The funny thing is that even though my political beliefs have not changed in the last decade or decade and a half, the way I am viewed politically has. Let me explain that. When I was in graduate school and most of my colleagues were more liberal than I was, I was seen as the conservative one. Now that I am a teacher in a small, rural Southern town, where most of my friends and colleagues are more conservative, I am now seen as the liberal one. Mostly that has to do with the communities I have been involved in and how that has changed as my geographic location and my profession has changed. Geographically, I am only a few hundred in distance from where I was but my cadre of acquaintances and friends has changed dramatically.
Truthfully, the majority of Democrats, if they heard my views on all of the issues, would not consider me a Democrat. Likewise, the majority of Republicans, if they heard my views on all of the issues, would not consider me a Republican. Then again I would not describe myself as a “demopublican” or as a “republicrat.” I consider myself a moderate, and as someone who really doesn’t adhere to the political philosophies of either political party. I also do not believe that I am the only one. I believe there are many moderates out there who don’t fit into the current politics of America’s two-party system. So where do we belong? Though, I wish a third party was the answer, the United States has rules and procedures that are stacked against third parties. Third parties have often been single issue parties or a party that was formed to rally around a specific candidate. Either way, the are not very successful.
In my opinion, moderates like the middle class are largely ignored by the political parties. Both Democrats and Republicans will speak about middle class issues or persuading independents, but neither really do anything for the two groups. What political philosophy do you adhere to?
The Closet Professor 
October 17th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Politics is a mess these days. I tried hard NOT to watch the debate last night. A friend of mine asked on Facebook why neither candidate was telling the truth about oil prices… they are determined by a multitude of factors that we (as a country) may not have control over. The American public gets told what it wants to hear, whether it's the truth or not. The ridiculously pro-Obama gay people annoy me sometimes. Yes, I know how important our rights are, but what else might happen under Obama for the next 4 years? Don't we want to be married (if we wish), AND work hard at our jobs AND prosper? I was naive when I voted in 2000 (first time) and 2004. I wasn't happy with the picks in '08 and I'm not happy now.
October 17th, 2012 at 9:41 am
Like you I can't identify with either major party. And the minor parties at least here in New York are risible.I have supported and will vote again this year for President Obama, but wish he were less of a technocrat.
October 17th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
I guess I'll be voting Democrat, because I can't stand the thought of Romney in the White House and what that would mean to LGBT rights, etc. But I am also not sure that Obama has all the answers our country needs right now. I tend to be pretty far left socially, and more to the right fiscally, and as you say, what's a moderate to do? Vote Democratic so at least if the country goes bankrupt, we'll do it with the right to get married to who we want to…Peace <3Jay
October 17th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
I think we need four parties: social/fiscal liberal, social/fiscal conservative, social liberal/fiscal conservative and social conservative/fiscal liberal. That way everyone would be able to find a party to his liking. Of course, there will never be even a real third party, as the barriers to that happening are already in place.
October 17th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Jay, those are my thoughts exactly, so I will just say ditto.What worries me the most is how polarized EVERYONE has become and there is NO compromise or real effort to solve problems."Socialism" is now such a "bad" concept, but what about the Scandinavian countries who pay high taxes and happy to do so because their taxes pay for health care and higher education in addition to regular items such as protection. They seem to be a lot happier than we are.
October 17th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Thanks, Uncutplus!I echo your thoughts about the Scandinavian countries…reduce my insurance payroll deductions and assure me of coverage and you can tax me silly!Jay
October 18th, 2012 at 5:20 am
I completely agree. What's a person to do when you're stuck in the middle? But I do know I don't want to be living on the dark ages with all my rights taken away if a certain someone gets elected.
October 18th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Jay and Uncutplus, I tend to agree. Does the health coverage in Scandinavia have the same serious problems as the UK and Canada. I'm all for broader health coverage in the US but we can't make the same mistakes.
October 18th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
What matters is healthcare outcomes:The World Health Organization's rankingof the world's health systems.Rank Country 1 France2 Italy3 San Marino4 Andorra5 Malta6 Singapore7 Spain8 Oman9 Austria10 Japan11 Norway12 Portugal13 Monaco14 Greece15 Iceland16 Luxembourg17 Netherlands18 United Kingdom19 Ireland20 Switzerland21 Belgium22 Colombia23 Sweden24 Cyprus25 Germany26 Saudi Arabia27 United Arab Emirates28 Israel29 Morocco30 Canada31 Finland32 Australia33 Chile34 Denmark35 Dominica36 Costa Rica37 United States of America Not only is Scandinavia ahead of USA, so are 36 other countries including the UK and Canada! How many of the above are fee for service, as in the USA? Most are government funded with taxes.
November 27th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Thanks for being open to other possibilities other than the two parties. I live in a city (Los Angeles), that is in tolerate of any other view than Democrat (and as a Gay man, you are expected to be a Democrat. Otherwise, you are self loathing and antigay. Uh, not really. Everything in my life is not gay. There are other issues than gay marriage that I need to think about. I admire people who can look at the issues and can make a personal choice and not be directed by the "if you are gay, you have to vote this way or you hate yourself and the people around you."