Conservative Republicans under 30 do exist!!

[modest_mel]

Hey guys!

It almost seems like conservative republicans under the age of 30 are an extinct species these days. Are there any out there?!.....

[vinsanity]

hmm...maybe in the fiscal libertarian sense, but not in the patriot-act-era neocon sense

[Bocheezu]

hmm...maybe in the fiscal libertarian sense, but not in the patriot-act-era neocon sense

Yup. I'd consider myself more Libertarian than neocon.

[wordsmith]

They're out there. When I was living as an adult in my hometown (small, rural, midwestern), it was hard to find anything but. I didn't identify, but I was definitely odd woman out, in that sense. Conservative values just don't, for the most part, mesh very well with my values, attitudes, and philosophies, and never really have. I grew up in a nonpartisan, independent household, but my personal values definitely skew to the liberal end.

I'm neither conservative nor republican, but nor do I fall on the extreme opposite edge, either. However, I'm definitely more liberal than moderate. Our household is a little split, because my boyfriend classifies himself as moderate/independent/libertarian leanings if any. He does love him some conservative talk radio, though. I grit my teeth and bear it (mostly silently) when we carpool. And I'm on my liberal soapbox often enough that I figure it balances out.

Loosely relatedly, what I REALLY find to be the tough to find species, if you will, are young people who are liberal and parcipants in organized religion (particularly Christian, but otherwise, as well). It's not impossible to find 20-something/30-something churchgoers, but they're much more often conservative than not. It's like a goldmine when I meet other liberal churchgoers.

[vinsanity]

Loosely relatedly, what I REALLY find to be the tough to find species, if you will, are young people who are liberal and parcipants in organized religion (particularly Christian, but otherwise, as well). It's not impossible to find 20-something/30-something churchgoers, but they're much more often conservative than not. It's like a goldmine when I meet other liberal churchgoers.

There are plenty where I went to college, but being a Jesuit school and all, it would almost by definition have to be full of liberal churchgoers ;):

[wordsmith]

Yup, I went to a Lutheran liberal arts college, so same thing, nothing screams "liberal churchgoer" like the ELCA; it even beats out Catholic orders. But outside the parochial school bubble and into the post-college, non-academic world, not so much.

[Bman120]

They definitely exist. I consider myself a moderate Republican because on many social issues I do swing to the left ie pro choice, I don't mind gay marriage and so on. I actually see more conservative republicans in our age range than I see moderates. Most moderates I know are registered democrats who overall swing further left than I do.

[NewMrs.]

Loosely relatedly, what I REALLY find to be the tough to find species, if you will, are young people who are liberal and parcipants in organized religion (particularly Christian, but otherwise, as well). It's not impossible to find 20-something/30-something churchgoers, but they're much more often conservative than not. It's like a goldmine when I meet other liberal churchgoers.


LOL. This reminds me of a story that my aunt told me recently. She is a liberal Democrat, and she is also active in her church. She lost her husband right after she turned 40 and a few years later she adopted an African-American boy even though she is white and a widow and she had no other children. She did this after talking it over with a Protestant minister that she knows very well.

She attended an Episcopalian church. I don't know all of the terminology for this because I am a Catholic, but the congregation that my aunt belonged to broke away from the mainstream American Episcopalian church that is related to the Anglican church because a bunch of her fellow church members were upset about the gay bishop thing. My aunt is totally okay with having gay bishops, so she didn't want to break off from the main Episcopalian church. I believe that she then went and joined a different Episcopalian church that didn't break away from the Anglican congregation (if I'm using the correct terminology).

Anyway, some of her friends are trying to get her to start dating again. One of her friends told her to go through this Christian dating service, and then said, "Wait a minute. That won't work. All the men there are Republicans."

[wordsmith]

Hah, I know, right?

I typically identify myself as part of the religious left. ;)

[old_school_soul]

I'm starting to identify myself as a liberalterian. I definitely have liberal leanings, but at the same time the government has no business what goes on in my house. Also, I don't believe the government should be blessing any marriages, *all* marriages should be civil unions.

