, I'm a quitter. I have studied issues before voting but find so many lies, reasons, exceptions, rationales...it never feels like the "real issue". For instance, when checking out someone's voting record, you may see they've voted against something they should be voting for (according to their general stands) so they seem to be a liar or hypocrite. But then you read the rest of the bill they voted against and see that they've refused to be sucked into voting for something even worse that was added as a rider. Their record looks bad but they actually stood up for something. It's like a big complex mess that no one can get out of.
I heard Obama speak this a.m. for a very short time and was impressed with his sense of confidence, calm, and determination. Then someone told me that's one of the things people criticize him for, that he's not a fiery orator determined to make America great, or some such thing.
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
3 Jul 10
"We have allowed the democrats to become the party of small business and fiscal responsibility"
I don't know where you came up with that one. NEITHER major party has shown any desire for fiscal responsibility. I don't see how democrats can be called fiscally responsible after quadrupling the largest deficit the country had known up to 2008.
"This country can do anything and any doubt of that is lost on the study of WWII."
That's not really a good thing though. A study of WWII shows that Americans will elect a racist tyrant four consecutive times and silently watch as he imprisons hard working, tax-paying American citizens based solely on their race. It also shows how long a depression can be stretched out when a country spends money it doesn't have.
@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
2 Jul 10
I am very fond of Obama and he is actually the first president that I voted for and got elected... lol.
Very few of our presidents have actually been mis guided in their interest and concern for our nation and unfortunately some of these have been recently.
I always want some one who is way smarter then me, is able to see things that I have not taken into concederation and truley believes we can do better and Mr. Obama has an instilled faith in our nation that takes him to the idea's of forward instead of the fear of paralysis.
This country can do anything and any doubt of that is lost on the study of WWII.
We have not had a leader in some time that may actually take us to new hights as a country.
It is a shame that our country cannot have a political debate about real problems without all the party pettiness. We have some real problems that need real answers and when I see politicians making completely false aurguments to bolster their position I always assume that they simply have not taken the time to learn about the issue or they are to stupid to understand the issue.
1 person likes this
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
3 Jul 10
I'm going to confuse you even more...lol. there's the tea party movement and then there's the Tea Party. the difference? the tea party movement is a broad collection of liberty/patriot groups...the Tea Party is an organized hijacking of the tea party movement by the Republican party and Republican P.A.C.s like Tea Party Express. The actual tea party movement was born out of the Campaign 4 Liberty groups campaigning for Ron Paul and the End the Fed rallies.
I don't generally use terms like "conservative" or "liberal" to describe my political ideology as I could apply both terms equally to what I believe on each individual issue. these are both terms that more accurately describe one's moral and social beliefs rather than their philosophies of governance.
I look at the political spectrum in the broader sense of libertarian vs totalitarian...or libertarian vs statist. One can be quite conservative or liberal in their moral and social ideology but not wish to see government regulating that moral or social ideology...this would be on the libertarian end of the scale. contrast to those who wish to see government regulate those things and you start moving towards the totalitarian/statist end of the spectrum.
1 person likes this
@Tiaridakdyl (114)
• United States
7 Jul 10
Aaaaggghhh!
I wonder if I'm conservative or liberal or not. As far as libertarian or totalitarian (even though totalitarian has such a negative connotation for pretty much anyone), I'd prefer that things were regulated because I don't trust anyone to do right. Of course, that INCLUDES anyone in government so I can't go for that either.
Any time I've voted, it's been issue by issue and person by person, leaving blank any I had no particular position or knowledge of.
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
2 Jul 10
Tiaridakdyl, you are very observant! As a matter of fact, the current meanings of liberalism and conservatism are very different from what those terms meant decades ago:
Liberals and Radicals used to be people such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau (the philosopher behind representative government and whose view of government the US implements), Jeremy Bentham (the founder of Utilitarianism), James Mills, John S. Mills, etc. (philosophers who embraced and expanded on free market). These used to be people who demanded that everyone be included in government. Conservatives on the other hand were society elites who believed in social hierachy and believed only persons born into recognized families had the right to be in positions of authority and all others are meant to simply be subservient -
Somehow, when people talk about free market and representative government today, they seem to forget that these were the babies of philosophical radicals/liberals as they were called - for they took away power from the elites and brought to the common people. There are some things today that conservatives do that used to be considered liberal/radical, and some things that liberals do today that used to be considered conservative.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
2 Jul 10
I agree with sierras. Very good explanation. There are also people that call themselves Independent. Meaning they dont Identify with a specific party, rather they go issue by issue.
Like Sierra said, some Republicans may agree with democrats on some issues and vice versa. You do NOT have to identify completely with one party nor do you have to vote party line which means that if you are a republican you do not have to vote for only republicans.
There is also the Constitution Party which believes that every thing should refer back to the Constitution. If it is not stated there, then it is not a federal issue and should be handled by state and local governments.
Good luck and when you get overwhelmed, sit back and let things sink in. I am still learning, always learning but very interesting. Oh and I hope you have good blood pressure!
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
5 Jul 10
Don't feel bad about having a hard time keeping it all straight, some of us who have been following politics for decades have a hard time! The tea party movement is the most confusing to me; on one hand, there are many who will claim it's made up of all parties and ideologies, including liberal Democrats, but I don't see any indication of that. I am and have been a registered Democrat for years but I vote for the individual rather than the party. The truth is, I think most of us are kind of "hybrids" in that few people fit the exact definition of any party or ideology. I describe myself as "slightly more than slightly left of center" but that doesn't mean I agree with the liberal stance on every issue. I'd be considered a "dove" when it comes to foreign policy, but that doesn't mean I don't realize force sometimes IS necessary. It's really not all black and white!
I've always tried to stay informed about my local political issues but it seems that the same people get elected year after year and nothing changes.
Annie
@Tiaridakdyl (114)
• United States
7 Jul 10
Honestly, I don't know why there are usually only two parties. I know there are other possibilities but those people are not always even mentioned in the news coverage. At least online now, I can find out all sorts of things. It's quite interesting to read views of people from other countries about OUR issues (in America). Just like what I wondered as a school child learning about propaganda. It was pointed out as something other countries do but I didn't get the impression we were supposed to think we did that in America because we were a free country. I didn't believe it then and don't believe that now. No one could really believe anything else anymore I guess.
You say the same people seem to get elected year after year - and I suppose you mean practically interchangeable with one another - and I've wondered about that too. I think many may go in with all the best intentions, goals, and plans; that idealism is quickly stripped away as they fully comprehend the morass of immorality and insanity they've gotten themselves into. Perhaps that's a good thing after all, though I cringe to think of the way that must feel. It keeps people constantly thinking, considering, fighting for what they believe to be right.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
2 Jul 10
hon it can get really confusing. Liberals are very different from libertarians. Libertarains are different from republicans. Then you add the constitutionalist in there...they are different from the others. Then the independents. The green party.
I could go on and on....but I don't want to confuse you anymore than you already are.
Yes politics can be time consuming...it IS a hobby (or obsession LOL) for a lot of people. I know I spend a lot of time on it. I know just about all of my local politicans and up to date on current local issues. I also try and stay up to date on all national issues and national political players. I am very politically active.
It can be confusing to begin with...but over time you will figure it out.
1 person likes this
@santhosh_511 (1)
• India
2 Jul 10
I like politics because it need to be handle carefully.As much as possible we need to give respect to our responsible person.Even though they are belong to other community and religion we grap their hands to help the people.Students are playing important rolein politicssssssssss.
