Any FJingerites with conservative opinions?

[YPestis]

I've noticed early on that Free Jinger tend to skew left socially, if not fiscally. This isn't surprising given the original intention of our board (i.e a place to discuss patriarchy and fundie culture). I wanted to know if posters, especially the self-described liberal contingent, share any conservative/republican/fundie tendencies? Do you own a rack of guns? Are you prolife? Do you think the US should leave the UN?

As for myself, I am a pretty left leaning person, probably made more so living in a conservative area of the country. I consider myself fiscally moderate, socially liberal.

Except in one area.

I admit to being pretty right wing about education. Blame it on my Chinese upbringing. I am a huge advocate for traditional education. I don't think homeschooling is superior and I'm baffled by unschoolers. I was taught that hard work matters more than talent in academic success. If I suck in math, it's not because I have no aptitude for it, it's a sign I must work harder.

I nod in agreement with conservatives who stress that the basics are important. I find myself vehemently disagreeing with liberals who talk about the evils of tests and standardized curriculum. I see nothing wrong with textbooks and memorization. I think I surprise some people with my stance on education. Other than that, I'm pretty liberal.

I'm believe climate change is real science and will be a huge issue of the 21st century. I am pro-choice. I believe in comprehensive sex ed. OCP should be cheap or free. Health care access should be expanded and it's ok to get the gov't involved. I believe religion is there to guide us, not to rule over us. I'm a strong supporter of the first amendment and think the second needs more regulations. I detested Bush and his neo-conservative policies even before he became president and decided to "go it alone" with two wars.

I can't be the only person who have a few conservative opinions. Are there any other "flaming liberals" who have right wing tendencies?

[Maggie Mae]

I'm extremely liberal. I think. But I have a gun in my dresser, a gun in my car, several hunting rifles under my bed, and a gun in the bathroom.

I also work in an industry that I disagree with on a theoretical basis. But I also know that that industry employs 1/3 of our state.

[Effie]

YPestis, I'm social liberal. I agree with you on your stance on education. (Home-schooling is illegal here though, so it's possible I'm a bit biased.)

What most of you consider moderate, I would consider conservative, I think. We don't really have conservative parties here.

[OkToBeTakei]

YPestis, I'm social liberal. I agree with you on your stance on education. (Home-schooling is illegal here though, so it's possible I'm a bit biased.)

What most of you consider moderate, I would consider conservative, I think. We don't really have conservative parties here.

It would be hard to equate conservative to the 'Conservative' party in the UK considering it's leader actively pushed for gay marriage to go through parliament.

[miffy]

It would be hard to equate conservative to the 'Conservative' party in the UK considering it's leader actively pushed for gay marriage to go through parliament.

I agree. I vote for what is basically the Australian answer to the Tories, the Liberal Party. Which makes me 'right wing' however if I lived in the USA its unlikely I would vote for the GOP, i'd probably vote for the Libertarians.

[lilith]

I agree. I vote for what is basically the Australian answer to the Tories, the Liberal Party. Which makes me 'right wing' however if I lived in the USA its unlikely I would vote for the GOP, i'd probably vote for the Libertarians.

Me too. I'm socially liberal but fiscally conservative. My partner is a liberal party member, and if I wasn't already in a relationship I would love to marry Malcolm Turnbull and have his babies. But I've just got home from dinner and cocktails, and an probably revealing more than anyone wants to know....

[Vex]

I think the most conservative view I have is regarding schools.

I believe private schooling is vastly superior to public (state) schooling. I went to two of the most expensive and highly-regarded schools in my state and also the best state school in my state. The state school was literally years behind where I was academically at my private schools. At 12 I was sitting two and a half hour math and science exams, but at 14 I was doing crossword puzzles (and that was in the advanced English class) and science I did in primary school. I would rather home school than ever send a child to public school. I can't abide by it.

I voted Liberal once, but I usually vote Greens, which is pretty liberal.

[August]

I'm extremely liberal. I think. But I have a gun in my dresser, a gun in my car, several hunting rifles under my bed, and a gun in the bathroom.

I also work in an industry that I disagree with on a theoretical basis. But I also know that that industry employs 1/3 of our state.

That's not liberal. A gun in your fucking BATHROOM?

