Politically I find it nearly impossible to identify with either party, and a decent number of my friends find it hard to believe because I am very outspoken against Obama's policies which makes me the "typical white republican" but i disagree with that statement entirely.
RELIGION
Religion has never been very large in my house therefore many of the ideals of staunch conservatives go right out the window. I believe that everyone has the right to do as they please within the bounds of the law and no single group has the right to deem something acceptable or a moral crime against humanity. Although religion is an extremely controversial discussion and has even caused wars, it seems some people take their personal experiences with their deity to far and almost force others to join through legislation.
REGION
Another affect on my political belief is the regions I have grown up in. I have dual citizenship between the U.S. and Germany and have lived in NC, VA, PA, and Germany and have been given a taste of half of Europe's culture through visits which opened my eyes to the way that government should function through an analysis of weaknesses of one nation, yet the strengths of another. I believe that every person is capable of eventually supporting themselves if they are willing to work hard, yet many Americans aren't willing to work hard anymore and my support for bills that increase welfare has begun to wane since joining the workforce. Although I understand that many Americans truly need systems like welfare, to many abuse the system for the National government to continue to support a program such as welfare.
GENDER
Another influence has been my gender according to political polls, which I don't quite understand because although I am a guy I do believe in equality for both men and women in nearly all fields. I also support women in the military, however I believe women should only be allowed on the front lines if they can complete the test that all men pass, because that is true equality. I also support the free choice of women to manage their lives as they see fit the same way a man has for the last two centuries.
FAMILY
Family is one of the largest affects on my life as a whole. My mother is a German national raised by an American father and a German mother in the nation of Germany. This has led to extreme differences in their political views that can only be classified as a culture war. My mother supports many liberal aspects of the government such as nationalized school systems, and support for the people, yet she believes that everyone has the capability to be self sufficient and should be restricted by the government for abusing the system. My father is similar in his belief that people can sustain themselves, yet he believes that it is the job of every man to support his family and if he cant afford one, he shouldn't have one to begin with. These have combined in such a way that I believe that every man can care for their family but there is a need for the government to occasionally support families for short periods of time during economic crisis.
RACE
Being white is definitely a political challenge in today's political field. I hold nothing against another race or ethnicity yet to disagree with President Obama's policies seems to be a racial injustice of the highest degree. I don't believe that my race has caused any effects on my political ideology because I was raised in multiple nations giving me a view of others as equals and never inferiors. Though stereotypes do exist they are never a basis for judgement when it comes to my political support or criticisms.
LIBERTY
Liberty, many Americans believe this to mean freedom to do as they please as long as they don't infringe on others. Sadly I find this to be failing in today's society. Personally I believe liberty and freedom can only be achieved by sacrificing ones self to the surrounding community, only then can everyone be free through the support of local organizations. This helps America to grow stronger and secure our freedoms.
EQUALITY
Equality is a fundamental principle of America's political system. I agree with the idea that everyone should have an equal say in government policy yet I don't believe equality politically has been accomplished. This is for two reasons, political elites which are called elites for a reason, and voting age restrictions. I believe that once a person earns their first pay check they should be allowed to vote, or they shouldn't be taxed by the federal government until they are 18 and legally capable of voting.
INDIVIDUALISM
Individualism is a big topic of American culture, since the creation of our nation the only sure fire way to succeed was through self determination. I believe that everyone is able to succeed if they work, yet today many people believe they are entitled to a good life from the government. This has never been the case, the men and women of our military shed blood, sweat, and tears for our country and even then they can still find it hard to make it by from month to month. It makes me cringe to see men who fight to defend the Constitution find it hard to make a living while others can sit around and collect welfare and benefits through cheating the system.
I don't mean to offend anyone, these are my personal opinions on the government and every citizen is entitled to disagree or to agree. I don't believe any one person can be right or wrong when it comes to their political views, only that they can fail when they don't stand up for their own opinions. Please don't take anything said here as an attack.
As a black and very Pro-Obama young woman, let me say I hold nothing against you for not agreeing with him or his policies. Where would this country be with a little arguments and disagreeing? I do think it's disgusting and wrong for people to associate disliking the POTUS with racism because it's not true. My aunt, the one who lives in California, is black, and everyone thought she'd be liberal, is super duper anti-Obama. I don't take your beliefs as an attack; you're entitled to them. It's your 1st amendment right to say what you want, after all!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI like a lot of your points. I may not agree with them, but I think the explanations about your background make sense. With all these activities we've been doing about finding our own political ideology I think it's important to examine why we believe all of these things. I also think it's interesting to see what the stereotypes are and which ones we do or don't "fit in" with, or which ones apply to our lives at all.
ReplyDeleteI think its cool that you have lived in so many places. It still means region has had an influence on your political beliefs and values. However, it has allowed you to see a variety of ways of carrying out social and political policies. I also like your view on being able to vote when you get a job or not being taxed until you're 18.
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