Ask a leftie/leftist/leftarian/"the left"

[Ziggy Stardust]

aka the shortest thread ever, since I'm first going to answer the question no one asks, since the answer is always being told to me. And me, being a leftie, think it's odd, because it never coincides with what I think about this particular subject. So I felt the need to answer the question which no one ever asks.

Do you like government?
I don't like government, no siree, I don't like it at all. I don't like paying taxes. I don't like politicians. I don't think they have the answers, I don't think they have the solutions. But my opinion is the alternative, namely no government, is worse than the situation with a government, so I opt to put up with it until a better alternative arises. For this to happen there has to be a mental and cultural change in human society. I hope this change will one day come, but I don't think it's here already.

So in that regard I am very sympathetic towards the emotional side of libertarianism, but I feel that due to practical reasons implementing the idea at this time will lead to a worse situation than there is now.

So: I don't like government. I don't trust government. I think they are corrupt. I wish there was a better option.

I am certain this will remove the hated "U the Gov" strawman from the discussion in the future. I am also certain that one day I will lose this juvenile naive optimism

 

[Quackers]

In your view what is teh biggest threat to Western civilisation?
What do you think of the term "leftist"?
Do you think capitalism (i'm talking about it all the way from scandinavian welfare state style to hong kong laissez faire style) is the best economy system atm?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

In your view what is teh biggest threat to Western civilisation?

That's a pretty big term. In what way? Culturally? Economically? Politically?

What do you think of the term "leftist"?

It shows a lack of creativity. It's a term which generalises. One of my main issues is the way the media portrays all news as being left vs right wing, while the divide which is important should be corrupt vs non-corrupt, and that doesn't comply with the left/right divide. Labeling like this . Also the -ist is usually indicator of an active ideology.

Do you think capitalism (i'm talking about it all the way from scandinavian welfare state style to hong kong laissez faire style) is the best economy system atm?

Yep. I love capitalism and consumerism.

 

[Smellincoffee]

How does one love consumerism and still call themselves a leftist?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Hypocrisy.

Nah, just kidding, it's simple really. I want to spread the consumerism so everyone will consume equally \o/

 

[classical_hero]

Why are you so sinister?

 

[Quackers]

That's a pretty big term. In what way? Culturally? Economically? Politically?
It shows a lack of creativity. It's a term which generalises. One of my main issues is the way the media portrays all news as being left vs right wing, while the divide which is important should be corrupt vs non-corrupt, and that doesn't comply with the left/right divide. Labeling like this . Also the -ist is usually indicator of an active ideology.
Yep. I love capitalism and consumerism.

Well to your first response thats up to you. Thats the question.

Fair enough. Do you feel guilty using leftie/leftist/leftarian/"the left" then?

..and good.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Why are you so sinister?

Because you look so cute when you're asleep

Well to your first response thats up to you. Thats the question.

In that case, lack of empathy. If we want to function as a society we need to characterize less and sympathise more.

Fair enough. Do you feel guilty using leftie/leftist/leftarian/"the left" then?

Yeah, it's eating me

 

[Ajidica]

On a scale of 10 to 100, with ten being hate and 100 being absolute loathing, how much do you hate freedom?

 

[classical_hero]

Isn't it obvious that it is 1000?

 

[amadeus]

Do you believe in (peaceful) secession? if so, what is the smallest unit that shpuld be able to secede? Why should smaller units not be able to?

 

[Artifis]

So to summarise, you mistrust government, but you mistrust people more?

 

[bathsheba666]

So: I don't like government. I don't trust government. I think they are corrupt. I wish there was a better option.

Isn't that down to the fact that governments are always corrupted by libertarians?
Is it the corruptors or the corruptees who are the problem ?

 

[kochman]

In your view what is teh biggest threat to Western civilisation?

Clearly, it is the use of "S" where the ZEE (not Zed) should be.
It's not Civilisation IV...

It shows a lack of creativity. It's a term which generalises. One of my main issues is the way the media portrays all news as being left vs right wing, while the divide which is important should be corrupt vs non-corrupt, and that doesn't comply with the left/right divide. Labeling like this . Also the -ist is usually indicator of an active ideology.

Generalization is a necessary evil as much as the gubbamint is though... I mean, that's how the mind works, it puts things in categories (which hopefully other people have the same meaning for that category)...

OK, ask a leftie...

What country do you think sets the best example of a properly run government/society?

 

[Silurian]

Western civilisation has been moving to the left over the last 100 years or so.

Do you think this will continue.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Why do you consider yourself a leftist ?
Are there typical leftist positions you disagree with ?
I think the left/right spectrum is a relic that doesn't belong in the 21st century. Would you agree or disagre, and why ?

To put my questions into some context: I myself used to be left, but now my opinions are a mixed bag and I hold some beliefs that go against what people usually classify as left.
I'm for some deregulation and higher taxes for example.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Do you believe in (peaceful) secession? if so, what is the smallest unit that shpuld be able to secede? Why should smaller units not be able to?

Uhm ..., I don't know and I don't know.

Generalization is a necessary evil as much as the gubbamint is though... I mean, that's how the mind works, it puts things in categories (which hopefully other people have the same meaning for that category)...

Fair point, but it becomes something else when that generalisation is just used to score cheap points against fictitious arguments.

What country do you think sets the best example of a properly run government/society?

No idea. I like ours in comparison to other countries, but I wouldn't call it better ran than others. Just what I'm used to I guess.

 

[muhtesem insan]

What do you refer with left? For US citizens even democrat party is left, but for some of us even social democracy isn't...

 

[GoodSarmatian]

What do you refer with left? For US citizens even democrat party is left, but for some of us even social democracy isn't...

He's Dutch, so I assume he's for state-run opium dens and free prostitutes..

 

[civver_764]

Yep. I love capitalism and consumerism.

Can you elaborate? How do you define capitalism? What is, to you, the core aspect, and what do you find so lovely about it?

And also what would you identify as the main causes of poverty in the modern day world, and what solution(if any) should be employed?