[August]

I'm extremely liberal. I think. But I have a gun in my dresser, a gun in my car, several hunting rifles under my bed, and a gun in the bathroom.

I also work in an industry that I disagree with on a theoretical basis. But I also know that that industry employs 1/3 of our state.

That's not liberal. A gun in your fucking BATHROOM?

I agree. I vote for what is basically the Australian answer to the Tories, the Liberal Party. Which makes me 'right wing' however if I lived in the USA its unlikely I would vote for the GOP, i'd probably vote for the Libertarians.

Are you sure? you'd be for repeal of all laws but the basics? No building code, no controls on hate speech, no requirement for ramps in public buildings, no social welfare of any kind?

[lilith]

That's not liberal. A gun in your fucking BATHROOM?

Ok , I personally think that a gun in the bathroom is pretty out there, but it doesn't necessarily make the owner conservative. People on all parts of the political spectrum love their guns, from Mao to Stalin to Hitler to Obama (according to recent publicity shots), and everyone in between.

[Sister_Wife]

Me too. I'm socially liberal but fiscally conservative. My partner is a liberal party member, and if I wasn't already in a relationship I would love to marry Malcolm Turnbull and have his babies. But I've just got home from dinner and cocktails, and an probably revealing more than anyone wants to know....

[saraelise]

I guess I call myself a social democrat. In Denmark we have a red block and a blue block (social democrats and assorted socialists = red, liberals and conservatives = blue) of parties in government and I've only ever voted for the red block. That said, it's very, very little that seperates the two and after eight years of a blue government we now have a red government. It's sad to say, but I see very little difference in the issues that should seperate them. That said, I think an ideology is all fine and dandy, but it's usually not sensible to make government policy based solely on ideology, you need a firm groundin in society.

Anyway, growing up in Denmark, I'm very used to and very comforted by and very thankful to our large state. Education's free for everyone, and you actually get paid to attend one, healthcare is free and available to all citizens (I wish it was available to everybody who resided in the country, but that's a different matter), schooling ages 5-15 is mandatory and most go on to take at least a "youth education" which points people in either the direction of university or technical schools. Of course, people slip through the system all the time and it has plenty of faults, but given the alternative I'd rather take a healthcare system that's there for everyone, albeit with long waiting lists, than one you have to fight tooth and nail to be treated via.

I'm a nursing student, doing clinicals at the country's largest and most specialised hospital right now, so that's why I pick up on the healthcare system especially.

I'd do anything to keep this system and to make it better, so that's why I'm probably gonna end up a life-long social democrat.

[Avalondaughter]

What does it mean to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative? People say that often, but I really don't understand it. If you believe in liberal policies, doesn't it follow that money needs to be spent to support them? Do you believe revenues must be raised to fund them? Do you believe that people at the top should not be taxed in order for them to reinvest back into the economy and do you truly think that you are doing so?

I don't think of myself as "conservative" when I say I support a solid educational foundation. Hell, I think it's extremely liberal of me to say that we need to invest lots of money into public schools so that our children are up to speed with the rest of the world with reading, math, and science. I believe in quality education for all Americans no matter what the economic situation of the school district is. I am wary of standardized tests because I don't always agree that they are a solid measure of academic achievement and are not used correctly. A test should measure what has been learned. If a child fails the test, then the child needs more Instruction to understand the material.

I always thought that the conservative view of schools was a sort of academic Darwinism. Public schools are a drain on the economy so if you can't afford private schools, you are on your own.

Where I live most of the public schools are excellent. We have two types of private schools dominating around here. One is the Catholic schools, which range from excellent to mediocre. Then we have high end prep schools that are vastly superior to the public schools, but only the very wealthy can afford them.

I would like the kind of public investment in public schools that would bring the level of education up to the level of those prep schools. That's hardly conservative.

[Renting with Raggles]

I admit to being pretty right wing about education. Blame it on my Chinese upbringing. I am a huge advocate for traditional education. I don't think homeschooling is superior and I'm baffled by unschoolers. I was taught that hard work matters more than talent in academic success. If I suck in math, it's not because I have no aptitude for it, it's a sign I must work harder.

I nod in agreement with conservatives who stress that the basics are important. I find myself vehemently disagreeing with liberals who talk about the evils of tests and standardized curriculum. I see nothing wrong with textbooks and memorization. I think I surprise some people with my stance on education. Other than that, I'm pretty liberal.

