So I just found out about this site today, and joined as my interests keep dying out like pensioners, and I'm always looking for new things to waste my time on.
So far I've understood that this is supposed to be a place of "thougtful discussion", and also very inspired by reddit. Since reddit is known to have a very liberal hegemony, I'm just curious what everyone here's political viewpoints are?
Personally I don't adhere to any particular label like "liberal" or "conservative", but can be described as center-right.
- My core values that I live by are (a) freedom; (b) equality; (c) solidarity. I usually sum those up as "do whatever the fuck you want as long as your actions don't impair the ability of others to do whatever the fuck they want." - I firmy believe that with technological and scientific progress, the freedom to behave as said above will increse. A comparative review of technological advances vs. changes in personal and societal liberties shows that with every technological advance, society is altered (some times more than others) in the direction of more freedom, more choices, more individual power. - The idea of transhumanism enters here: why limit our technological inquiry and advancement only to extra-human efforts? Why not attemp to enhance ourselves and aspire to become 'post'-humans? There is a strong case to be made here that this is already the case; glasses, artificial limbs and organs, stem cell use, etc., all of these are kinds of technological enhancements of the human body. This is only tangentially related to the anarchistic ideas disscussed above, but it also reflects some freedom: over oneself's body. - The idea of cooperation vs. competition, on which I expanded here. (Sorry, but I'm not sure how to link to comment threads yet.) - I realize full well that technology can also be utilized for wrongdoings. This much is obvious to anyone exposed to facebook, for example. I guess the bigger idea I'd call "technological optimism." - I also don't expect (or advocate) some violent revolution. I actually think that would do mostly harm rather then benefit anyone (except maybe the ruling class). The idea here is to support technology up until the point it allows us to engage in the kind of freedoms we want (that is not to say we then stop supporting it; only that that is the direction). - Finally, perhaps most importantly, I'm againt coercion, more specifically unjustifed coercion (can expand on that, though it gets a tad philosophical), which means that I don't expect or intend to force anyone to live in my type of society; I merely wish to be extended the same courtesy from others. Shit, that was long. Sorry for any incoherence, as I'm typing this on mobile, which was a poor choice (not that I had any other; still on guard duty at the base!). Happy to answer any questions that might arise.
I like to think that the idea of "one or the other" is ridiculous. I think having a regulated free market with universal healthcare, education, and some form of welfare would be perfect. Education should be a huge focus of the government, as should supporting research. I believe in knowledge and sharing it, and making life the best it can be for all of us.
That'd make a hell of a t-shirt. edit: I was boredI am some sort of socialist.
Same, although this year I voted green party in the presidential election. It was hard to be that excited for Obama, and my vote didn't matter because of geography.
Whatever fits the times and the place, with a constant goal to give people the freedom to live a meaningful and safe life of their own design. Here in the US, most would consider me fairly liberal based on the aggregate of my views. However, it would be a mistake to say that I am happy with what the Democrats in this country are doing. I think every political ideology is fundamentally flawed. There are degrees of good, and degrees of bad, and the time and place plays a big part in that equation.
My fiscal orientation is Modern Monetary Theory, which means I vote democratic and feel bad about it. My social beliefs are in flux, in that I think most belief systems don't make adequate consideration for the role of propaganda.
Heh, that sums up half of the Democratic base.I vote democratic and feel bad about it.
Liberalism used to mean balance and restraint. Nobody has all of the power, so nobody can abuse it. It's the worst system, except for all the others. I want balance in power between employees and employers, between citizens and government, and between the law and the Citizen. Democracy is just a balancing mechanism designed to produce about the type of government most people want. If you don't like it, move somewhere where people think like you.
I give my party vote to the Greens (NZ). I don't align with them 100% but I like that they always take the long view. We still have a lot to lose in New Zealand as far as the environment goes. The Greens also have anti-poverty platforms which I approve of (i.e. opposition to increases in the regressive GST, our sales tax rate). They debate well in Parliament.
The Labour Party rebuilt the country after WW2, implemented a very successful welfare system, and as a result they have pretty much been the most popular party until this day (they are currently in a coalition government and have the PM). The political climate in Norway is generally pretty left-leaning and politically correct (not critizing, just stating facts). Personally I'm not happy with the current government, but I think the opposition is worse. The loudest opposition party is the Progress Party, which harvests many votes on cheap issues like stricter immigration laws, lower taxes and prices on tobacco and alcohol, etc. Your standard right-wing populists. Don't know if that answered your question, feel free to ask more. And I live in Trondheim, central Norway and the third most populous city.
Thanks for that. I was actually in Trondheim two summers ago. I loved it. I got to see A-ha too. You aren't the only hubskier in Trondheim, I was visiting one. I do wonder what you most would like changed, if anything. It seems a great place to live. Really expensive to visit, though.