I have no political home

Oh, and I don't think rich people are evil.

The issue you are missing.

Spending: The economic value is a concern. But Military is one of the few reason for the existence of government. The issue is the military is one of the few areas of government spending that actually benefits the people. Not only does it spur industry and economic activity, but it is one of very few vehicles that allows all citizens the same opportunities, but most importantly the poor uneducated individuals to develop skills and change their lives. Not sure I can say that about any other government spending.

Gun Policy: Government can become oppressive. See French government, and Russia currently. The people must be able to put down an oppressive government. Assault rifles can do this (see ISIS and Boko).

Marriage: I'd say government doesn't have any business in marriage. But they have chosen to tax it and use it for social policy (promoting procreation and the financial security of women). So if women no longer need "security" associated with marriage than "government" marriage should go away as well as alimony.

Weed: weed is good, but cigarettes are bad? That crazy.

Abortion: Obviously you have never had a child. Murder is murder, no matter how many people don't want to be inconvenienced.

I agree on almost everything you've said and I have the same problem when someone asks what party I belong to. I never really know how to answer it without explaining all of these points.

if you aren't consistently in favor of individual rights across the board, you're wrong about everything.

I do appreciate your thoughts.

Spending: I agree that they (military) train many who are unemployable better than other "entitlement" programs, but they also have a budget that is more inflated and out of control than other entitlement programs. At the very least, it should be under the umbrella of the many branches of government spending that should be combed and remedied of bloated inefficiencies

.

Gun Policy: You aren't stopping the US government/military from making you their b!tch, regardless of what your militia arms themselves with. Don't be delusional, be reasonable. You are not putting down the US government.

Marriage: I'd be okay with eliminating government involvement in marriage. But if it is going to exist, same sex couples should be afforded the privileges as well.

Drugs: Weed and cigs should be legal and taxed - where did I say otherwise about cigs?

Abortion: 2 kids. Your statement is vacuous and irrelevant. Abortion isn't murder.

Objectivism wrote:

if you aren't consistently in favor of individual rights across the board, you're wrong about everything.

So both parties are wrong about everything? That's not a very reasonable claim. I would imagine we would also disagree on what constitutes an individual rights.

Blahbaba wrote:

Abortion: Obviously you have never had a child. Murder is murder, no matter how many people don't want to be inconvenienced.

Incorrect. You can be a parent -- a great parent -- and see through the ridiculousness of pro-life movement. Do you also believe abstinence is ideal sex education for high schoolers?

lonely is the ballot wrote:

Environmental policy: Build the keystone pipeline already.

This is one area you would be rewarded with research on. It's a non issue on both sides, but if you're looking for energy independence, this is the last place we should be looking at.

You don't have to agree with a party's entire platform to be a member of that party. You're views suggest that you're a moderate democrat.

Not so lonely wrote:

You don't have to agree with a party's entire platform to be a member of that party. You're views suggest that you're a moderate democrat.

yeah - you are a Bill Clinton democrat but maybe you would have been a reagan democrat also.

Lots of people like you in swing states like Ohio and Indiana - they think of themselves as common sense types who don't identify with the GOP anti science and clear racial bating, nor do you favor the Democratic pandering to the left.

You could have gone for the pre-tea party version of McCain also.

The problem is that not enough of you vote - you aren't passionate about the issues like a tea partier or lefty type. So you, truly, are the silent majority.

and if a congressperson steps across the party line, they are often attacked from their own party, so they don't.

interesting fact is that the gov't was set up in a time when the founding fathers thought political parties would not form. So much of the gridlock and polarizing is a result of a system that fails when parties vote in 2 blocks. so you are sort of an originalist - not the tea partiers .

"Environmental policy: Build the keystone pipeline already."

You can't have such reasonable positions and fail to understand environmental policy so completely.

There are so many more important environmental questions

The two sides of the pipeline question are:

I don't think we should build it but we have a process and in a few years the pipeline will have completed the process. It may be called XLIII by then. At that time it will be built because I will do nothing to throw out the process.

For 6 years, we have told you that he never tells the truth. We believe that he will do something to reverse the decision of the completed process because it would be consistent with the lie we have been telling for 6 years. We want a law that will make sure the process is not followed and the pipeline will be built without anyone asking any more questions because we can't tell what is a lie anymore.

It's fair to say I'm not as well informed as I could be on the debate over Keystone - I was merely trying to think of issues that I hear people talk about and give my frank opinion. As such, I agree there are likely more important environmental issues that I don't hear as much about. As with any area, feel free to ask me questions and I will respond with my stance.

So I read up on it, and fair enough, it looks like they are just trying to settle on the route the pipeline takes through Nebraska, which appears to be in court at the moment. I am pretty confident that a resolution will be reached eventually and Phase IV will be built.

OP lets get together for some beers sometime!

Ha, given that I find it hard to relate with locals on my middle-of-the-roadness, I'm guessing we don't live in the same region.