Understanding the Irish Republican Socialist Party

[Leigha]

Well, those are your opinions, Syne, and you're entitled to them.

But, here are some interesting facts about Independents:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20...ependents/

Seems more like a relatively even split between Independents ''leaning'' towards Republican vs Democratic initiatives and policies. So, in reading through that information, it seems that only 7% of Indepenents are ''pure'' Independents. So, suppose you like ideas of both parties, cherry picking if you will. What does that make me? I'd consider myself to be an Independent, but I'll admit that I like some of the ideas of Repubs and some on the Democratic ''side.'' But, not heavily leaning towards one over the other.

[Syne]

Well, those are your opinions, Syne, and you're entitled to them.

But, here are some interesting facts about Independents:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20...ependents/

Seems more like a relatively even split between Independents ''leaning'' towards Republican vs Democratic initiatives and policies. So, in reading through that information, it seems that only 7% of Indepenents are ''pure'' Independents. So, suppose you like ideas of both parties, cherry picking if you will. What does that make me? I'd consider myself to be an Independent, but I'll admit that I like some of the ideas of Repubs and some on the Democratic ''side.'' But, not heavily leaning towards one over the other.

That info just verifies what I'm saying. More independents lean Democrat, even if by a small margin, but even the independents who lean Republican favor legal marijuana, gay marriage, open immigration, and affirmative action, all things decidedly favored by Democrats. So no, those "leaning Republican" are even favoring Democrat policies. When they accept those policy goals of those claiming to "lean Republican" that means that the supposed "pure" independents very likely still favor more Democrat policies. Democrats have just moved to far to the left that people have been duped into thinking the middle is moderate Democrat.

From my experience with you, you tend to favor more Democrat polices, whether you realize it or not. One benefit of being a partisan is that we know exactly what our own party espouses.

[Leigha]

Well, those are your opinions, Syne, and you're entitled to them.

But, here are some interesting facts about Independents:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20...ependents/

Seems more like a relatively even split between Independents ''leaning'' towards Republican vs Democratic initiatives and policies. So, in reading through that information, it seems that only 7% of Indepenents are ''pure'' Independents. So, suppose you like ideas of both parties, cherry picking if you will. What does that make me? I'd consider myself to be an Independent, but I'll admit that I like some of the ideas of Repubs and some on the Democratic ''side.'' But, not heavily leaning towards one over the other.

That info just verifies what I'm saying. More independents lean Democrat, even if by a small margin, but even the independents who lean Republican favor legal marijuana, gay marriage, open immigration, and affirmative action, all things decidedly favored by Democrats. So no, those "leaning Republican" are even favoring Democrat policies. When they accept those policy goals of those claiming to "lean Republican" that means that the supposed "pure" independents very likely still favor more Democrat policies. Democrats have just moved to far to the left that people have been duped into thinking the middle is moderate Democrat.

From my experience with you, you tend to favor more Democrat polices, whether you realize it or not. One benefit of being a partisan is that we know exactly what our own party espouses.

Here is how I stand on the core issues:

* I believe in an economy that has a mixture of capitalism and socialism. Either are subject to corruption if left unchecked.
* I'm pro-life and against the death penalty, but don't believe abortion should be banned. 
* I'm against the ''new green deal,'' but believe that we very much need to take climate change and our role in it seriously. 
* I'm not anti-gun, but believe that stricter gun laws should be in place, mainly in the form of screening buyers for mental health background checks, and increasing the time to wait to buy a gun. If you can't wait a few extra days, that is a red flag.
* I'm for improving private sector insurance, and not against universal healthcare per se, but believe that everyone should have a choice. If I want to keep my group healthcare insurance through my employer, I should have that option. The government shouldn't dictate our healthcare choices.
* I believe in God, and religious freedom, yet I also believe in a secular government. 

Those are some basic issues that come to mind, so I'm not as left leaning as you might think. Like I mentioned above, I tend to favor some Republican policies, and some Democrat.

