IN YOUR OWN WORDS - What set of beliefs define a person's polical affiliation?

[TheNewbie]

Not really. At bare minimum, they're not doing enough to root out anti-Hispanic elements. I don't look especially Hispanic (my appearance tends to skew more Asian depending on who you ask), and as a result that's made some Republicans comfortable talking to me about how "certain races" (read: blacks and hispanics) are "genetically predisposed to violence and crime" while I stand there completely aghast as they unknowingly tell me I should be treated with more suspicion by the law because of my last name and heritage.

It may be a small segment of the right that's coming fresh out of /pol/ and other alt-right bastions, but that cancer absolutely needs to be cut out and it needs to be cut out now, because if you don't think that's going to trickle up into leadership in a decade or two and lock us into a permanent Democrat majority, you need to look at how quickly communism and socialism have taken root on the other side because the "big tent" mindset prevented them from getting the boot.

Right now, I vote for Republicans out of a mutual interest (firearms) and sheer spite for how the Democrat propaganda machine convinced almost all my "friends" to turn on me for voting third party in 2016 (apparently my one protest vote for Gary Johnson could've flipped Texas for Hillary). Beyond that, I don't trust them any further an I could throw 'em.

We know different Republicans. My girlfriend is actually from Mexico, she would vote Republican if she could.

[farscott]

My personal viewpoint is informed by common sense combined with an understanding that people need rules and codes of conduct. My general rules follow:

1) Personal conduct is acceptable until it harms others, (you can drink, you can drive, but you cannot drink and drive)

2) Self-defense is acceptable.

3) Money only functions due to its scarcity.

4) Equal opportunities are mandated, not equal outcomes.

Everything else comes from the application of those four basic concepts.

[Trigger]

I’m not sure I’m answering the original question, but I will chime in with my two cents.

Heinlein suggested a Constitutional Tyranny was the best. A libertarian document so rigid, it defied any attempt for lawmakers to govern or change it. Thus government officials and bureaucrats had no role or function in that society, and withered away. The constitution provided all the guidance and governance needed. Go about your business, move along. Get busy.

As attributed to Jefferson: The best government is that which governs the least. I looked it up, not a direct quote but an attribution. No link provided IAW original post.

I also agree with some libertarians that the core function of government is enforcement of contracts. You could persuade me on also providing for essential goods and services. But by defining “essential” you open the door to more government than desired or necessary.

I agree that the golden rule should suffice, but that is too altruistic for my view of human nature. I’m cynical. Which gets back to Heinlein who said that an armed society is a polite society. That really reinforces the golden rule in my opinion.

Ultimately, you should be able to live your life as your desire, as long as it does not negatively impact others. And others should not be responsible for the negative consequences of your actions. If you want to smoke dope, go for it. Burn your brain out, go for it. Don’t ask me to pay for one dime of your later medical care.

If through your actions or negligence, you cause harm to others, you are responsible. And should be held responsible.

[JRB]

Not really. At bare minimum, they're not doing enough to root out anti-Hispanic elements. I don't look especially Hispanic (my appearance tends to skew more Asian depending on who you ask), and as a result that's made some Republicans comfortable talking to me about how "certain races" (read: blacks and hispanics) are "genetically predisposed to violence and crime" while I stand there completely aghast as they unknowingly tell me I should be treated with more suspicion by the law because of my last name and heritage.

It may be a small segment of the right that's coming fresh out of /pol/ and other alt-right bastions, but that cancer absolutely needs to be cut out and it needs to be cut out now, because if you don't think that's going to trickle up into leadership in a decade or two and lock us into a permanent Democrat majority, you need to look at how quickly communism and socialism have taken root on the other side because the "big tent" mindset prevented them from getting the boot.

Right now, I vote for Republicans out of a mutual interest (firearms) and sheer spite for how the Democrat propaganda machine convinced almost all my "friends" to turn on me for voting third party in 2016 (apparently my one protest vote for Gary Johnson could've flipped Texas for Hillary). Beyond that, I don't trust them any further an I could throw 'em.

Being in a blue/purple state that's nearing if not already Hispanic majority, I've heard some unbelievably ugly shit on account of my white skin.

Apparently I never knew that being white meant I'm automatically and irrevocably racist regardless of who I am or the actions/decisions I've made in life.
Similarly, I'm genetically predisposed/conditioned/inclined towards genocide, and more interested in murdering/destroying any culture that isn't my own - unless I can enslave that culture and profit off of it as a 'culture vulture'.
Oh and that my lifestyle and values does not and cannot represent a culture of any value and it should be systematically purged from society. It matters not that I was born and raised in New Mexico, went to schools that were upwards of 70%+ Hispanic/Latino, or that I've lived here for the majority of my life, I'm not a 'New Mexican' and I never can be because I'm white. Nor will I ever understand what it's like to be marginalized on race or skin color - apparently getting called 'whitey' and 'weto' by groups of Hispanic dickheads in middle school, and getting trash-canned to 'darken me up' or 'brown me up' doesn't count as racism, that's just kids being kids, or something. But if I fought back and drew blood, oh lordy, I was a bully and racist!

So please, please don't make the assumption that the so-called alt-right assholes, or even the Republicans in general have the majority on bald open racism disguised as politics, or attempting to use politics and cherry-picked statistics to justify their inner hateful and bigoted core of bullshit.

Nevermind that what most people call or believe is racism is more accurately called bigotry against a set of cultural values, not race or skin color, but that's another conversation entirely.