Outside of the United States, these opinions on education aren't really conservative: they're the standard. I think the GOP are reactionaries, to be frank - you can see my fellow Aussies chiming in, and they agree.

I'm a secondary teacher and I believe in students receiving a rigorous, comprehensive education. I think individuals who are obviously not university-bound ought to leave school at 15 and go to a vocational or technical college. It's ridiculous, a waste of everyone's time and money when an adolescent is forced to stay in school until 18. They should be working towards a concrete goal, not putting in time. I like the idea of bronze, silver and gold star trade certificates for things like plumbing or carpentry.

It's all rather like the vaccination debate, isn't it? I know a really intelligent family, all university educated, some in medicine and biolgical sciences - who don't "believe" in vaccination. I can't fathom it - we can't let my little cousins visit - it's just mind-boggling.

[miffy]

Ok, then I'll marry Joe Hockey!

I am personally conservative, but I am totally against imposing my personal views on the general public. I love being a SAHM, non-daycare user etc. and would be totally against abortion regardless of the reason. But I don't expect any other person on earth to do these things, just because I believe it's right.

I support same sex marriage, and gun control.

All that said, I only vote Liberal (Australia) and don't think I could vote Labor if they were the last party on earth.

[Childless]

I'm mostly liberal. I believe everyone of consenting age should have the right to marry whether that marriage is opposite gendered, same gendered, or plural. I'm a big supporter of comprehensive sex education. I'm vehemently pro-choice. I'm all for gun control. I'm open to any educational system that teaches children to think and problem solve even if it isn't what would be considered traditional. I live and die by facts and science. I accept evolution and climate change. I'm anti-war and anti-death penalty. I would like nothing better than to see universal healthcare in my country as well as more liberal paid maternity/paternity leave policies.

I am conservative in one area though. While I support welfare/WIC/food stamps/medicaid/etc., I'm also vocal about people who abuse the system and don't take personal responsibility for themselves and their families. For example, if you are receiving aid from the state because you are not able to care for your children by yourself, then you should not be having anymore children. I my eyes, that's theft. You know another child will be costing tax payers more money. You know there are ways to prevent getting pregnant. If you purposely get pregnant, you are stealing from tax payers. I'm all for helping those in need, but I expect that they step up to the plate and try and help themselves also. I don't think tax payers should be doing all the work. In my opinion, if you are getting aid from the state in any way, shape, or form, you should have to do one of the following: a) be in school working toward a degree that will help lift you out of poverty or b) be required by the state to "pay" for your aid by doing community service. The only exception should be those that are to ill or injured to work. I feel that this should also be a requirement to receive unemployment. At most, the unemployed spend 20 hours a week actively looking for jobs/interviewing/etc. There's no reason the other 20 hours of that time couldn't be spent giving back to your community in exchange for unemployment benefits.

[formergothardite]

What does it mean to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative? People say that often, but I really don't understand it. If you believe in liberal policies, doesn't it follow that money needs to be spent to support them? Do you believe revenues must be raised to fund them? Do you believe that people at the top should not be taxed in order for them to reinvest back into the economy and do you truly think that you are doing so?

I don't think of myself as "conservative" when I say I support a solid educational foundation. Hell, I think it's extremely liberal of me to say that we need to invest lots of money into public schools so that our children are up to speed with the rest of the world with reading, math, and science. I believe in quality education for all Americans no matter what the economic situation of the school district is. I am wary of standardized tests because I don't always agree that they are a solid measure of academic achievement and are not used correctly. A test should measure what has been learned. If a child fails the test, then the child needs more Instruction to understand the material.

I always thought that the conservative view of schools was a sort of academic Darwinism. Public schools are a drain on the economy so if you can't afford private schools, you are on your own.

Where I live most of the public schools are excellent. We have two types of private schools dominating around here. One is the Catholic schools, which range from excellent to mediocre. Then we have high end prep schools that are vastly superior to the public schools, but only the very wealthy can afford them.

I would like the kind of public investment in public schools that would bring the level of education up to the level of those prep schools. That's hardly conservative.

