First Time Voter! Just need some info...

[klankymen]

I'm in a similar dilemma, I can't decide who to vote for, because on some issues I'm to the right even of republicans, but in some issues I think the dems are to conservative. And of course sometimes even the libertarians wouldn't give me the liberties I want.

Before the last German election I found a thingy online where you could click your stance on a variety of issues, and then it would give you a percentage of concordance with each of the 5 biggest parties. That poll pretty much turned out exactly who I would have voted anyways (if I were allowed to vote here) (Gelb-Schwarz if there are any Germans in this thread that care). Unfortunately I know somewhat less about American politics, and it would be nice if I could maybe find such a thing for the Americans too....

To list some of my opinions:
-pro choice
-con interventionism
-absolutely definitely CON illegal immigration in any way shape or form (not against immigration, but it's absolutely pointless to allow illegal immigration, because that would defeat the meaning of the wort illegal - FUCK YOU HILLARY)
-con speed limits (will the libertarians get me this?)
-pro earlier drinking
-con al gore
-pro nuclear
-absolutely explicitly totally con any sort of impeding civil rights / government surveilance of citizens/internet/phonecalls
-really torn on the gun issue

As you can see from that little excerpt on some of my opinions that I think could be politically relevant, I've got bits and pieces of all parties in there, so I have no clue who to lean to....

[jayhawk]

If you were American, you would probably fall under the title of Republican or Libertarian. The modern American Democrat would be familiar with European socialism.

I myself can be pigeonholed into the title Republican, but I refuse that my faith (Christian) and values to be a part of politics, plus other beliefs of that party.

[Shawn]

Unlike those who advocate you cast your vote for a minority party that has no chance of winning, I'd vote for the lesser of the two evils. I think if you looked at McCain and Obama you might see you'd much prefer one to be president over the other, then you could vote and actually make a difference.

For instance, I like the Marijuana Party here, but am I gonna vote for them? No.

[klankymen]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

If you were American,

I am.

Originally Posted by jayhawk

you would probably fall under the title of Republican or Libertarian. The modern American Democrat would be familiar with European socialism.

I myself can be pigeonholed into the title Republican, but I refuse that my faith (Christian) and values to be a part of politics, plus other beliefs of that party.

I dunno, I in germany would consider myself a liberal (from the latin liber = free; comparable to the libertarians in the states), except the libertarians I think are almost to anarchist for me....

Republican I'm with on a few issues, but I seriously can not stand the whole conservative business of "violence is fine on tv, but no boobs", using condoms is evil/satan/hitler, birth control is murder, abortion is always wrong, we must censor curse-words on tv, etc....

So I guess politically I'm a rep, but morally a dem... I dunno what to do... I'll just vote nader

[LeVeL]

Vote for McCain - his wife likes racing so maybe she'll nag the right people into building more tracks

[klankymen]

I'll vote for clinton... her "wife" likes blowjobs so maybe he'll nag the right people into more blowjobs for everyone

[Jacobfox]

Originally Posted by klankymen

I am.


I dunno, I in germany would consider myself a liberal (from the latin liber = free; comparable to the libertarians in the states), except the libertarians I think are almost to anarchist for me....

Republican I'm with on a few issues, but I seriously can not stand the whole conservative business of "violence is fine on tv, but no boobs", using condoms is evil/satan/hitler, birth control is murder, abortion is always wrong, we must censor curse-words on tv, etc....

So I guess politically I'm a rep, but morally a dem... I dunno what to do... I'll just vote nader

Well, voting nader won't help. Libertarians in the states oddly tend to be fanatical small-governmentalists, which has resulted in a guy like Bob Barr getting the nomination. He's certainly no laissez-faire guy on social issues. Check out everyone's platform and see which one fits you best. You might want to watch some campaign speeches from each side, perhaps starting with Obama's speech from the DNC and followed by McCain's speech from next week.

Might as well make an educated decision rather than burning a vote on Nader.

[Jacobfox]

Originally Posted by Censport

Well, there's environmentalism, and then there's environmentalism. I consider myself a right-wing conservative, by American political standards (grew up on Goldwater, Buckley and Reagan), but I'm a responsible environmentalist. None of this chicken little sky-is-falling fear-mongering, but I don't waste resources (mainly to keep my cost-of-living manageable). The thing is, someone can be environmantelly responsible without politicizing it, and recognize that Al Gore is a full of $#!t profiteering hypocrite.

Agreed. This guy is an interesting case though. He works with the Karnataka state government to run a program trying to convert ivory poachers into national park guides (so far an overwhelming success), and has set up a deal with SPAR to sell bags that his small company makes out of waste cotton. In other words, he does do all of the stereotypical environmental stuff, is socially liberal, but is a free-markets devotee. I think the inability to classify someone like him has a lot to do with the fact that he believes that the free market is just as liberal an idea as it can be conservative.