What does this mean

[InaneAnanity]

Imagine that there is an atheistic fiscal conservative. He believes in limited government, low taxes, but hates that his party has been taken over by fundamentalist christians.

There is also a christian democrat, who supports government programs to help the poor, doesn't mind tax breaks for churches or faith-based initiatives. She is pro-life personally, but believes each woman should have the right to choose.

Granted, finding an atheistic right-winger is probably impossible, but take it as a hypothetical.

I'm 99% sure I would agree more with the Republican than the Democrat, in this instance.

[Sammy Pepys]

1. I don't think the "atheistic conservative" is all that rare.

You're pretty much describing most of the libertarians I know. They may not identify themselves in those kinds of terms, but that's a pretty good in-a-nutshell description of how they roll, in my experience.

My uncle would also fall into that ctaegory. I don't think he;s an atheist, but he has no use whatsoever for the religious right, and doesn't hesitate to say so. But he still likes Bush.

[InaneAnanity]

3. Well

I wouldn't like Bush, but I think I could find more common ground with atheistic fiscal conservatives than christian democrats. I'm virtually certain of it.

[Sammy Pepys]

6. Well, maybe you're a libertarian....n/t

...

[InaneAnanity]

9. No

I'm not.

[Psephos]

2. There are a *lot* of atheist/agnostic right wingers

Meanwhile, on the right, they're all convinced that no lefty knows what the inside of a church looks like.

:-)

If you're interested in a great dissection of the American electorate, check out this Pew Research report.

http://people-press.org/reports/pdf/196.pdf

As the research shows, the average repug is a lot poorer and a lot less fundamentalist than we think. A lot of them support abortion, too, or at least are not prepared to see it abolished. A good plan for security, common-sense economic health, and respect for tradition combined with evidence of fresh thinking, will find many listeners among that crowd. One thing they can't stand is being told over and over what a bunch of losers Americans are, however.

Peace.

[China_cat]

4. That's the problem with this black and white

thinking. You can be fiscally conservative and socially liberal and yes, taking care of people CAN be fiscally conservative...stop little problems from becoming large expensive ones.

But in your scenario, I'd have to vote for the dem for the simple reason that she's got more planks in her platform; is not a one issue candidate.

[Nikia]

5. I disagree with you on both counts

For me, helping the underdogs is what the Democratic party is about. With the power and wealth of corporations as well as the fact that they can send American jobs overseas instead of investing in America with their tax cut, we cannot have limited government and low corporate taxes.
My grandfather, who died a couple years ago, was like your hypothetical athesist. He believed in personal responsibility and limited governmental interference and did not believe in God and thought that religion was often harmful.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[InaneAnanity]

8. An atheist right-winger...

...would be out of the loop, by definition.

[Inland]

10. Only by your defintion. Which is exactly my point.

You'd never be able to acknowledge a right wing atheist or a left wing christian. They don't exist in your set of perceptions. Therefore it's a moot issue.

[InaneAnanity]

12. You have problems, Inland

I've never said that. That's you putting words in my mouth, and assuming how I think.

[Inland]

14. Ah, screw it.

Your attempts to dodge and weave aren't worth it. Nobody wants to hear you say that there's something else you REALLY meant.

[InaneAnanity]

17. Well,

since I never said anything close to what you said I said, I needed to clear the air.

[Inland]

18. Wrong. What you said gets deleted when repeated.

Apparently what you actually admit to is such a calumny and so contrary to the values of a liberal democratic board that to repeat it back to you is considered an inappropriate insult and the mods delete it.

You're just not worth it.

[InaneAnanity]

22. pulling a bill o'reilly now??

Eh?? I'm not surprised that you idolize him.

[Inland]

26. Eh?? Eh?? Eh??

Sorry, dude, you're not worth it. Good luck pretending.

[moobu2]

20. I’m sure there are many, many

elected Republican atheists who don’t give a rats ass whether someone has an abortion or not, gay marriage etc.., they just lie about it like they lie about everything else. You wont hear about any time soon at least until the religious right sicko's realize they’re being taken for a ride and stop the thug enabling etc...

[YankeyMCC]

11. One of my closest friends

is an atheist staunch republican.

I don't think I'd have a hard time getting along with either person you describe...in fact I do just about every day deal with personally and professionally with people at both ends of this spectrum and in between - most of them I like and get along well with.

Some of them I certainly have arguments with about certain points but we typically walk away still respecting each other. It isn't holding different ideas that makes people incompatible, it's when people hold their ideas without any thought and try to bludgeon other people with those ideas.

[InaneAnanity]

13. I can get along with both

I'm just saying, I'd agree more with the Republican, I think, regarding different issues.

[Psephos]

24. Well said...

"It isn't holding different ideas that makes people incompatible, it's when people hold their ideas without any thought and try to bludgeon other people with those ideas."

It doesn't make me feel very good to see how strongly-held political beliefs can often instill an almost-instinctual hatred of people we've never met. Then, when we meet them, many times we learn our stereotypes were wrong, and we feel a little sheepish. This goes both ways, for wingnuts as well as lefties.

There are good people (even thought they have different opinions) in all flavors of politics, religion, and social class. I hold my political beliefs tightly, but am willing to look well beyond politics to see basic decency and goodness in others. Sometimes I even find it. :-)

"The mind is its own place, and can make a heaven of hell, or a hell of heaven."
- Milton

Peace.

[manic expression]

15. Depends on what you want to agree on

if you stick to purely political matters, you would hopefully agree with the person who wants to help the poor.

If you talk about religion, then you would probably agree with the Republican. However, that means very little when it comes to political issues.

[InaneAnanity]

16. Seems to mean alot these days

And the republican would likely want to help the poor too, but has a different opinion on what is the best way to do that.

I'm not a big government guy necessarily. I want responsible government, and if the republican wanted that too, we could agree there.

[manic expression]

19. Well,

if you are more aligned with the Republican's economic stances, then of course you would likely agree with him (her?) on more things, especially because that is in addition to your religious agreements.

On whether that helps the poor or not, that's for another discussion entirely. I would personally disagree and say that "small governments" hurt the poor and help the wealthy, but that's just me (I refer you to my avatar for my political stances). Anyway, that isn't really the point of this conversation, so I won't press that point any further if you don't want to pursue it.

[Dorian Gray]

21. I know a few athiestic Republicans

They do feel sort of apathetic about the Republican Party in the last six years or so, but the two aren't mutually exclusive.

[greyl]

23. Political and social beliefs are easier to 'nail down' than religious.

Iow, "Democrat" is a big tent, but not as huge, nebulous, and contested as "Christian" is.

Your atheist conservative and christian democrat would make damn fine running mates. ;)

[hunter]

25. You'd sooner agree with a man than a woman.

Even when the man is a twit.

;)