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

[Ziggy Stardust]

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 disagree, 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.

Good question. Difficult as well. I think it's mostly my Social Democrat voting record.

I'm not too occupied in defining my leftiness. I'm also a vagueist.

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

I'm european state-run opium den and free prostitution left.

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

Wow. Impressive observation

Can you elaborate?

I can, but don't think it would be that interesting.

The main point I wanted to get across in this thread was; I don't like government. Since I believe that to be the biggest misconception that exists towards me and my ilk. For the rest, I lean to the left, but not with a passion. I vote by filling out 3 internet forms which asks me 30 political questions, and then gives advice. Always a left wing party.

I feel Capitalism works when there's a strong social check in place, I feel strong social checks work when there's a capitalist market fuelling it. This is very much gutfeeling stuff, so it would be useless to expand on it.

Why is there poverty? As I said before, lack of empathy. I think. Or guess.

By all means, I got my point across. It will be ignored. Soon I will be told I want nanny state to run my affairs and nothing really chances. If anyone feels he or she likes to take up the glove of answering the questions, the stage is yours.

Cheers!

Ziggy.

 

[timtofly]

Good question. Difficult as well. I think it's mostly my Social Democrat voting record.

I'm not too occupied in defining my leftiness. I'm also a vagueist.
I'm european state-run opium den and free prostitution left.
Wow. Impressive observation


I can, but don't think it would be that interesting.

The main point I wanted to get across in this thread was; I don't like government. Since I believe that to be the biggest misconception that exists towards me and my ilk. For the rest, I lean to the left, but not with a passion. I vote by filling out 3 internet forms which asks me 30 political questions, and then gives advice. Always a left wing party.

I feel Capitalism works when there's a strong social check in place, I feel strong social checks work when there's a capitalist market fuelling it. This is very much gutfeeling stuff, so it would be useless to expand on it.

Why is there poverty? As I said before, lack of empathy. I think. Or guess.

By all means, I got my point across. It will be ignored. Soon I will be told I want nanny state to run my affairs and nothing really chances. If anyone feels he or she likes to take up the glove of answering the questions, the stage is yours.

Cheers!

Ziggy.

So you are in favor of slavery?

 

[JollyRoger]

How much does George Soros pay you per post? If nothing, why do you loath capitalism so much that you won't even bother to seek out fair market value for your efforts?

 

[Lone Wolf]

1) All your wealth belongs by right to the exploited Third World peoples. How do you feel about it, you We$tern exploiter?

2) Why do you liberasts hate Russia so much?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So you are in favor of slavery?

Depends, only when it's regulated properly or state-owned.

How much does George Soros pay you per post? If nothing, why do you loath capitalism so much that you won't even bother to seek out fair market value for your efforts?

Besides being left, I'm also incredibly lazy.

Or is because I'm left ...

1) All your wealth belongs by right to the exploited Third World peoples. How do you feel about it, you We$tern exploiter?

2) Why do you liberasts hate Russia so much?

1) First I felt terrible. Then I figured out for a small monthly contribution to charity you stop caring. It's great! I highly recommend it.

2) It's so damn easy to

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Would you be a "lefty" in Sweden?

If you realised that your nation, and in the end also the poor within your nation, would benefit by supporting a more "righty" ideology - would you change your mind, even if it meant you'd lose some righteousness points?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Would you be a "lefty" in Sweden?

Not a clue. The differences aren't that big so I guess so.

If you realised that your nation, and in the end also the poor within your nation, would benefit by supporting a more "righty" ideology - would you change your mind, even if it meant you'd lose some righteousness points?

Since I'm not in it to be "righteous" of course. Who would answer no to such a question?

 

[Crezth]

How much does George Soros pay you per post?

Probably as much as the Koch Brothers pay the conservatives on this board for theirs.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Apologies, it was a lame question. This one's better - Do you believe that the left has the moral upper hand in European nations/Canada because of their ideological claims?

 

[JollyRoger]

Probably as much as the Koch Brothers pay the conservatives on this board for theirs.

Soros pays less per post for my posting under JR than the Koch brothers pay per post for posting under my DL, but Soros provides better perks.

 

[Antilogic]

What do you consider to be the basic ideological divides between "left" and "socialism"? Too often these are equated, and while socialists may be lefties, I don't think all lefties are socialists.

 

[warpus]

What do you consider to be the basic ideological divides between "left" and "socialism"? Too often these are equated, and while socialists may be lefties, I don't think all lefties are socialists.

I think you'll have to define socialism first. A lot of Americans equate socialism with communism, for example.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

What extreme leftist literature would you recommend? Apart from CFC-OT, of course.

EDIT: I tried the Muppets but it was way too extreme for me.

 

[timtofly]

I think you'll have to define socialism first. A lot of Americans equate socialism with communism, for example.

I thought socialism was a request to the government and communism was inforced by the government??????

 

[Whiskey_Lord]

Damn, this thread has made me realize that I'm more of a commie bastard than I thought.

 

[GamezRule]

I thought socialism was a request to the government and communism was inforced by the government??????

Wut? Please elaborate.

 

[Antilogic]

I think you'll have to define socialism first. A lot of Americans equate socialism with communism, for example.

Let's start by ignoring propaganda, so socialism means what it should: any system where workers control the means of production. I'm certain the people over in the 'Ask a Red' could give a more nuanced definition, but this is a good-enough starting place.

I bring up this question already knowing a part of the answer, but I think it's a productive one. It's the same question that I tried to bring up in some other thread where Cutlass was debating with Traitorfish, inno-whatever-that-name-is, et al.: the average person in the US [and possibly elsewhere in the world but especially here] assume all left-leaning political ideas are socialist and vice-versa, but I think this is flawed, simplistic, and indicates a basic lack of understanding of both philosophies.

I thought socialism was a request to the government and communism was inforced by the government??????

I haven't heard this one before.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

I'm -4.12 left as political compass says (at least said several years ago). And I like the idea of strong authoritarian government (of smart and just individuals of course). However, I also twist in mind the idea of a place where there are no authorities or social institutions at all, no regulations, no money and a person could travel there, claim the land anywhere he wants or do anything he wants. And this idea brings wonderful images of something fantasy-like, something of pre-history of human civilizaion, like Conan movies with Schwarzenegger, for example.

Are those compasses a lie?

 

[Skwink]

Are you often discriminated against for writing with your left hand? Do you use your right hand in public to hide that you're left handed?

 

[Antilogic]

I'm -4.12 left as political compass says (at least said several years ago). And I like the idea of strong authoritarian government (of smart and just individuals of course). However, I also twist in mind the idea of a place where there are no authorities or social institutions at all, no regulations, no money and a person could travel their, claim the land anywhere he want or do anything he want. And this idea brings wonderful images of something fantasy-like, something of pre-history of human civilizaion, like Conan movies with Schwarzenegger, for example.

Are those compasses a lie?

Generally, I treat any online political compass test with suspicion.