Introduction and finding out if DU is right for me [View all]

[Token Republican]

Hello everyone.

First off, I'd like to say hello to everyone. I've been lurking here about a year and finally made an account.

Before I start posting too much, other than the required 10 posts to start a topic, I wanted to make sure that DU is ok with my joining, and vice versa too.

As my name implies, I'm not exactly coming from a left background. On some issues, my views would be considered conservative, right, or whatever label one chooses. On other issues, my views are very liberal or left. More often than not, the reasons behind my views are a little different than most, even if the conclusions are the same. In real life, I consider myself a token republican due to the many disagreements I have with where the R party is going. I thought that name would work here, as both a reflection of my RL views and as a play on words in my being a token republican here. At least on some issues.

I've read the TOS and see that this site is focused on left leaning politics, and also on electing democrats to office.

My question is whether this site is geared more towards advancing liberal policies, as opposed to advancing democratic candidates. Over the past year, I've read a lot of posts that I agree with. What I also see are many posts that I can't see the logic behind the arguments. Sometimes facts are dead wrong or distorted. Other times, the application of facts seems to miss the mark. In fairness, I say the same thing about right wing positions too.

What I'm hoping I can add, assuming its consistent with DU, is give a better understanding as to how someone with more middle views would see the various topics, and more importantly, how to convey liberal ideas to middle of the road people in a way that would give a greater likelihood of implementing liberal ideas. If that's ok, then I'd be happy to stay and contribute. If it getting people to understand and support liberal politicians is a secondary effect, I'm good with that.

If on the other hand, the main focus of DU is to advance liberal politicians, with policies taking a second role, then DU is probably not for me. I've rejected that approach on the repub side too, for what its worth.

For some specifics about my views, here they are for disclosure only.

Gay Rights - strong advocate.
Separation of church and state - strong advocate of keeping religion out of govt
Creationism v evolution issues - its disgusting that we are still debating evolution in the 21st century

Taxes - a bit of a mixture here. I'm also a bit of a tax code addict, and there's a lot of false information on both sides as to how taxes work. My view here is there can't be any meaningful change on taxes without understanding what we have and don't have. Essentially, my biggest complaint is most who advocate on tax issues one way or the other haven't done the math.

Moral Laws - abolish them.

Role of government - more conservative here but not a fanatic either. I think gov't can do a world of good, but I see it as a toxic drug. Too much can do harm.

Second Amendment - this is actually how I found the DU. I might contribute at some point, but I'd probably be banned. So I'll stay out of those discussions in the safe haven group.

Reagan - don't hate him. don't like him. I don't think he's as evil as many here think, but I enjoy cutting him down to size among right wingers too.

Bush II - voted for him first time. Lets leave it at that.

Obama - I think he became president 4 or 8 years too early. Had he had a little more experience under his belt, I think he could have been far more effective.

Future elections - convince me!

Anyway, I've read many times on DU when I was lurking that people wished more right leaning people would come here and learn. I'm willing to do that, and hopefully give a little insight as to how to reach out to more center based people too.

So I guess just let me know in this thread if DU is open to someone with these views. If not, no feelings will be hurt and I can respect that.