What is Your Political Philosophy?

[Frankychan]

My political philosophy is authoritarian-liberal with a little bit of conservativism.

I believe there should be more government regulations in the market and more social programs. There should be a national wage cap to prevent "gross misconduct" by the majority of CEO's out there.

For the arts, there should be slightly tighter rules because I'm seeing a lot of "artists" out there doing things they would normally get arrested for.

[Jaguar]

Nobody noticed that I broke my own rule. Again. I always break my own rules to see if people notice, and nobody ever does.

[Frankychan]

That's because you're too subtle.

[Az]

OK, I am a utilitarian egalitarian technocrat. I believe in preserving nature, since humans enjoy it so much.

I hope for a unification of humanity under a single banner, and the advance of humanity through technology, while retaining our core values, feelings, and looks.

I believe in strong-willed individuals, that work together to achieve a goal.

I believe that men and women are different, but should be treated as equals.

I think humanity's future lies in space.

I believe that people should have children.

I believe in moderate genetical enhancement, that would not change our lifestyles, and the core aspects of life as a human.

what is our goal? to expand, expand, expand. Always, and forever.

[Odin]

I am a Technocratic Egalitarian Socialist

Anti-big bussiness

Pro-small bussiness

Anti-subsidies

Highly progressive income tax

No sales taxes.

High inheritance tax

Moderate redistribution of wealth

Nationalized Healthcare, Utllities, and Insurance industries

Pro-enviroment

Anti-religion

Strong space program, reach Mars by 2015; start Martian colonization by 2040.

Pro-population control

Pro-immigration

Pro-free trade

Pro-genetic engineering

Small millitary

Pro-drug legalization

Pro-euthanasia

Pro abortion before 3rd trimester

Pro-single world government

Anti-nationalism

[orange]

I care little about environmentalism or foreign affairs or whatever other issues... my main concern is improving the lives of the lower middle class chiefly in urban areas.

odd...because what you posted won't help them a bit.

I'm a social democrat. If you want my 'politics' in a more descriptive sense, i'll need issues, and I can tell you my stance.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Kentucky bourbon.

Put this together with Lancer's tropical breezes, and we're working on a utopia!

[monkspider]

A few people have asked me to explain my philosophical beliefs in detail in the past, and I suppose this is as good as thread as any to do so.

Although I began life as a rightist in the mold of someone like Shi Huangdi, I'm now a socialist-minded individual whose purpose is fairly simple: to help improve the lives of others and to help guide humanity forward in it's evolution toward socialism. An evolution which will take place within the next two decades.

My socialist beliefs are based on the philosophies of great spiritual teachers, most notably Jesus. I see acheiving a degree of spiritual enlightenment that results in global communism as the ultimate purpose of civilization, and life in general. I see Marx and company as more of a hindrance to all of this more than anything. Although I do still greatly admire them for other reasons. Socialism needs no volumes the size of Das Kapital to exist, it only needs this, that people learn to love their neighbors as themselves.

The socialism that will eventually come within the next few years will more closely resemble the Iroquois Confederacy, than say, the Soviet Union. That's not to say that we will all be living in tepees mind you, but it will be based on people learning to willingly live for the betterment of mankind, rather than some sort of scientifically-engineered dictatorship of the proletariot. It will not be a result of a violent revolution, but people growing disenchanted with the old way of doing things and awakening to their true nature, being at one with God.

Well, that is my philosophy. There are times when I question the meaning of this existence, being an impoverished employee of a local fast food establishment, always struggling to make ends meet. I often think that if only I had a bit more wealth, I could do so much more to help things improve. In fact, I must admit that I have even grown frustrated with God sometimes for being cursed with such an wretched condition. But I realize that God has a plan, and there are important lessons that I must learn that I wouldn't have learned growing up as part of a middle-class family. The hope that I might be able to make some sort of small difference someday and knowing that such interesting times are just on the horizon keep me going.

[David Floyd]

My political philosophy centers around one concept - individual freedom. This is, to me, the only truly important overriding concept - this isn't to say that religion, for example, is unimportant to individuals, it's just to say that, speaking broadly, freedom is the only thing that matters.

