Cyclists are liberals?! (Retry)

[Skierchickie]

Liza: You make very good points.
Here is my reasoning. I have voted in primary elections before, but I generally want to vote for the person from one party for one office, and somebody from another party for another. In Michigan you are required to register as one or the other (at least in the presidential primary), and the lists are sent to the national party. It isn't just a verbal selection. That is what I object to. I consider myself an independent.

Also, after thinking about it quite a bit this year, I realize that the primaries are for the sake of each party being able to choose its best candidate. If I don't consider myself as one or the other, and want to be free to vote for the person I see as the best one for the job, then maybe I have no business mucking up the waters for those that are actual party backers. Does this make any sense?

Anyway, I see it as a very imperfect system. Not that there is a perfect one. I really get sick of the "my party is right and the other party is wrong, no matter what" attitude that the government seems to have. The finger pointing often gets in the way of doing the right thing.

[Mr. Bloom]

There's no category for a fiscal conservative and social moderate.

I don't mind talking about my political leanings, but I don't wear it on my sleeve or on my car.

Me too

[Fredwina]

There's no category for a fiscal conservative and social moderate.


Me too

I believe in the US, they're called Libertarians (although the Libertarian party is probably more socially liberal.)

[Kano]

When I'm on the roads, I'm either on my bike or in my SUV.

According to the original tale of bikers being accused of being liberals by the SUV driver (so we "assume" conservatism?) where do I fit in?

Karen in Boise

[Love2Ride]

I too am careful about revealing my political leanings at work. I think I know someone very well, but then I find that sometimes I am surprised by a person's views on issues near and dear to my heart. I have to be careful, because I know that revealing your political leanings in a work situation can actually can alter how someone views you.

For the record, my leanings are towards the left.

Some of my very good friends are more conservative than I am. I just look at it as one of the interesting differences among friends!

[Biciclista]

Well, what's funny is that what I am is called Liberal, but my ideals are very conservative. Conserve fuel, conserve land, treasure our resources, have less children. but that's a liberal for you.

[smilingcat]

Well, what's funny is that what I am is called Liberal, but my ideals are very conservative. Conserve fuel, conserve land, treasure our resources, have less children. but that's a liberal for you.

Yes that is what a real conservatives do.

BTW, if people haven't figured out yet; I consider myself a SOCIALIST. so I picked liberal. Still fiscally very much a conservative though. Maybe this is why I just can't see myself spending mucho buckaroos for a brand new bike. Even though I really want one. There are lot of other things I would like to have but don't. I read alot, no time for TV. Again can't justify even a $700 flat screen TV or any TV for that matter. And my car, I'm hoping it can make it to around 300,000 mile mark. Then I'll get a decent car like the Honda FIT. People here have been saying nice things about it so...

And why a SOCIALIST?? Well I believe in universal health care, unemployment insurance and payment, welfare for the needy, care for the elderly social security, medicare... Care for our soldiers and THEIR families (I find it totally revolting that many of the enlisted families have to live below the poverty line). These are values I hold dearly. And all the other values where we care about welfare of others. This to me is a SOCIALIST. It may not be popular and I don't argue with others. This is just me.

I respect what others believe and of their intelligence (with exception of Idi Amin Dada, PolPot..), so all I ask is to respect my belief and my intelligence. And I sincerely hope, I didn't insult anyone.

[VeloVT]

Back to the comment that inspired this thread... I think people with road rage will sometimes just yell anything out the window, and it doesn't necessarily reflect any kind of broader social phenomenon.

My boyfriend and I were riding this summer in a part of the state where there are wealthy people with shoreline summer homes, and very poor people who live there year round, and not much in between. We came to a three-way intersection in which we had the right of way (we actually didn't have a stopsign), and some guy in a rusty car, coming from the other direction (also no stop sign, but we would never cross paths unless he were taking a left turn, which he wasn't) yells out the window to us, "single file, f*ckbags!". Whahuh? I'm pretty sure I don't even know what a f*ckbag is, and for the record, we were riding single file and to the left, but for some reason he felt compelled or entitled to yell obscenities at us (even it wouldn't have even been possible for to obstruct his passage since we were going in opposite directions, each on our respective sides of the yellow line, and there was no other traffic)...

So I wouldn't be surprised if the subtext of the "liberal" comment was more economic than political.

EDIT:
Although I don't know, Kfergos, according to the results of your poll, he might have been right . I would not necessarily have expected that either... and it may have to do with something regarding TE demographics... are we representative? It seems like there is a greater number of TE'ers from the pacific northwest and California than other parts of the country (which makes sense given TE's real-world location). Wonder if that if of consequence?

[Eden]

EDIT:
Although I don't know, Kfergos, according to the results of your poll, he might have been right . I would not necessarily have expected that either... and it may have to do with something regarding TE demographics... are we representative? It seems like there is a greater number of TE'ers from the pacific northwest and California than other parts of the country (which makes sense given TE's real-world location). Wonder if that if of consequence?

Don't discount that this is the internet too. Though it is not a total bastion of liberalism, it does tend have slightly more left leaning demographics.

[Brandi]

I am at a point where it seems it doesn't matter what you are but who is going to do the best job for our people and our country. And i think just getting out there and voting is the most important thing anyone can do no matter what you believe. Thank you and good night!

[TxDoc]

Proud Republican here