appleshampoo (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} appleshampooid) wrote,@ 2008-11-09 18:07:00 |
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My reaction to the election (finding my political identity)
So ostensibly I'm a Libertarian and don't really like either of the major parties. But during the election I found that my Republican roots are not easy to shake, so I'm writing this in an attempt to be honest with myself and others. I watched McCain's concession speech, while I did not watch Obama's acceptance speech. I felt a little jolt of pride when I saw Idaho go red on the election map. I also voted for several local Republicans, given only two choices in the general election (due to Washington's top-2 primary). So in reality I guess you could say I'm a GOP-leaning libertarian (see my "Political Views" on Facebook, which pretty much confirms this).
The obvious reason for these leanings is that some things the GOP claims to support (less government, fiscal conservatism) are things I agree with. Also, of course, growing up in Idaho. I need to realize that the GOP really doesn't follow these principles any more, at least at the federal level. Was GWB a fiscal conservative while in office? Cutting taxes without cutting spending does not a fiscal conservative make. Would McCain have been any better than Obama in this respect? Doubtful. At the same time, Obama probably stands a better chance of actually getting us out of Iraq. Will it actually happen? We'll see...but the chances are better. So, in the end, I should have been grudgingly happy that Obama won, instead of grudgingly disappointed that McCain lost.
Would I be just as scared if the GOP had a majority in both houses and controlled the White House? My gut reaction would probably be less fear. But after considering the kind of social policy that might get passed given that kind of control, it's just as scary as the current Dem control.
This election has made me realize that if all I do is talk about politics and vote, I'm pretty much going to be pissed off every 2 to 4 years, because probably nothing's going to change. Should I take a more active role and be a libertarian political activist? Nothing would probably still change, but at least I could feel better about myself.
So ostensibly I'm a Libertarian and don't really like either of the major parties. But during the election I found that my Republican roots are not easy to shake, so I'm writing this in an attempt to be honest with myself and others. I watched McCain's concession speech, while I did not watch Obama's acceptance speech. I felt a little jolt of pride when I saw Idaho go red on the election map. I also voted for several local Republicans, given only two choices in the general election (due to Washington's top-2 primary). So in reality I guess you could say I'm a GOP-leaning libertarian (see my "Political Views" on Facebook, which pretty much confirms this).
The obvious reason for these leanings is that some things the GOP claims to support (less government, fiscal conservatism) are things I agree with. Also, of course, growing up in Idaho. I need to realize that the GOP really doesn't follow these principles any more, at least at the federal level. Was GWB a fiscal conservative while in office? Cutting taxes without cutting spending does not a fiscal conservative make. Would McCain have been any better than Obama in this respect? Doubtful. At the same time, Obama probably stands a better chance of actually getting us out of Iraq. Will it actually happen? We'll see...but the chances are better. So, in the end, I should have been grudgingly happy that Obama won, instead of grudgingly disappointed that McCain lost.
Would I be just as scared if the GOP had a majority in both houses and controlled the White House? My gut reaction would probably be less fear. But after considering the kind of social policy that might get passed given that kind of control, it's just as scary as the current Dem control.
This election has made me realize that if all I do is talk about politics and vote, I'm pretty much going to be pissed off every 2 to 4 years, because probably nothing's going to change. Should I take a more active role and be a libertarian political activist? Nothing would probably still change, but at least I could feel better about myself.