[Bocheezu]

I typically identify myself as part of the religious left. ;)

Yeah, and I'm part of the agnostic right.

It's funny how when I was growing up, I was taught that Repubs where the "small government, low taxes, low spending" party, and really, they only have one of those three now.

[vinsanity]

I consider myself a religious person, but do not associate myself with what is labeled the "religious right"; religion should have no bearing on our government's policies.




It's funny how when I was growing up, I was taught that Repubs where the "small government, low taxes, low spending" party, and really, they only have one of those three now.

Yeah, really. I can identify with the "textbook" definition of republican ideals, but I seem to have skimmed past the part where the text said "just kidding!"

[arrow]

I don't believe the government should be blessing any marriages, *all* marriages should be civil unions.


I'm starting to think this as well. If the religious groups want to claim all marriage as a religious practice, than the government shouldn't be involved AT ALL. Separation of church and state and all that.

I'm pretty liberal but not party-line Democrat.

And yeah, there's plenty of young conservatives out there! College Republicans, anyone?

[wordsmith]

And yeah, there's plenty of young conservatives out there! College Republicans, anyone?

My college yearbook is funny....it took like three pages to photograph all the [Fill in the blank w/ college name] Democrats, and the ['' '' ]Republicans, all five of them, fit on part of one page. Def a lefty school, although the Alex P. Keaton types did exist, and usually were school newspaper columnists.

[urban_achiever]

I am of the fiscal conservative/socially liberal bent, though I am pro-life.

[vinsanity]

I am of the fiscal conservative/socially liberal bent, though I am pro-life.

well, that's pretty much me in a nutshell.

If you don't mind me asking, what political party did you register under?

[redav]

I know plenty of young people much more conservative than me.

I'm definitely a social conservative, but fiscally, I'm a moderate.

As far as political parties--they are more alike than they are different. Much like Coke & Pepsi. They can play it up and create irrational loyalties, but it's mostly the same product in different packaging. They are, in most ways, big business--they seek their self-interests & market share of their niche in the market, which is govt.

[urban_achiever]

well, that's pretty much me in a nutshell.

If you don't mind me asking, what political party did you register under?

In my state you don't register with a party...when you go to vote in the primary you tell the person at the polling location which party you will be choosing for your primary vote, and they provide you with the appropriate ballot.

So, I guess I am independent. I don't really have much respect for the D or R parties anyway.

[wordsmith]

I'm not registered, either (I really haven't had a need to be), but I've only really voted republican once, in a gubernatorial election.

I'm not very socially conservative at all, so I don't typically side with conservatives, but sometimes, like in the above election, the republican was the better choice given the candidates.

[modest_mel]

Literally, I am to the right. Both fiscally and especially socially. I've heard some interesting things in the current presidential election that really just don't sit well with me. Government programs are a good idea in general, but a bad idea for the government. I heard a candidate say that the government should be what helps you make all your dreams come true....uh....i don't know about you guys but that frightens me!

I believe that it is NOT the duty of government to help you make your dreams come true. If anything, we as fellow humans, and most specifically the church, need to work together to help each others dreams come true, that is not the govts job.

I also think that the reason you can't find "religious" liberals is because those values are completely contradictory. Completely.

I really appreciate this board though, in spite of our differences in beliefs everyone is so peaceful. What a breath of fresh air!

[urban_achiever]

I also think that the reason you can't find "religious" liberals is because those values are completely contradictory. Completely.


I disagree...caring for the poor, not resorting to violence, and not judging others are all liberal social ideals that also harken to ideals posed in the New Testament.

[wordsmith]

What a breath of fresh air!

I wish I could say the same about the presumption that one cannot be a person of faith without being a social/fiscal conservative and/or a Republican; alas, no...it's pretty stale.

[wordsmith]

I also think that the reason you can't find "religious" liberals is because those values are completely contradictory. Completely.



FYI, this assertion is fairly disrespectful, which really doesn't do much to add to the peaceful environment you noticed.

