What kind of democrat am I?

[Uben]

I am a democrat. I have never voted for a republican in my life.

I am a Texan. I am a business owner, pro-gun rights, pro-choice, and somewhat wealthy. I am not a tree-hugger, but I do understand their stance.
I didn't back Obama in the primaries, I was a Clinton supporter, but quickly switched my support to him once nominated. I like him and I like what he has done. I will vote for him again.

I am a fiscal conservative and a social liberal. To me, that means I believe in social programs that benefit the less fortunate, but I believe they should be paid for. I want a universal healthcare program, but I want it paid for, not implemented on borrowed monies. I do not trust electronic voting machines and think they should be banned because of their vulnerability.

So, I don't know what moniker I deserve. I don't really care what people call me, I am what I am, and I'm not changing.

As long as any description is followed by the word "democrat", I'm good!

[PBS Poll-435]

1. We agree on most everything, I guess

Except a couple of things...

I want More Environment &
less Gun Rights


:hi:

[Greybnk48]

4. Same here. Almost the same stance as you describe,

but less gun rights, more environment.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. I guess I wasn't clear

:dunce:

I want more environmental protection and less access to firearms.

[Uben]

6. Maybe, but read this post I made about gun control

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=357697&mesg_id=357833

[Greybnk48]

9. I stand corrected!

We're on the same page on the gun issue as well. I completely understand wanting a gun handy if you live in a rural area where you could be vulnerable (be it from furry/scaley critters or no good human critters). My husband, who was a corpsman during Vietnam and has hardly ever shot a gun in his life, has some vintage rifles that he collects and really enjoys--go figure.

[stray cat]

2. A welcome one across the board I would hope!

[dawg]

3. You're one of my kind, Uben.

I'm to the left of you, but you're definitely fighting alsongside the angels, just like the rest of us.

The only thing in your post that I would like to expand on is the "fiscal conservative" part. I, too, think that social programs should be paid for. But that means over the long term. As a businessperson, I'm sure you understand that there is a natural business cycyle - good years and bad. In order to maximize social good (and mimimize taxes in the process), the federal government needs to run deficits in bad years and surpluses in good ones. Long-term, all programs are paid for and debt is kept to a manageable level. While there is near 10% unemployment, the economy needs the extra spending only the government is able to provide.

Also, I never use the word "conservative" in any good context. I use it to mean "stingy", "outdated", "hillbilly", etc. You should say that you are fiscally moderate or fiscally responsible. Don't use the "c" word.

[Uben]

8. Yeah, I'm not a PC kinda guy

I do understand debt is a necessary evil in some cases, but I also know there is waaay too much waste in government. We could easily trim the budget to live within our means if a responsible effort to do so was made by congress. Earmarks should be banned altogether. Defense spending is out of control and has been for thirty years or better.

[jtown1123]

13. I understand where your coming from but earmarks do a lot of good.

So many rural and desolate communities are given federal funds to create jobs, hospitals, water treatment plants, universities, things for the common good. Without earmarks, many cities (i.e. Syracuse, where I used to live) would be in much worse shape economically than they are now.

I think the true waste in government is the ridiculously low tax rates we give to corporations who ship jobs overseas.

[Uben]

22. I know they do a lot of good.....

...but they should be voted on according to individual merit and not attached haphazardly or concealed in voluminous bills.

[Lucian]

5. Why are you asking us?

You should know what kind of Democrat you are.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Nice post crap you took here.

Google rhetorical questions. I like the illustrative nature of this post. It is well written and drives home the point that we are all in this together. Or maybe not. Judging from your happy demeanor over a non-threatening post. :shrug: More coffee?

[Uben]

11. Well.....

...I guess it is all subjective in nature. I have labelled myself a centrist at times, but I'm not really sure what that is. I think I am left of center a bit, so I don't really consider that applicable. People like to attach labels to things. Me, not so much. As you have probably figured out, I don't give a damn what I'm called as long as it has the word democrat somewhere in there.
This was more a "feeling out" to see if there were more here like myself.

I'm a good democrat, no doubt.

[sadbear]

How do you feel about higher taxes on the "somewhat wealthy"?

[Uben]

16. I am 100% behind it!

I am all for paying my fair share of taxes. The wealthy in this country need to be taxed much, much more. That is where the money is, and that is where the shortfalls should be alleviated from. We should return to the tax tables from the sixties. I'm not in the top two percent, but fall somewhere in the top ten percent, probably closer to the tenth percentile, if even that.

[H2O Man]

12. I would say

a "thinking Democrat."

[Uben]

17. Thanks H2O, by the way....

....hope you are recovering well. I followed your recent illness.

[H2O Man]

21. Thanks.

I'm doing okay. Some good days, some not so good ones. On those days that I become frustrated by my inability to do as much as I would like to, my wife gently reminds me that I'm not an 18- or 25-year old any more. And even I have trouble arguing that point!

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. I am a Texan as well. Well, a two year Texan so far.

I am pretty much fiscally conservative and all the way socially liberal. My health care wish, as a pre-exister, is that I want to pay for (myself) health care at a reasonable price, and not the current $1400/month it would cost. I am angry that so many cheer the reform when it actually made costs for high risk insurance go up $200/month for my age/area in the state of Texas.
I was once pro-gun rights. With the gun shot suicides of a husband, father-in-law and grandfather-in-law, I'm not one who will argue for it...and (with a son) I will no longer have them in my house. It's about keeping him alive. That said, I don't support taking away 2nd Amendment rights of Americans.
I am not happy with Obama, and could be persuaded to back a progressive challenger in the Primary. I don't feel my voice is heard anymore. I am a Democratic leaning Independent and I hope, someday, I can get back to just the D. It's good to meet you.

[Uben]

19. OMG!

Don't get me started about healthcare! My wife is an eight year cancer survivor, and I am paying over twenty thousand dollars a year in premiums alone! That's for a $5K deductible and 50% of the next $10K, so an extended illness could cost me as much as $30K/yr. Yeah, us pre-existers need help! I can afford the coverage, but average Americans cannot. That is a travesty!

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. What kind? Like me, you are "whatever kind of Democrat you want to be."

Now let's argue some of those points. :hi:

[OHdem10]

18. Just a thought. You say you want the social safety net paid

for and this is noble. Are you willing if necessary
to pay more taxes to maintain a safety net????

[Uben]

20. Absolutely!

A return to the tax tables of the sixties is necessary to get us back on track.