(03-29-2024, 10:01 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(03-29-2024, 08:00 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I'm not really a Democrat or a Republican (although I am a registered Republican).  I'm not really a liberal or a conservative.  My views on various issues are not consistent with those labels.  I agree with Biden on some things, and I agree with Trump on some things, and I have strong disagreements with both of them.  I would probably vote for a Republican if it was someone other than Trump.  I am not a populist, I am not a protectionist, I don't like tariffs, and I believe in free markets.  I also don't like identity politics, or affirmative action, or forgiving student loans.  I believe climate change is real and we should try to do something about it.  I think we need to seriously deal with the deficit, and I don't see either side willing to do that.  I think we need to stop illegal immigration and allow more legal immigration.  I'm on the fence about abortion; I can see both sides of that issue.  I think we need to support Ukraine and Nato.  

You tell me, am I a conservative or liberal?  A Republican or a Democrat?  

So that leaves me on the fence, and that's why Trump's repulsive character tips the scales.

You sound like a reasonable centrist that has gambled here and there in their lifetime. That's fair.

A reasonable centrist would realize how corrupt our government is and stop supporting for their appointees. He can't, so he continues to enable a broken establishment. 

Marty, you missed my point. I don't care that you have a D next to your name or not. When a Trump supporter on this board calls you a liberal or democrat, they are saying you side with the establishment. The phrase is not literal because both parties are used by a corporate oligarch to advance the interests of the rich and powerful. However, because most people aren't educated enough to be specific with their language, they call you "x." In this case, because Trump is running as a Republican and they want to fight the establishment, they put you opposite to that position, which is liberal or democrat for all intents and purposes. These Republicans are not voting for the Mitch McConnell's or the Paul Ryan's or the Nikki Haley's. They don't make a distinction between them and Joe Biden. 

It's the same way that the far left calls all Republicans, Never-Trumpers and MAGA alike, far right, but they also are out protesting Biden. The "far" right and the "far" left are both the result of the same, broken system, but you keep voting for it while these crooks break it even further. 

I couldn't care less about your centrism, because you miss the forest through the trees. To the people here who don't have that same problem, you're a "democrat." Stop trying to be literal and understand the actual issue. 

Either way, I have been saying the moderates are the problem in this country since the last election, so I'm not mincing my words.

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