When people voice differing views and perspectives in a way that is an overt insult to others, that's generally unwelcome.

[and1grad]

Depending on how you look at it, the government HAS made some people's dreams come true. Like if you're rich...or Big Pharma...or Big Oil. Stuff like that. Its also made it possible for there to be a serious possibility of a black President, which might be something similar to MLK Jr's "Dream" coming true. ;)

[Bman120]

Depending on how you look at it, the government HAS made some people's dreams come true. Like if you're rich...or Big Pharma...or Big Oil. Stuff like that. Its also made it possible for there to be a serious possibility of a black President, which might be something similar to MLK Jr's "Dream" coming true. ;)

If Barack Obama manages to "transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood" as MLK said in that speech, nothing would make me happier, even though i'm a republican. ;):

In terms of mel's post regarding the government making dreams come true, it's original purpose was not to do that. However, since the new deal and the massive expansion of the government, it is now expected that it should and unfortunately, unraveling much of what has happened since the 1930's re expansion of the government is damn near impossible given the current political climate.

If you tell people there is no more entitlement programs, no more aid to the poor/elderly, no rules on decency in broadcasts and so on, there will be riots. Ironically, removing some of these safety nets would likely force prices down in many areas in the long term, but in the short term, people would suffer and nobody wants that.

[gemma-dahl]

Depending on how you look at it, the government HAS made some people's dreams come true. Like if you're rich...or Big Pharma...or Big Oil. Stuff like that.

I love how you put this. So true.

My thoughts on this thread:

1. The GOP seems pretty far removed from the Barry Goldwater heyday of fiscal conservatism. I think the Bush Administration has spent gross heaps of federal money. I really wish Barack would give the GOP more hell on that issue.

2. To address what the OP, Mel, said: It makes perfect sense to me that a liberal could hold strong religious beliefs. I think the teachings of Jesus are leftist. Equally as compelling is that so many people of Jewish faith pull the "D" lever in the voting booth. I mean, religious is religious, isn't it? I have written on issues of faith before for work, and have found a solid number of left-leaning individuals who practice a religion of some kind.

[wordsmith]

2. To address what the OP, Mel, said: It makes perfect sense to me that a liberal could hold strong religious beliefs. ..I think the teachings of Jesus are leftist.

To the point of socialist, I've heard argued, although arguably mostly by propagandists. TIMO, he teachings of Jesus Christ are based in compassion and understanding, which I tend to hear more often from the left than right in my day to day life. So if compassion and understanding are considered to be "leftist" tendencies, I'd agree. My biggest issue with the religious right is their frequent condemnation of the same types of people Jesus is documented as having mainly associated with and called followers and friends, in his time. WWJD, indeed.

[The Happy Hodag]

If I may interject a couple things on some strange tangent while we're talking about the mix of politics and religion here. . .

Here in Green Bay, WI, our county Democratic party had what was called the "Bye Bye Bush Bash" a few months ago. One of the speakers, who happens to be a local Jewish rabbi, said in his speech, "I love God, this is why I am a Democrat."

Several months later, the chair of the county party said at a party meeting, "Remember, Jesus rode in on a donkey."

Just a wild tangent related to the thread. Please resume regularly scheduled thread.

-The Happy Hodag!

[redav]

I remember a speech by one candidate that was asked basically what would Jesus do as a political candidate. The response was Jesus would be too smart to go into politics.

Frankly, I don't buy the crap that democrat ideals mesh better with Christianity. Also, the heartless bigots who support (and often hijack) the far right aren't exactly in line with what Jesus taught, either.

[wordsmith]

Also, the heartless bigots who support (and often hijack) the far right aren't exactly in line with what Jesus taught, either.

Totally true. Unfortunately, they claim to be paragons of Christianity, though, and some people (more than I care to imagine) buy into it.

[hoodie]

My grandparents said they voted for Bush on one principle and one alone. "He's a man of God." Didn't care about his policies or, the second time around, his history as president in the first term. Simply put, they voted for him because he touted religion more than the other guy.

