Understanding Myself Politically...

This sign was the first indication that I had run out further than I had first intended this morning:

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Moving on...

Since I have recently relocated to the Nation's Capital, I have been doing some thinking about my own political ideologies.

In this regard, I have discovered it increasingly difficult to categorize my own leanings under one predominate party title.

Here is my dilemma:

Given my personal employment situation, I understand as well as anyone the reality of the current economical condition of this country. In terms of fixing this problem, I believe it advisable to cut taxes for corporations, businesses of all sizes, and even on the most wealthy, whom may also be the biggest spenders.

My rudimentary understanding of economic principles suggests that such a plan would cause a sort of “top-down” path to recovery. If businesses are encouraged to grow and, in fact, do so, they need to hire more employees in the process. It seems a logical route to recovery.

What I favor above is conservative in nature and nearly, word for word, a current Republican talking point.

The following most certainly is not.

While I believe that markets are usually best left untouched by regulatory forces, I have recently discovered that this fact only remains true in a world free of corruption, in which we clearly do not live.

The market would be best left to self-correct its own faults, if it were not for the existence of very real individuals with negative, lustful, and greedy intent whom have both the means and desire to influence that otherwise free market to their own benefit at the expense of less fortunate consumers.

These people, the Bernie Madoffs of the World, take what should be a positive thing for all, a free market, and manipulate it in such a way that the flaws of laissez-faire become apparent to even the most ardent of believers.

My naivety now completely shattered, I currently support limited oversight of the mechanisms of the American economic system. Potential oversight that I find agreeable includes increased regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the financial markets to insure their volatility does not aid in utterly destroying American prosperity.

Two related issues, both concerning the United States' economy, that I feel drawn to approach via plans influenced by the polar opposites in political ideologies; Does this make me a moderate, a centrist, or just confused?

Thanks.

-Steve