As we enter into the 2012 election cycle, there are thousands of complex issues being debated, with different groups claiming different priorities, all hoping the two major parties cater to their desires.
My question is simple: in an area of shifting political lines and changing social and political environments, how do you embrace one party over the next, if you don't agree with 100% of that party's platform?
I grew up in a Republican family. When I turned 18, I registered as a Democrat, not necessarily because I agreed with the Democratic platform at the time (I didn't really know much about either), but it was the opposite of what my family was.
As I grew more wise into the working of the world, I voted (and continue to) vote for liberal democrats. But it hasn't been without some debate.
I've found that when it comes to agreeing with the entire party platform, I wiggle. My leanings are easily split down specific issues:
Gun Control: Republican
Capital Punishment: Republican
Military Spending: Mixed
Size of Government: Mixed
Same-sex marriage: Democrat
Welfare: Democrat
Health Care: Democrat
Taxes: Democrat
A friend recently asked why I don't vote Republican because I get irritated at attempts to ban Guns or institute heavy gun control. Other friends wonder why I feel Guns are "fun" and it's OK for the State to kill people if I believe in same sex marriage and full LGBT rights, and social safety nets.
The issues are complex, and I believe that people are not defined by simple black and white boxes that you have to check on a voter registration box.
Take my tax/spending stance: I believe that the rich should pay their fair share of taxes. My household could be considered upper class, I pay more in taxes than some households in earn in a year, and I'm OK with that. But I also believe there is a lot of waste at all levels of government, and the Democrats haven't done enough to identify waste and better utilize the funds collected through taxes.
When debating with others who are the opposite end of the issue than I am, it's OK to disagree on substance. There's a difference between someone like Santorum who wishes to impose his morals and religious identity on the rest of us, versus a conservative who wants to cut taxes because he feels it will force government to run more efficiently.
The conservative who wants government to be smaller and more efficient isn't taking that stance (in a lot of cases) because they are an evil person, and want the homeless to freeze to death on the streets. Likewise, the liberal who champions for same-sex marriage doesn't want it to lead to mass orgies in the streets (ignore the fallacious steps of logic, they get made on both sides).
I vote for Democrats because the issues that I care about the MOST, are the Democratic platform. I care more about social issues than my desire to own a handgun and an assault rifle for sport target shooting.
As I finish I guess there's no real point to this diary, other than to explain to those who may question someone's views when they don't exactly line up to the party's.