There are issues I consider important that are supported by the Republicans, and there are also issues I consider important that are supported by the Democrats. More of the latter, to be sure.

So, what I like is when the president is from one party and Congress is controlled by the opposite party. If I got to decide things, it'd be a Democrat president and a Republican-controlled Congress, like we had in the Clinton years. Not as much gets done, but what does get done is more balanced. I think an adversarial relationship between the two branches gives the people the most balanced policy, not sided too heavily in favor of any one agenda. Yes, a strong military is important to me. But not at any cost.

I do believe in socialized health care. I don't think capitalism is some kind of magical force that automatically makes things better. Some states are now privatizing parts of our interstate road system. So people will have to pay tolls and the people running the show will make money. Is that better for the people than having the government run the roads, pay for them with taxes, and let them be used without tolls? Why?

I think some things need to be socialized: education, major road arteries, health care, and military forces. Any of these could, and I believe would, be lessened if privatized and capitalized. That doesn't mean companies couldn't form alternatives, and beat the government offerings, but some minimum level of quality in these areas should be offered to everyone even if no company or business wants to enter that market.