My Political Attitudes, Essay Example

The debate over personal political identity has evolved over generations. With the political spectrum changing with the times, people have identified with several political parties from the emergence of the Green Party, Republicans, Democrats, Conservatives, Liberals, Separatists, and others. Each generation’s attitudes have largely been affected by the influence of war, social issues, economic issues, and how much the government’s involvement in people’s lives has changed. The concept of the political spectrum was created in order to identify the broad range of political ideologies to coincide with various attitudes towards different political positions. There are several parties that people choose to align with, however after reading the definitions in Chapter 7, in choosing which political party that I affiliate with, is pure liberal. My beliefs on democracy and personal freedoms are more liberal as I believe in equal rights for each individual, including gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana, and economic policy that is for better education, and equal medical care.

In choosing this political position, my decision was impacted by the very definition in which sees liberal as a more progressive party that favors, social and political reform, with an increased yet suitable government involvement that increases the use of federal services towards helping the citizens. This program includes Welfare, Social Security, Student Loans, and Medicare/Medicaid for low-income individuals. More important liberals such as myself support maintaining the environment, consumer protection, and guarantee that each individual possesses equal rights.

In choosing this political party, it was mostly influenced by my own personal economic and social issues. While my perspective may change from most-born Americans, as an Asian student coming from Hong Kong to America, I have seen how the government influences the political spectrum for their citizens. My family is a large influence, mainly how I was raised to see the world. Coming from a different country, and a different country, I am more open-minded to accepting people that differ not only from my political opinion, but also with race, religion, and gender. Being a college student in these changing times has affected not only how I see the world through its’ political lenses, but also how social reform is essential to progress society.

In being a liberal, while not necessarily differing from those on the right side of the political spectrum, as a minority and a foreigner, I see the differences that race can have on a person perspective. That is why in leaning towards the Liberal affiliation I am in support of civil policy that places importance on desegregating schools, and increasing the opportunities for ministries to get jobs and fair treatment in all aspects of society. My family has taught me to be tolerant of others, even when others are not tolerant of me and others. School is used as a tool for educating others and has played a central role in my life in helping to introduce me to new and various perspectives, personalities, and individuals in which are different from people that live in Hong Kong. Like others, religion plays a role as well, and my religion has influenced me personally and socially in ways to be more accepting of not only change, but having a progressive attitude that realizes not everyone is the same. My family is progressively liberal, we are more open to political protest, and government involvement that is positive in helping its citizens. It has largely been influenced by Western style, and that has translated with my family and friends, in keeping a more open mind to political parties and ideals.

I am ideological in my political thinking, as I believe the government and society should work hand in hand in bettering their citizens. I hold several beliefs in which I feel that the government should do in order to be a positive factor in improving educational opportunities, as well as securing equal rights for every individual. The government should set certain guidelines that protect the environment, as well as consumer protection, in the case of the financial disasters, to protect against another downward turn in the economy. In choosing for, the government to intervene more in consumer protection this also relates to setting better safety standards from large manufacturer companies such as food, drugs (medicine), cars, and other important factors that place safety as a priority. The government should also play a significant role in increasing social reform in areas of healthcare, and social programs aimed at helping minorities, low-income individuals, and those that live under the poverty line. People have the right to make choices for themselves in areas such as women’s rights, freedom of religion, on whom to marry, rejecting the idea that certain people are superior to others.

Individuals are capable of thinking rationally and logically, and should have the opportunities to get express themselves through peaceful protests, and against businesses or people that choose to discriminate others. In looking over the terms and definitions presented in the class and the lectures, I believe that each political position can agree to a certain extent on individual liberties and freedoms and that there should be an equal balance to government involvement in helping society. While liberals and conservatives might be on the opposite sides of the political spectrum, they are mainly influenced by their personal beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles, which reflects on how they view society.