(Nonetheless, I bit my tongue from wanting to ask what the heck religions they thought Gore and Kerry practiced...)

[Bman120]

My grandparents said they voted for Bush on one principle and one alone. "He's a man of God." Didn't care about his policies or, the second time around, his history as president in the first term. Simply put, they voted for him because he touted religion more than the other guy.

(Nonetheless, I bit my tongue from wanting to ask what the heck religions they thought Gore and Kerry practiced...)

There are different interpretations of faith and religion and different degrees of devotion to them. Just because two people are christian, doesn't make them the same. Bush's faith is certainly different from Kerry and it appealed to some moreso than Kerry's did.

The same explaination can be used for Liberals vs Conservatives. There are liberals who believe, but they do so differently than some conservatives and to some, it is just not acceptable. Just like some liberals find conservative views unacceptable. This thread itself illustrates a lack of tolerance on both sides that is at the heart of the polarization that exists in America.

[modest_mel]

I disagree...caring for the poor, not resorting to violence, and not judging others are all liberal social ideals that also harken to ideals posed in the New Testament.

Caring for the poor is not solely a liberal social ideal, I think it is an ideal highly skewed. And to assume that it is not a conservative ideal is also highly skewed. The government does not care for the poor. Nor is it the job of the government to care for the poor.

Now let me explain myself before you get your knickers in a twist, Jesus exclaimed all of the time to do good works such as caring for the less fortunate by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. I completely agree with this, but we need to remember who He was speaking to. Jesus was speaking to the Church, He was not speaking to Caesar and the government. And we cannot say that it is different now and that Jesus didn't acknowledge the government or understand it's role in society because there is also an instance where Jesus speaks of tithing. He says, Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is Gods. Jesus understood earthly authority and respected it.

This is where we as individuals can take responsibility. The church in America is not doing enough.

On another idea of the same tangent, the church and the private sector. The government is taking a role that it doesn't belong in and so many programs that the government offers could EASILY be switched to the private sector.

[modest_mel]

FYI, this assertion is fairly disrespectful, which really doesn't do much to add to the peaceful environment you noticed.

When people voice differing views and perspectives in a way that is an overt insult to others, that's generally unwelcome.

I do apologize and agree, I cannot make a statement without backing it up with evidence and the justification for it. However, I will stand for my right to say it. I believe that the liberal view is contradictory with a true understanding of God and who He is. By no means am I claiming to have all knowledge of the universe on God and all that He encompasses, I am claiming to say that I do have a strong fear of Him and will continue to learn more everyday.

With a trembling and humble heart I want to say that the ones that I believe are contradictory are the ones that claim to be a Bible believing Christian yet accept same-sex marriages, all forms of abortion, not being able to pray in schools, teaching evolution as fact rather than theory to name a few. All of these ideals are in line with the liberal view and I am sincerely confused when I see men of God such as T.D. Jakes (a notiorious preacher) supporting the liberal movement...how are these two things justified?

And whilst it may not be "politically correct"/in agreement with your view, to say what I have said, it is by no means disrespectful. The day it becomes disrespectful to peacefully state your opinion in this country will be a very sad day. I just honestly cannot see how a bible believing Christian can be associated with the liberal movement....:?:

[vinsanity]

Caring for the poor is not solely a liberal social ideal, I think it is an ideal highly skewed. And to assume that it is not a conservative ideal is also highly skewed. The government does not care for the poor. Nor is it the job of the government to care for the poor.

Now let me explain myself before you get your knickers in a twist, Jesus exclaimed all of the time to do good works such as caring for the less fortunate by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. I completely agree with this, but we need to remember who He was speaking to. Jesus was speaking to the Church, He was not speaking to Caesar and the government. And we cannot say that it is different now and that Jesus didn't acknowledge the government or understand it's role in society because there is also an instance where Jesus speaks of tithing. He says, Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is Gods. Jesus understood earthly authority and respected it.

This is where we as individuals can take responsibility. The church in America is not doing enough.

