social liberal fiscal conservative

[Racenut20]

What I always thought I was. Is there such a thing?

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Russ Feingold

Jim Doyle (our Gov)
my dad
my husband
me...

You're in good company! :hi:

[Finder]

2. Me too...

I imagine that encompasses 3/4 of people in the US.

[rkc3]

4. At least 3/4 of the people who supported Clinton.

[Racenut20]

6. Doesn't surprise me that

We are both Clark supporters.

[Lefta Dissenter]

9. yeah,

and Wes Clark, too! :hi:

(forgot to add him to my list)

[SemiCharmedQuark]

3. Fiscal conservative to what extent?

Conservative as in not spending vast sums of money that we don't have? Socially liberal usually entails higher government spending for more programs, are you for that? Im guess I'm not sure to what degree you are one or the other. :shrug:

[mark414]

5. me personally,

i am all about putting money where our mouth is when it comes to education, health care, various social programs...

we could increase spending this way dramatically by cutting useless defense spending and eliminating pork, getting corporations to actually pay taxes, among other ways without having to increase the individual's taxes

[Racenut20]

7. My oversimplified view would be to

balance the budget, while maintaining the safety net and assist the underpriviledged.

[salin]

12. no longer possible.

It was hard enough to bounce out of the reagan/bush year deficits that were less than half of the size of the current deficits - and remember the current numbers do NOT inlude the cost of Iraq/Afghanistan...

They have done their jobs well - and continue to attempt to do it moreso - that fiscally conservative and safety net can not both be done. Hell they are already floating their newest tax cuts plan that allows for more tax shelters for the wealthy and for corporations... but is "revenue neutral" - and they consider paying for it.... by disallowing the deductions for local/state taxes and... get this... by cutting out the tax incentive for companies to provide health insurance to employees ... two fer - more money to the top - no help towards the deficit while increasing the number of uninsured and thus greatly expanding the need for a safety net - that can no longer be paid for. Each day, it seems, the damage gets worse...

[Finder]

8. I disagree...

Being socially liberal does not necessarily mean higher gov spending and programs. Howard Dean is a good model of a social liberal with a conservative fiscal philosophy. These days the definitions of the various philosophies have been skewed by the big mouths who depend on the listeners not owning a dictionary much less a history book.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

11. Well, higher as opposed to "nothing"

The money can obviously be used more efficiently and the budget itself can be streamlined. However some would argue that it is best to do both; streamline the budget, spend more effectively, AND don't bother with the social programs.

[American Tragedy]

10. To me, socially liberal refers to privacy and individual liberties

I can't necessarily speak for the original poster's meaning. Personally, as a hardcore civil libertarian, I consider myself extremely socially liberal. I am fiscally conservative specifically in the sense that Eisenhower was: balance the budget, and decrease excessive and unnecessary subsidy of military, especially when it displaces money from the private sector and our domestic support system. As you read this post, I am typing a report on this very problem.

Ironically, much of the Ike ideal has recently become a staple of the Democratic party.

[toddaa]

13. Fiscally responsible Democrats

Fiscal responsibility means that the government is not beholden to any corporate interest. Much like the separation between church and state, there must be separation between business and state.

[NeoGreen]

14. Me too...

and Dean is one of my models for such a point of view.

I have always believed, until this election, that the Dems could win with this political stance.

Bring the Patiot-act-hater and some of the tax-reduction republicans into our camp. Reduce taxes by reducing the fed debt by reducing this insane spending on the CIA/military.

Leave the jesus-freak-repukes (JFR's)to play by themselves.