Which way do you lean politically and why?
HauntedKnight
Sea Gull
Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 208
Location: Birmingham, England
I'm a socialist. I believe in equality for everyone, and don't think the current capitalist system works. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I think services like education and health care should be provided free to everyone based on need and not how much money you have.
HauntedKnight
Sea Gull
Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 208
Location: Birmingham, England
I don't think 'pure' socialism has ever been tried. But I think lots of socialist ideas, even when implemented in the current capitalist system, have been successful. For example free healthcare, education, welfare systems, minimum wages, etc have improved the lives of a lot of people.
I agree. But these "socialist" ideas were usually successful within an overall "free-market" atmosphere. Even frank "socialist" regimes like Communist China have implemented some free-market type reforms.
There are hybrid Socialist-Capitalist economic systems which have worked well. An example of such a system where there is a relative preponderance of socialist features is found in the Scandinavian countries. An example of a system where there is relatively more free-market features is the one found in France.
The people in all Scandinavian countries are poorer per capita than Americans.
http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/topics/income/
You can get "free stuff" up front, but you lose a life time of earnings through taxation, and end up poorer.
So, I think the trade-off sucks. Better to have freedom and the opportunity for wealth, than be a life slave to your government.
"When we get ready to take the United States, we will not take it under the label of Communism; we will not take it under the label of Socialism. These labels are unpleasant to the American people, and have been speared too much. We will take the United States under labels we have made very lovable; we will take it under Liberalism, under Progressivism, under Democracy. But, take it, we will."
~ Alexander Trachtenberg (1885-1966) National Convention of Communist Parties, Madison Square Garden, 1944
Capitalism is an economic model, not a political system. It allows for free market expression of individual will and accomplishment, in which the poorest have the same opportunities as the richest, to use their own ingenuity, abilities and personal ambition, to better themselves and achieve whatever level of material prosperity they are capable of, if they so desire. It does not guarantee success to anyone, nor does it deny any level of success to anyone determined and able to achieve it.
Socialism is an empty political promise by the supposedly "Intellectual Elite," to offer "fairness" and a "level playing field" to the supposed "victims" of "exploitation."
The claim is, that those who have material success are somehow exploiting those who don't in order to get it, therefore they owe the underachievers "their fair share." Using this irrational appeal to envy, the Elite stir up the masses of supposed "victims" to destabilize the existing society and form a new state, using theft by taxes to bring the wealthy down to the same socio-economic level as the peasantry, ensuring "equal poverty for all," by giving the underachievers that which they have not earned.
Meanwhile, the Elite, as arbiters of "the people's treasury" enjoy the luxury of privilege, while their duped followers are given only poverty-level sustenance and stripped of any and all means to better themselves, or to achieve any sort of personal success. Any dissent, or liberty to express dissatisfaction with these results is strictly prohibited.
"Socialism leads to Communism." - Vladimir Lenin
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"I don't mean to sound bitter, cynical or cruel - but I am, so that's how it comes out." - Bill Hicks
Campin_Cat
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Joined: 6 May 2014
Age: 62
Gender: Female
Posts: 25,953
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.
In regard to the OP's question: Let's just say that if a Liberal says the sky is blue, I'd have to see it, for myself----whereas, if a Conservative said the sky was purple, with pink polka-dots, I'd take them, at their word!! Why? Because, IME, too often, too many Liberals are Chicken Littles (and / or "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"), and the Conservatives, IME, just, AREN'T.
Also, anyone who thinks that EVERYONE should get a FREE education (as in, college)----REGARDLESS of income----well, that, just.....
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White female; age 59; diagnosed Aspie.
I use caps for emphasis----I'm NOT angry or shouting. I use caps like others use italics, underline, or bold.
