Stardate 20010926.1238 (On Screen via long range sensors): I'm not just sure where I stand politically on the Left/Right scale. I know people online that I clearly identify as
"conservative" and some I clearly identify as
"liberal", and I would venture to guess that they classify themselves that way, too. I tend to think of myself as centrist, but then I suspect
most people think of themselves as centrist. One test of whether I'm liberal is whether I'm willing to criticize liberals, and indeed I am (as regular readers will know), so I guess I'm not, purely. (It's odd indeed that conservatives have readily sniped at their own when they go too far, i.e. the general denouncement of Falwell after his latest open-mike gaff, yet there has been little identifiable outrage by liberals about the outrageous statements of Michael Moore. Centrist liberals would do their cause good by denouncing their extremists; it would enhance their credibility.)
On the other hand, I'm less than sympathetic with extreme conservative voices. But nearly anyone on the political spectrum can identify people to the left of them and to the right who they do not respect. I guess the only real answer is that politically I'm an engineer: I tend to be pragmatic rather than ideological. I believe in doing things because they work, not because they satisfy some ideal goal, and I diss things which I think won't work for that reason alone. If I have any ideology at all, it's a general belief that people ought to be left alone to think and talk about and do more or less what they want as long as they don't hurt anyone else (which is why I'm a big fan of the Bill of Rights). Thing is, lots of both liberals and conservatives believe that, so it's no help. I used to think of myself as "progressive", but that term has been coopted by the lunatic fringe, and I don't consider myself to be a political lunatic, either. And "libertarian" is even worse. (Of course everyone, even on the lunatic fringe, think they're reasonable.) I'm in favor of Gay Marriage and against religion in government-financed schools, which I guess makes me liberal, but I oppose political correctness and sensitivity training in the schools, which I guess makes me conservative. I dunno. Anyone care to help me in starting the Engineering Party in the US? Our twin mottos will be "Whatever works" and "Leave me alone." (discussion in progress)
