[Political Ideologies]

Here's the strange thing... has the ever been anyone anywhere that fits into category 4: fiscal liberal and social conservative? I can't even imagine how a person with those views would perceive various arguments and what their responses would be. It's a strange position that might be worth imagining.

The political institutions of both of our governments are strongly rooted in the traditions of classical liberalism-- the main difference is that our 'conservative' parties seek to protect the traditional prerogatives of property owners and seek to maintain social liberties as they are now or were a couple decades ago (which is still liberal compared to... pretty much anything else) while our 'liberal' parties have theorized that in order for liberty to be meaningful, people must have the means to exercise their rights.

I'm not voting in your poll, so as not to throw off your polling data, but I would be Category 4. I don't care about the typical conservative 'hot button' issues-- my social values aren't derived from Judeochristian ideals-- but I definitely believe that the government has a legitimate role in enforcing and promoting what I consider 'proper' moral values among the citizenry, and I likewise believe in a fairly high degree of economic regulation on the part of the government. I believe that cultural and economic unity are necessary to the health of a strong nation.

[Breakup of Canada... or the Breakup of Quebec]

When I'm not advocating a political reunion... I'm actually pretty sympathetic to the Cascadian secessionist movement. In my opinion, Vancouver has a hell of a lot more in common with Seattle or Portland than any of those cities has with Ottawa or Washington D.C..