Political Beliefs and the Process

¶ … political beliefs and the process that helped me form these opinions. One of the best things about our country is the fact that, despite our differences, we can hold differing opinions and belong to different political parties. I am free to hold my particular political beliefs, and that is a very great thing. A personally fall in the upper-left quadrant of the Four-Cornered Ideological Grid. I am a liberal, and I believe in economic equality and cultural liberty.

I am not conservative in very many of my beliefs, although I do believe that I am conservative about some issues, such as immigration, which I believe we should control. However, I am liberal in that I believe in women's rights, stem cell research, economic stimulus through jobs and support, and in government-sponsored health care and more support for the nation's schools. I do align with the Democratic Party and I am a registered Democrat.

I have been a Democrat since I first registered to vote, because I think that my beliefs align more with that Party and platform. I do admire many of the Green Party's beliefs, as well, but I think they are too "out there" politically, and do not really stand a chance of winning a real election. Well of course, the political issue of the economy is very important right now.

It is quite scary to see what is happening to it, and to wonder if I will be able to find a job when I graduate, and what is going to happen to my family's retirement and 401(K) savings they have been planning on. It is scary to think about student loans and funding, too. Therefore, I think the economy is one of the most important issues right now.

I also believe that healthcare reform is exceedingly important, as we pay far too much for healthcare in this country, and far too much for prescription drugs, and that needs to stop. I think education has been neglected too long, and that the quality of education, particularly elementary education, has fallen, and that needs to reverse. I am also quite determined to see stem cell research allowed, so that we can begin to work on finding cures for cancer and other diseases that this research could uncover.

My stance on these issues is that we need to fund them, and we need to support them, because they all will enhance the future, for us, and for the generations that will follow us. I am also very concerned about climate change, and I believe we must take a much more aggressive stance on this issue, and support worldwide change, because if we do not, we may not have a future to worry about.

I think climate change is extremely important, and that is has been ignored by prior administrations, and that is a crime. I believe the president should focus on all of these important issues. I know that will be difficult, but I think they all have to be addressed and solved, but I am not sure he can do that in four years. I am not quite sure how I formed my own political beliefs.

I think I have always been a liberal thinker, and that I have identified with certain core values of the Democratic Party. My parents are Republicans, so I did not gain many political beliefs from them! My friends and significant other are a mix of parties. I have a lot of Republican friends, but I do have some Democratic friends, too.

I think that I have looked at both parties, and I just felt more comfortable with the Democratic Party and its platforms, especially on women's rights, healthcare, and climate change. The Party Web site says, "That commitment is reflected in an agenda that emphasizes the strong economic growth, affordable health care for all Americans, retirement security, open, honest and accountable government, and securing our nation while protecting our civil rights and liberties" (Editors). I agree with that, and it pretty much states my beliefs.

I could not align with the Republicans, because I do not agree with the war in Iraq, I support gun control, and I do not like their stand on women's rights.

I also feel that the Republicans are not supporting our new president, and I believe that change will be hindered as a result, so I believe my political beliefs have intensified during this campaign and election, and they have become stronger as Republicans like Rush Limbaugh call for President Obama to "fail." Perhaps work experience has helped influence me too. I have worked for people who were very strong Democrats, and I think that I admired them, and so, I looked at the party a little differently.

I also really have not liked some of the past Republican presidents, like George W. Bush. I believe many of his policies and procedures were anti-productive and abused Americans' civil liberties, and I believe he gave us a very poor reputation overseas because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I just disagreed with him far too much to consider the Republican Party or its values. I think it is extremely important for individuals to form their own opinions on political issues, and.