Let's Get Political

Here's a pretty basic idea of how politics are thought of in the US:

http://blsciblogs.baruch.cuny.edu/luc/2009/11/rethinking-political-ideologies/

I, however, don't see politics in a straight line - I never have. So I've made this diagram to help describe how it works in my head:

It's sort of a work in progress, but that's the gist of it. Anarchists and Libertarians are kind of in the same boat - both like limited power. Dialectically apposed would be Fascism, so that's in the center - since it seems to be both a right wing/ left wing issue (or, since there's a debate about that, just for simplicity it's going there). And the rest, I think, is self-explanatory.

I also found this neat little graphic, showing that I am not the only person who thinks this way (damn, there goes my thesis, but at least I'm not alone in the world):

http://singularcake.blogspot.com/2011/05/political-fever.html

I like this diagram, except for the fact that fascism and monarchy are equated as the same thing (I feel like all Fascist governments have sucked big time and one could argue that not every king or queen was a bad. Also, may I point out that fascism is SPELLED WRONG). I also still think the libertarians and the anarchists have a lot more in common than they would like to admit. And I don't totally agree with where the circles are. But the basic concept is on the right track.

Of course, as soon as I make this diagram, I realize I have no idea where the hell I belong on it. The problem is, I'm never exactly at the same position all the time. On some issues, I'm pretty damn liberal (gay marriage! the environment! censorship! civil rights!) Other times, I am conservative (not changing shit that works fine the way it is! fix the tax code!) And then I get libertarian - or is it anarchist? (stop making government institutions that waste money/ oppress people/ don't do any good!) And then there's that streak of moderate in me (abortion! immigration! affirmative action!) And then there's stuff that I have really strong feelings about, but just don't fit any political party, exactly (bullying! education/ No Child Left Behind Act! privacy and the PATRIOT act! war! religion! science! fire arms! fucking WHY is some of this a political issue?!)

You get the idea. There's a lot of... stuff... that doesn't fit a political party. Thus voting in the coming election is not going to be very easy for me. I want a candidate who cares about the environment -but not to the extreme of shaming people who use Styrofoam once in a while, has good public speaking skills and an understanding of economics, history, language... okay, basically I want an interdisciplinary person who support the HRC and won't be a condescending douche after he/she gets elected. And who won't raise taxes so that college students and others are actually being paid minimum wage, not minimum wage before taxes. And I'd really appreciate it if he/she maybe wasn't a Democrat or a Republican since all they seem capable of doing is disagreeing with each other and then glaring at each other and slandering instead of, oh, I don't know, TRYING TO COMPROMISE.

Oh, politics - you are the most cynical thing in my life. I want to care more - I think working for a campaign or in DC would be incredible - but I just feel so... unable to discuss politics. Because we've gotten to the point where you can't just disagree with someone. A difference in opinion is an insult to you as a person, a danger to our country, a Fascist or Socialist or Anarchist threat. Politics are so emotional that if someone disagrees with you, you could end up hating them (thank you, Michele Bachmann, for proving this to me). Things that involve moral and personal concerns (abortion, for example) are suddenly the dividing grounds for parties. In this next election, I'm torn between wanting to support what I hear in college (OWS!) and what I've seen in my life (capitalism doesn't suck that bad if it's managed right!). Between what I know (capitalism has serious downfalls) and what I also know (has socialism EVER worked?!) I have to pit fiscal management against gay rights, attitudes towards education against separation between church and state, environmental concerns against taxes. When in my head they're all interconnected and should be able to WORK TOGETHER.

And thus I'm back where I started - trying to find myself on that circle of politics. Which has now just become a web of confusion. This is the result of telling your children from a young age to think critically - it is the best thing you could ever teach them. And also the worst :P