[nostatic]

While driving to the beach today, I was trying to figure out how my world view jibes with others here, and also was considering Joe's complaint that the conservatives are in the minority and singled out for censure. I think the latter is numerically incorrect (and that "conservatives" far outnumber "liberals" here).

That being said, I set about distilling the vast number of posts I've read into what seems to be the "liberal" and "conservative" platforms as espoused here. Feel free to correct.

Conservatives:

Going to Iraq was definitely (probably) justified, but it is a moot point and we'll stay there until it is "stable" no matter the time or cost involved.

There is too much government regulation over personal behavior.

The Patriot Act is necessary.

Abortion is wrong.

Corporate and personal taxes should be lowered.

The Department of Education should be dismantled and the IRS should be reformed or abolished in favor of a flat tax or equivalent.

Entitlements should be cut or abolished. The poor are mostly poor because they choose to be so, and it is not societies responsibility to take care of them indefinitely.

Illegal immigrants cost way more than they provide, and are a major reason that the country is in shambles.

If we got rid of illegal aliens, existing citizens would immediate pick up the slack and fill all of those jobs for the same wages.

The 2nd amendment should have no abridgment.

Capitalism should rule the day, and corporations can be trusted to self-police with regards to their financial and labor issues.

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Liberals:

Going to Iraq was wrong and we need to get out soon.

Believe that society has a responsibility to protect everyone.

Are for increasing taxes and services.

Want laws governing certain personal behaviors.

Abortion is a woman's choice.

Entitlements are needed as a safety net and also to try and equalize the playing field.

The 2nd amendment needs limits.

Corporations cannot be trusted to "do the right thing" and need significant regulation, along with the markets.

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So to sum it up:

conservatives are mean soulless jerks
liberals are wimpy well-meaning idiots

that sound about right?