"What we know is a drop; what we don't know, is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
ASPartOfMe
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Back in the day I was a Nixionian law and order, pro vietnam war, anti affirmative action person which made you a conservative. Back then I thought the government was too bureaucratic and to willing to impose thier viewes but not inherently evil, that made you a moderate conservative. My views were a lot like my dad so I guess it was genes. They say as you grow older you grow more conservative but I have been the opposite. I am an aspie and got to do things differntly . I think some of it is experence seeing people get in trouble for reasons other than bad decisions and laziness. Also the definitions and emphasis of what is conservatism changed a lot. Consevative means seeing the goverment as inherently evil these days. Also I was never into imposing religous and social conservatism via law or spending prorities that a lot of conservatives got into from the 80's onward.
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DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
Campin_Cat
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How so, when I think we have EVERY orientation represented, here, on this site?
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White female; age 59; diagnosed Aspie.
I use caps for emphasis----I'm NOT angry or shouting. I use caps like others use italics, underline, or bold.
"What we know is a drop; what we don't know, is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
ASPartOfMe
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Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 35,519
Location: Long Island, New York
Link(s) please.
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Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
I am a former right wing libertarian (had left wing sentiments before that but that's before I got into politics) turned far left winger. The alt right has a lot to do with it but I also find centrists from both sides alienating. I became disillusioned with the right as a whole and also got frustrated with centrists who always insist that both sides are equally just as bad and that they're somehow immune to being biased or ideological. I understand that they're trying to combat black and white thinking, but there's more than one shade of grey and it doesn't have to be right between the two.
Representation is everything to me, so I embrace identity politics to the fullest.
I am probably center left. I am very left wing on social issues such as abortion, the death penalty, same sex marriage and the teaching of evolution in schools. On economic issues it is a mixed bag really, slightly to the left on welfare, but on some issues very centrist. In the case of France I approve of right wing policies such as removing employee protections, lowering minimum wage and extending the 35 hour working week to 40 hours.
I used to be allot more left wing, but after looking at the sheer negative impacts government intervention has had on the market I have reevaluated my views. A politician who represents my views is Hillary Clinton.
I find some "left-wingers" to be irritating, too. They go overboard with the "political correctness." They think they are the Cat's Meow as far as being "socially conscious" is concerned. This does lead to a form of racism where "left-wingers" automatically assume that "minorities" are victims, and cannot rise out of their "victimhood," so they need the help of the "liberals." This is an extremely condescending view, and is seen as being condescending by the "minorities" in question. Yes, there is racism/discrimination that must be dealt with. But there are also many "minorities" who buck the trend, and seek to be "humans," rather than mere "minority entities." The best way to buck discrimination is to transcend the stereotypes.
I guess to this I will say there are always some bad apples that spoil the bunch. Just like here. An NT could have a bad experience with ONE aspie and go on to think that all aspies act and are a certain way and that is just not true. At all. The more I post here and am slowly starting to pay attention to screen names/ getting to know people here and reading posts is just the icing on the cake when it comes to that. I think " you people" ,for lack of a better term right now I apologize, are a brilliant bunch.
Getting back to point, I dont tend to harp and complain about right-winged issues. I am right winged because i enjoy traditional values. I enjoy men being men and women being women and the man being in charge in a lot of ways while the woman is more of a caretaker.....not so far as to say a 1950s mentality...i just...im very old fashioned I reckon..and right winged seems to support that and a lot of things I agree with.
I used to be allot more left wing, but after looking at the sheer negative impacts government intervention has had on the market I have reevaluated my views. A politician who represents my views is Hillary Clinton.
I respect your views and your post but I have to be honest and say I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton at all....but again I respect your views and your post and you as a person with their own thoughts.
I don't believe in removing employee protections.....only making them more common-sensical.
I believe in maintaining a sound currency and in the free-market. I also believe in national health insurance for potentially fatal diseases and accidents. I don't believe one should go bankrupt because one got sick because of the US's sickily greedy health care system.
I believe Trump is the second coming of Bozo. I wouldn't mind a moderate conservative in the seat of power. Though I would prefer someone with enlightened views on ethnicity and race, but without the PC garbage.