[Syne]

That info just verifies what I'm saying. More independents lean Democrat, even if by a small margin, but even the independents who lean Republican favor legal marijuana, gay marriage, open immigration, and affirmative action, all things decidedly favored by Democrats. So no, those "leaning Republican" are even favoring Democrat policies. When they accept those policy goals of those claiming to "lean Republican" that means that the supposed "pure" independents very likely still favor more Democrat policies. Democrats have just moved to far to the left that people have been duped into thinking the middle is moderate Democrat.

From my experience with you, you tend to favor more Democrat polices, whether you realize it or not. One benefit of being a partisan is that we know exactly what our own party espouses.

Here is how I stand on the core issues:

* I believe in an economy that has a mixture of capitalism and socialism. Either are subject to corruption if left unchecked.
* I'm pro-life and against the death penalty, but don't believe abortion should be banned. 
* I'm against the ''new green deal,'' but believe that we very much need to take climate change and our role in it seriously. 
* I'm not anti-gun, but believe that stricter gun laws should be in place, mainly in the form of screening buyers for mental health background checks, and increasing the time to wait to buy a gun. If you can't wait a few extra days, that is a red flag.
* I'm for improving private sector insurance, and not against universal healthcare per se, but believe that everyone should have a choice. If I want to keep my group healthcare insurance through my employer, I should have that option. The government shouldn't dictate our healthcare choices.
* I believe in God, and religious freedom, yet I also believe in a secular government. 

Those are some basic issues that come to mind, so I'm not as left leaning as you might think. Like I mentioned above, I tend to favor some Republican policies, and some Democrat.

• Heavy government regulation of capitalism has long been a Democrat policy, including socialist-like redistribution schemes.
  
• If your pro-life stance doesn't entail any policy goals beyond the status quo, you're just a moderate Democrat.
  
• Again, taking climate change seriously, shy of the green new deal, is a moderate Democrat stance.
  
• "Common sense" gun laws are, yet again, a moderate Democrat stance.
  
• Obama claimed you could "keep your insurance" too...which earned him "lie of the year".
  
• And? Who is saying they want an theocracy or even religio-centric government?
  The real test on religious freedom is your stance on conflicts between religious conscience and things like being forced to participate in things you consider sins. Can you deny services for a gay wedding or refuse to issue gay marriage licenses?
  

So yeah, pretty much a moderate Democrat.

[confused2]

Personally I regard political parties as a corruption of the (indirect) democratic process.

[Syne]

Personally I regard political parties as a corruption of the (indirect) democratic process.

So you don't think groups of people can agree on policy goals? If they genuinely agree, how is that corrupt?

[Leigha]

Why not a moderate Republican? Lol

[Syne]

Why not a moderate Republican? Lol

Because those are all, literally, moderate Democrat positions.

Since Democrats have moved wildly leftward while Republicans have hardly moved at all for decades, Republicans in general are more moderate (closer to center) than most Democrats. This is why moderate Democrats, like Dave Rubin (married gay man) and Tim Pool, and libertarians can find common ground with Republicans in general.

So the fact that you would even ask that speaks volumes.

[Leigha]

I don’t follow your point. No one really utters “moderate Republican,” but moderate Democrat is very common. That’s what I meant.

I doubt you’re as conservative as you think. Everyone has a few shades of grey in them when it comes to politics.

[Syne]

I don’t follow your point. No one really utters “moderate Republican,” but moderate Democrat is very common. That’s what I meant.

I doubt you’re as conservative as you think. Everyone has a few shades of grey in them when it comes to politics.

That's my point. "Moderate Republican" is a redundant term, as most Republicans are closer to center than most Democrats. It's like saying "Republican Republican". Now, there is the mythical "socially liberal Republican", but that's just a misnomer for RINO (Republican in name only). There's generally no need to differentiate a moderate Republican, because the fringe right is a small minority, whereas there is a pressing need to differentiate moderate Democrats, because the far-left is increasingly becoming a very vocal plurality, if not eventual majority.

I doubt you're as moderate as you think. The difference is that I can specifically articulate why.