Political party affiliation influences voters perhaps less now than it has any other time in the history of the United States. Voting a straight party ticket was the norm for decades, but emerging grassroots political and social groups have changed the landscape of American politics forever. News commentators have even broken old habits and often refer to public servants as progressives, fiscal conservatives, liberals and libertarians.
Entitlement Programs
Philosophical differences between off-shoots of the traditional Democratic and Republican parties will impact the 2012 presidential election enormously. Liberals and progressives favor a social justice approach to running the country, which conservatives feel borders on socialism. Erosion of personal responsibility is seemingly linked the growth of social services programs. When an adult relies on the government to provide food, clothing and shelter survive, there is little incentive to search for a job or enroll in educational courses.
Fiscal conservatives and tea party members believe in both necessary assistance and personal responsibility. Taxpayer funded social programs were designed to aid the weakest segments of society during hard times. What began as temporary aid became a generational mindset which cripples the desire for financial independence.
Social Justice
Life is not a kindergarten classroom where everyone gets a Valentine and invited to birthday parties. The recently coined liberal "Social Justice" terms seeks not to level the playing field but to limit success and make every American their brothers keeper. Fiscal conservatives are not cold-hearted monsters who want to push others down, they simply feel it is not their sole duty to bolster others up at their own expense. Americans who best identify themselves with a Libertarian or tea party mindset believe everyone was created equal, and where you go from there is a personal choice.
Progressives have never met an entitlement program they didn't like, regardless of the cost to taxpayers. Conservatives believe in helping others, but required effort in exchange for programs run in a fiscally responsible manner. Libertarians would not consider a study of the drinking habits of Chinese prostitutes money well spent.
Immigration
The influx of illegal aliens into America is a longstanding political battle. Tea party members and Libertarians favor the enforcement of existing federal laws, an idea which should not be met with controversy. Liberals and progressives typically feel we are all immigrants and border lines are of little importance. Allowing states to aid in the identification and deportation of both illegal immigrants and businesses which hire them is a reasonable response to the growing problem. Despite liberal beliefs that illegal immigrants do not add to America's debt, taxpayer funds are used to provide emergency medical care, education and illegal access to social welfare programs.
Tara Dodrill is a political, eco-green and travel writer. She is a real estate agent and former elected official, public school employee and coach from Ohio who has worked as a newspaper journalist, editor and photographer for magazines and online media outlets. Follow Tara on Twitter.
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