Reunions with the family, usually over dinner, call for political talk.

I don’t know exactly what it is about this type of setting and atmosphere that provokes such random outbursts of opinions on the old white men ruling our country or the corruption inside today’s political world. 

It’s both entertaining and nauseating. 

Being an almost 21-year-old ocean-eyed, golden-haired, white woman, I want to tape my mouth shut in these moments. 

No matter what I say, even if I praised Trump for his success in the U.S. economy, my mainly Republican, conservative family would still not be fulfilled.

“You’re just a liberal!”

“Yeah, she’s a liberal girl.”

“These young people today are all liberals because of Biden.”

“Biden’s paying for those student loans with our tax money!”

Woah. 

What did I even say?

It doesn’t necessarily matter because I’m automatically placed in a category of liberals based on the generation I was born into. 

Honestly, I couldn’t care less what I’m labeled as just like with any other label in life. What I care about is my beliefs on the social and economic issues and injustices our country faces today and who resonates with my beliefs the most.

So, let’s truly explore a few of these beliefs of mine. 

1. Abortion

Probably the most complex issue that comes to mind. As a woman myself, in love as well, abortion has become something increasingly on my mind. It’s a priority to know my options.

Abortion was always in the back of my mind under the protection of Roe vs. Wade. However, once that was overturned back in June 2022, I can’t stop thinking about it.

I’ve never been so happy to live in New York yet so sad. New York is rather progressive and more liberal as I was deemed to be. Yet to still be protected under the law in New York and witness other women who do not have that same peace of mind breaks my heart.

There are too many different abortion-needed scenarios that can be depicted. Careless couples not using protection. Those who use countless forms of protection and still get pregnant. And of course, rape.  

But how can these be all addressed under the law?

There would never be a practical way to address each scenario with a law for each. Just as it is not practical to enforce no abortion rights but have lousy means of support after the child is born. 

The only way is to bring back the federal constitutional right to abortion. 

Even easier access to abortion pills, as recently announced by CVS and Walgreens (as I’ll talk about in my next column), pave the way to a more practical solution to abortion freedom. 

2. Death Penalty

Personally, I understand wanting to claim some sort of justice against a person who has wronged such a conversely innocent life. 

Yet, I don’t think any individual has the moral ground or omnipotent judgment to murder another human. 

I also feel solemnly life in prison is more torturous as a punishment for someone who has committed such undesirable, scolded crimes. 

3. Gun Laws 

I will simply pose a question. 

If everyone in the country were not allowed to own guns and the protection of the people was mainly fulfilled by the police law enforcement agencies, and militia, which is the definition of their jobs, would the amount of crimes, and even school shootings, lessen?

Certainly. 

4. Economy

 No one can complain about the “greed” of big businesses without such business experience themselves or while they contribute to this supposed greed. 

I’m rather conservative in rooting for a free market economy but can’t rely on the personal responsibility of authoritative figures or companies. 

So maybe the mixed economy we have right now will do.

Yet, isn’t the need for a free market from the majority what contributed to the creation of the decentralized, virtual free market we trade cryptocurrency on? 

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So am I a liberal? Sure, I have some liberal beliefs. But few conservative beliefs as well.

How can humans filled with such complexity in their biology and psyche alone be subjected to just one?

Yes, it makes for great organization in the political stances of the country and everything will always be a majority. Not everyone can be happy. 

But do I have to be a liberal?

Can’t I just be an independent thinker with varying opinions on the issues of today that are killing people, whether metaphorically or literally, every day we waste time on who is who?