aelf
Ashen One
Only post-modernism is alive. lol
Right? Left! Left? Right!
- Thread starter Richard Cribb
- Start date
Shekwan
Kim Chi Quaffing Celt
Economically speaking I'm slightly right wing. I don't believe that the free market can solve all our problems but it is a useful tool for achieving an efficient economy. However with that said I do believe that the government is there to improve the lives of its citizens and to promote equality, so thats why I'm only slightly right wing.
Socially speaking I'm a dirty librul.
Socially speaking I'm a dirty librul.
It does sound a little excessive/inefficient how they've implemented their policies in your country.. IIRC, there's also a sales tax to the tune of ~20% in Europe?
Virote_Considon
The Great Dictator
I'm a very right-wing, somewhere between the moderate and far right, although leaning more towards the moderate these days. Politically, I'm conservative, and economically, I believe in the free market, although have started looking into third way economics, although as economics isn't my strong point, I haven't come to any firm opinion on the matter.
Snovvdog
Warlord
VAT has been 19% here for as long as I can remember it...
Income tax is easily much higher than that too.
I'm 18 and barely earn anything, but even so, I'm sure they nicked more than 25% of my last paycheck
.
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
We have had left wing governments for the last 50 years!
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Socially I'm on the left, although Europeans would view me a bit centrist.
Economically.. I have no idea! I support regulated capitalism.
Economically.. I have no idea! I support regulated capitalism.
Snovvdog
Warlord
We have had left wing governments for the last 50 years!
No, but they have influenced the decisions. The right wing party's like the VVD have nothing against simply hurrying up and laying more asphalt.
Where do you live? I want see country with efficient social democrats.
Ziggy Stardust
Absolutely Sane
Alright, explain to me which left party from the 2003 election prevented simply hurrying up and laying asphalt?
To remind you, the government consisted of CDA, D66 and VVD. None of them are left-wing.
I won't even mention the gov from the 2002 election (CDA-LPF-VVD)
edit: On second thought, I'm going to drop this. Don't think this will suit the OP's intention. Damn lefties and their hate for asphalt!
So I think the same things and am a leftist. A far leftist in the US. The thing is that as far as US politics, which is what I'm most familiar with, NOBODY holds views opposite to those you stated.
Do leftists oppose entrepreneurship? Does anyone? What is the opposite view and where is it practiced?
Who supports regulation other than to capture external costs (ie pollution etc.) or to prevent fraud etc. It is an area for legitimate argument on the left-right continium but I am not aware of leftist arguments for gratutious regulation simply for the sake of government control.
Who doesn't believe in property rights??
Who doesn't believe in the right to self-defense? Even the most left-wing governments sport a military. I think the US could cut military spending in 1/2 but I still support a military and the right to use it.
It really irritates me to see left-right arguments framed with this kind of series of strawmen. But maybe I'm not aware of parties in other countries that want to eleminate entrepreneurship, property rights, and the military. Does this define the left in other places? Does this supposed party win substantial numbers of seats?
We need to clearly define the middle ground before one can say where they sit with respect to it.
However to make a stab at it I'd say left. I believe that certain things can be run more effectively by government, or more desirably, but not all things. I guess I approximate a social democrat.
However to make a stab at it I'd say left. I believe that certain things can be run more effectively by government, or more desirably, but not all things. I guess I approximate a social democrat.
* A mixed economy consisting of both private enterprise and publicly owned or subsidized programs of education, health care, child care and related social services for all citizens.
* An extensive system of social security (although usually not to the extent advocated by socialists), with the stated goal of counteracting the effects of poverty and insuring the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
* Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers and consumers by ensuring labor rights (i.e. supporting worker access to trade unions), consumer protections, and fair market competition.
* Environmentalism and environmental protection laws; for example, funding for alternative energy resources and laws designed to combat global warming.
* A value-added/progressive taxation system to fund government expenditures.
* A secular and a socially progressive policy, although this varies markedly in degree.
* Immigration and multiculturalism.
* Fair trade over free trade.
* A foreign policy supporting the promotion of democracy, the protection of human rights and where possible, effective multilateralism.
* Advocacy of social justice, human rights, social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.
That's me...
* An extensive system of social security (although usually not to the extent advocated by socialists), with the stated goal of counteracting the effects of poverty and insuring the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
* Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers and consumers by ensuring labor rights (i.e. supporting worker access to trade unions), consumer protections, and fair market competition.
* Environmentalism and environmental protection laws; for example, funding for alternative energy resources and laws designed to combat global warming.
* A value-added/progressive taxation system to fund government expenditures.
* A secular and a socially progressive policy, although this varies markedly in degree.
* Immigration and multiculturalism.
* Fair trade over free trade.
* A foreign policy supporting the promotion of democracy, the protection of human rights and where possible, effective multilateralism.
* Advocacy of social justice, human rights, social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.
That's me...
Bast
Protector of Cats
Green Left. Let's stand together for ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy and nonviolence (ahimsa).
Canadia. I mostly agree with social democratic principles, but when it comes to how certain things might be implemented, there is plenty of room for disagreement.
Bast
Protector of Cats
I've always come out LEFT on the political compass. So again what are you whining about?
No one opposes entrepreneurs or inventors. However, suppose an inventor figures out a way to deliver electricity to a city: I think that a rightie thinks he should have to convince a company whereas a leftie thinks he needs to convince a bureaucrat. Mainly because who's already providing the electricity.
Smoking bans?
Transfat bans?
Well, people who don't believe that IP should be protected, first.
I'm including things like the State being allowed to apply the death penalty. Not that it should be used, but that it may be used.
RedRalph
Deity
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2007
- Messages
- 20,708
I'm not whining at all. When exacty did you become pro-nonviolence? You used to advocate military action against several countries IIRC.