This is how it is around here. The conservatives are the ones who take money and resources away from the school system and some of them even think that public schools should be done away with and parents should have to figure out how to educate their kids. The liberals are the ones who are actually trying to provide a good education for all children.

[LilMissMetaphor]

I don't think homeschooling is superior

I don't see how this is a conservative opinion. Perhaps it's the odd phrasing.

Homeschooling was done long before public schools were invented--and done properly for the most part. The studies bear that out. A few nuts like Kendall, Zsu and the Duggars shouldn't be blinding anyone to the overall successes of homeschooled children. Most homeschooling does not involve throwing your Bible in the general direction of the kids and calling it a day.

[LilMissMetaphor]

A gun in your fucking BATHROOM?

Sometimes there are some pretty big pimples.

[meda]

I am conservative in one area though. While I support welfare/WIC/food stamps/medicaid/etc., I'm also vocal about people who abuse the system and don't take personal responsibility for themselves and their families. For example, if you are receiving aid from the state because you are not able to care for your children by yourself, then you should not be having anymore children. I my eyes, that's theft. You know another child will be costing tax payers more money. You know there are ways to prevent getting pregnant. If you purposely get pregnant, you are stealing from tax payers. I'm all for helping those in need, but I expect that they step up to the plate and try and help themselves also. I don't think tax payers should be doing all the work. In my opinion, if you are getting aid from the state in any way, shape, or form, you should have to do one of the following: a) be in school working toward a degree that will help lift you out of poverty or b) be required by the state to "pay" for your aid by doing community service. The only exception should be those that are to ill or injured to work. I feel that this should also be a requirement to receive unemployment. At most, the unemployed spend 20 hours a week actively looking for jobs/interviewing/etc. There's no reason the other 20 hours of that time couldn't be spent giving back to your community in exchange for unemployment benefits.

Just pointing out, unemployment insurance is not paid by "the taxpayers" in general, it is funded by a tax on employers that is generally viewed as part of an employee's compensation package, similar to Social security tax. Why would someone who has been laid off through no fault of their own have to pick up trash or something to receive a benefit that they have already earned? Do you advocate similar treatment of SSI or Medicare recipients?

[debrand]

I agree with the Libertarian party that everyone owns their own body. If an adult wants to harm their body or do stupid things, as long as they don't take away other people's rights to make decisions regarding their body, they should be allowed.(hopefully, that sentence made sense)

I'd allow drug use but make DUIs harsher-you drive under the influence just once, jail time.

I also believe that children have rights and that once a child hits his teens, parents shouldn't be able to force their religion upon them. So, parents shouldn't be able to force teenagers to attend church.

Sex between consenting adults doesn't have any moral component at all. There are issues around sex that involve morality. For example, if you promise to be faithful, you should be. But I don't think that a couple who swings is less loving or compassionate than a couple who doesn't swing.

I think that for the most part, competition is good in a society. However, unlike many conservatives I do not take a Laissez-faire attitude toward the subject.

I'm not really certain on my ideas about the border. Sometimes I think that we should have open borders but I'm not certain how we'd protect our national security.

.

Guns should be registered. Gun owners should be licensed and have insurance. There should be strict laws and penalties on gun shops and gun shows. No one should be able to own an arsenal and yes, that means I would limit the number of guns a person can own.

I am pro-choice but I think that comprehensive sex education should be available in all schools regardless of what parents want. I also think that teens should have easy access to birth control.

[OnceModestTwiceShy]

Education is very important to me, so I'm going to take some time to reflect before I address that. But I wanted to address something related in your post, YPestis. You write: "If I suck in math, it's not because I have no aptitude for it, it's a sign I must work harder."

I was raised by Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. I can totally relate to your experience - the attitudes towards education are very similar, and in many ways, it is something I am very grateful for. I doubt I would be at a top grad program right now if I were not taught the importance of dedicating oneself to education.

However, my parents' belief that when I didn't do well in math, it was because I wasn't working hard enough, was very destructive for me. I am a VERY hard worker. I cannot tell you how many all-nighters I pulled in HS working on my two nemeses, pre-calc and physics. I cannot tell you the extent to which I worked my ass off on these things, only to never break a B in math and a C in physics. And it didn't matter to my family that I ROCKED every other subject. To them, for many years, the fact that I was not getting A's in honors-level math was a sign that I was lazy, that I was an embarrassment. Looking back, I wish I had simply been allowed to make peace with being an average math student and to dedicate more time to my true gifts in writing, languages, etc. Yes, it is important to be prepared for a job in the STEM professions....No, not everyone can do it, and that's ok.

