Thanks UGAalum. We are pretty different on most issues, but I like to hear people discuss their ideas even when they are different than mine, when they can do so in an intelligent way without lambasting, personal attacks, etc.
I think that you are able to do that. I think it is good to have our belief systems challenged.
My ex-husband and I had this discussion at my daughter's birthday dinner last night. He and I are on opposite sides of the spectrum. He thinks I'm a total bleeding heart but I think I'm more moderate than people give me credit for. I tend to more bleeding heart on social issues but not as much on economic. I also don't believe in just giving handouts to everybody all the time and ascribe to the "teach a man to fish" philosophy, not the "give a man a fish". Conversely, I think health care is a right (which someone on this board argued in the past). My beliefs are kind of all over the map. But, I think that social spending needs to be done efficiently not haphazardly. An example: Providing inexpensive day care for single moms so that they can work at lower income jobs without leaving their kids home alone before they are old enough (yes) vs. Provide single moms with enough money to raise the kids without ever working or learning new skills (no).
Believe it or not, in my very first presidential election, I voted for Reagan. I voted for McCain in the Republican primary in 2000. I'm not opposed to all Republicans all the time. I also recognize that people have differences in their belief systems because of their personal life experiences. Like, my ex-husband has been an accountant for major corporations and is an extremist Christian whereas I have worked in health care and have a strong faith but not necessarily a firm belief in anyone denomination. These experiences shape our ideas and opinions. The only way to understand why others believe what they do is to listen to them, and I am always open to that.