I find that I'm often teased about being "wishy-washy" because I don't align myself with any particular political party. For example, I do not believe in the act of abortion, but that it should be legal with major restrictions (this would label me a moderate conservative) and also do not believe in the death penalty (this view would make me a liberal). To me, both abortion and capital punishment are examples in which the state acts as God, which I do not agree with (this makes me "religious," and probably aligned with the Right). This is a problem in and of itself (being able to break away from party lines is good politics in my opinion) and I am often concerned why many Americans place great importance on which political party they belong to. We no longer most importantly identify ourselves as a "woman, "black," or "Buddhist." We've all become EITHER Liberals or Conservatives. And both are dirty words depending what company you are with.
This has partially been caused by the great equality in our nation. Americans do not need to seperate themselves because of gender, race, or sexuality (sometimes) because of equal rights legislation. However, modern politics is the major factor in coloring within party lines. Because most politicians are lifers (read: looking to get reelected) and we have made it nearly impossible for them to go against the grain, they will choose what is popular, not what is right. Politicians' party bases are their fan bases and their funding. Without parties in modern America, there is no politics.
Jane.
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I dont think the majority of people associate themselves with one party and believe everything that each one says. They are both so far off on opposite sides that there has to be some sort of middle ground. To be made fun of for sharing beliefs of both sides is wrong becasue I doubt they all beleive in everything about a particular side.
Of course there IS a middle ground; however, in my opinion, there is a trend in today's society towards hiding behind a party platform. Most people are moderates at heart, but many of those people have become so disillusioned with the partisinism of Washington that they are just plain tired of politics.
The parties are not really liberal or conservative, everyone is either a Republican or a Democrat. Liberal and conservative are subcatergories, or at least they are for me. I see myself as a Republican-liberal. Or as it sounds better, a Liberal Republican.