[pixydust]

I'm a socialist.....but I hate the public school system (it is failing our children in my state, especially my city). I would love to see it completely reformed. I think that gun laws need to change, but I do think that the average American citizen should be able to own one ( background checks, safety classes, and registration should be mandatory IMO ).

I think to many people I look like a conservative....I only work once a week, I have 3 kids who I homeschool, but I am a feminist, pro choice, socialized medicine, welfare supporter. People are usually surprised!

[Ramona]

Terms like "Conservative" I think have more of a political meaning in the US than other places .. but I do think I prolly have some opinions that wouldn't be that popular here - which is okay, everyone is different. I think the biggest is that I'd have to identify myself as pro-life, for the most part. When I first left 'fundie-dom' I jumped right to the pro-choice side, but... I just can't hold that view 100% and not feel like I'm doing something wrong. I have to follow my conscience, I guess. I also have a difficult time with some of the comments around here because while I don't like to see anyone hurt because of religion, I also feel like I should be supportive of folks rights to practice as they wish..... is it really my place to judge another culture, as an example, if they're predominant religion dictates certain rules be followed? (the wearing of the hijab in Islam, for instance) ... I have friends of many faiths and/or beliefs - Christians (of several kinds), Muslims, Pagans, Buddhists, Atheists, and more... Do I want anyone FORCED into following a specific faith? No.. but do I want to take it away from them? No...

I have a hate on for the public school system and am quite fond of home education and even moreso of alternative methods. Yes, I like the idea of "unschooling" -- although I dislike the word. I like "life led learning" or whatever, if you NEED a label. Although, that method didn't work for my stepkids, as they just didn't have the... drive? to learn on their own... I'd have thrived with it as a kid (and pretty much did it to myself anyway) ... Now at the same time, I see the pitfalls in the isolationist home ed that sometimes takes place... but again, do I have the right to tell a family that they can't do that, assuming that the family is content and the kids are safe and cared for? Do I have the right to tell them that they CAN'T teach their kids that, for instance, the world is only 6000 years old... if that is their sincerely held belief? I mean -- folks from other religions or faiths also teach their kids things. I know some Pagan parents who are raising their children in the same path. They're hard polytheists. The kids are being taught that yes, these Gods and Goddesses are actual individual existing deities... just an example.

I don't know. I find myself bouncing around a lot, unsure of where I stand.. or what I believe... I don't want to take anyone's faith away from them.

(nor would I want to force faith on anyone)

yeah I'm confused a lot LOL

[Buzzard]

I agree with the Libertarian party that everyone owns their own body. If an adult wants to harm their body or do stupid things, as long as they don't take away other people's rights to make decisions regarding their body, they should be allowed.(hopefully, that sentence made sense)

I'd allow drug use but make DUIs harsher-you drive under the influence just once, jail time.

I also believe that children have rights and that once a child hits his teens, parents shouldn't be able to force their religion upon them. So, parents shouldn't be able to force teenagers to attend church.

Sex between consenting adults doesn't have any moral component at all. There are issues around sex that involve morality. For example, if you promise to be faithful, you should be. But I don't think that a couple who swings is less loving or compassionate than a couple who doesn't swing.

I think that for the most part, competition is good in a society. However, unlike many conservatives I do not take a Laissez-faire attitude toward the subject.

I'm not really certain on my ideas about the border. Sometimes I think that we should have open borders but I'm not certain how we'd protect our national security.

.

Guns should be registered. Gun owners should be licensed and have insurance. There should be strict laws and penalties on gun shops and gun shows. No one should be able to own an arsenal and yes, that means I would limit the number of guns a person can own.

I am pro-choice but I think that comprehensive sex education should be available in all schools regardless of what parents want. I also think that teens should have easy access to birth control.

I agree with the vast majority of this. I am a libertarian as well and own guns. I have serious issues with our current welfare system and abuse. Unemployment is one thing, especially in this economy, but in my line of work I see far too many people that have never worked a day in their lives, spend their time smoking pot and watching TV. I'd cut that shit off.