On another idea of the same tangent, the church and the private sector. The government is taking a role that it doesn't belong in and so many programs that the government offers could EASILY be switched to the private sector.

Wonderfully said! I agree with each and every word. This touches upon what I believe will be the downfall of our society: that we're leaving all our problems for the government to solve. With that, we avoid taking responsibility on a more personal level, while the government becomes an inefficient unwieldy beast in the process. Like a dystopian perfect storm.

[wordsmith]

Caring for the poor is not solely a liberal social ideal, I think it is an ideal highly skewed. And to assume that it is not a conservative ideal is also highly skewed. The government does not care for the poor. Nor is it the job of the government to care for the poor.

Now let me explain myself before you get your knickers in a twist, Jesus exclaimed all of the time to do good works such as caring for the less fortunate by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. I completely agree with this, but we need to remember who He was speaking to. Jesus was speaking to the Church, He was not speaking to Caesar and the government. And we cannot say that it is different now and that Jesus didn't acknowledge the government or understand it's role in society because there is also an instance where Jesus speaks of tithing. He says, Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and give unto God what is Gods. Jesus understood earthly authority and respected it.

This is where we as individuals can take responsibility. The church in America is not doing enough.

On another idea of the same tangent, the church and the private sector. The government is taking a role that it doesn't belong in and so many programs that the government offers could EASILY be switched to the private sector.

The private sector IS actually already responsible for a great many very good programs. Far more national volunteer, social justice-rooted programs serving those in need have been begun and maintained by religious organizations than governmental organizations, for example. My very first job was as a youth and family community outreach worker for a (mainstream Protestant, liberal) urban church filled with liberals and democrats. We did a TON of community service, humanitarian aid, family and youth support, providing of educational resources, and the like within our community, usually parterning with other, larger not-for-profit institutions to effectively pool resources and effect more change. Churches in America do plenty. But there is always more to be done.

And this is also why I can't agree when you talk about liberal perspectives being contradictory to Christian values; I can't help but shake my head. Furthering social justice and promoting compassion couldn't be more in line with Christian values, as I understand them.

[and1grad]

Far more national volunteer, social justice-rooted programs serving those in need have been begun and maintained by religious organizations than governmental organizations, for example.
I cant help but disagree with that. Especially in terms of social justice. It may be worth noting that the government doesnt need there to be a specific program calling itself a social justice one to be actively engaged in doing that work.

[wordsmith]

That's fine, but I can list many, many, many, many nongovernmental organizations that are in fact quite active in addressing social injustices, so it seems strange for the OP to note that they're for some reason not doing their share, whatever their share is (all the while asserting that the government should have no share in addressing these issues). It's fine if the government is "actively engaged," but it should be noted that these organizations exist for the sole purpose of addressing the issues.

[and1grad]

That's fine, but I can list many, many, many, many nongovernmental organizations that are in fact quite active in addressing social injustices, so it seems strange for the OP to note that they're for some reason not doing their share, whatever their share is (all the while asserting that the government should have no share in addressing these issues). It's fine if the government is "actively engaged," but it should be noted that these organizations exist for the sole purpose of addressing the issues.
I'm not sure if thats meant to imply that these organizations are remarkably more effective or not, but if so, I'd still disagree.

[wordsmith]

It was simply originally posted in response to the OP's incorrect assertion that churches don't contribute to social programs and the misguided implication that liberals would rather the goverment shoulder the load of social welfare than support not-for-profit orgs who are doing the same.

In any case, I hope you're not going to argue for the superior effectiveness of government-run social programs.

[and1grad]

In any case, I hope you're not going to argue for the superior effectiveness of government-run social programs.
Nope. It just seemed like you were implying that the private sector is inherently better at it. I would argue against that.

[Jedi of Zen]

Paleoconservative here, although I'm not sure how much faith I have left in the Republican Party.

[koolkat1980]

Hey, what do the "Conservative Republicans" of USA follow anyway...and why are they so big on having Elmer Fudd in their cartoons...???

What do you think of this?

http://www.doubletake-media.com/movie_of_the_weak_fudd.jpg