[Voltaire]

Authoritarian Technocratic Meritocrat

[orange]

My political philosophy centers around one concept - individual freedom. This is, to me, the only truly important overriding concept - this isn't to say that religion, for example, is unimportant to individuals, it's just to say that, speaking broadly, freedom is the only thing that matters.

Funny...my impression was this...

My political philosophy centers around one concept - property. This is, to me, the only truly important overriding concept...

...it's just to say that, speaking broadly, property is the only thing that matters.

[monkspider]

Dave old friend, one day soon you will find out that what you call freedom is actually what holds you in chains.

[Frankychan]

I think this test is only half-true. I lean toward libertarian teachings, but consider myself more authoritarian than what I actually scored.

I think personal freedom is a must, but there are more and more examples today where individuals are putting their welfare OVER that of everyone else.

Just like the quote says:

"Just remember, you are unique....Just like everyone else."

-despair.com

[David Floyd]

Dave old friend, one day soon you will find out that what you call freedom is actually what holds you in chains.

That's complete doublespeak. Chains implies restriction. Freedom is the opposite of restriction. Government, regulation, etc., are very synonymous with restriction, and thus chains.

Now, you may not like the outcome in some individual circumstances in a free society - you may not like the fact that some people get rich, for example - but that doesn't mean that anyone is in chains, except, of course, those who try to violate the liberty of others.

If you're speaking in a religious sense, God has given us free will, which to me implies a God-given ideal of freedom - there is a difference between what we CAN do, and what we admittedly OUGHT to do. Forcing people to do what the ought to do is certainly NOT freedom (although my pastor once made an argument similar to that, and I ripped his argument to shreds when my mom tried to reiterate it to me).

So basically, freedom has nothing to do with chains, and freedom is also something that one can argue is granted by God (and thus, natural rights take on a Biblical justification, although there are certainly other justifications - take your pick).

Now, I do notice your semantics - the phrase "what I call freedom" implies that my use of the word "freedom" is incorrect.

You couldn't be further from the truth. Get a dictionary. I guarantee you that the proper English definition and usage of the word "freedom" is much more in line with my ideals that with yours.

From http://dictionary.reference.com

FREEDOM

1. The condition of being free of restraints.
2. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.
3. Political independence.
4. Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty
5. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition
6. The capacity to exercise choice; free will

SYNONYMS
freedom, liberty, license

These nouns refer to the power to act, speak, or think without externally imposed restraints.

*****

Now, you were saying?

[Ned]

On foreign policy, I am a hawk. I would use America's power to advance democracy and human rights. I am pro-Israel.

On domestic policy: I am pro-business, but do believe in both the anti-trust and securities laws. I believe business should compete and should be allowed to fail. I am strongly against any form of socialism.

I am pro-family, but I also support Roe v. Wade and woman rights.

I think we need some form of affirmative action to provide equal opportunity. However, I believe that affirmative action should primarily be based on "wealth," not "race."

I am not religious, but I also do not like the constant attacks on the religious by the left.

I have long believed in a voucher system for schools because I believe that competition will work to improve eduction just as it works in business.

I believe in a social safety net and social security. All of us stumble, at times. Some of use do not have the advantages of others.

I believe in a "personal" flat tax above a certain amount necessary to live on with no deductions except "business" deductions. I favor ending corporate income taxes to the extent corporations pay dividends.

I think the 2nd Amendment ought to be repealed. I am not in favor of the death penalty.

I can see decriminalizing pot but not highly addictive drugs.

Since we cannot get rid of prostitution, we should regulate it.

On the whole, I could be either a democrat or a republican. I think the democrat I most closely identify with is Roosevelt. However, I feel that the Democrat party today is socialist and pacifist, two hot buttons for me.

[BeBro]

Originally posted by David Floyd


Chains implies restriction.

I understand your "individual freedom" as a concept for all individuals?

Then I could answer to the quote above: maximization of freedom for all implies restriction - laws, rights.

[connorkimbro]

i'm a big fan of freedom.

[Dis]

who doesn't like freedom?

[BeBro]

I didn´t say I´m not

[David Floyd]

Then I could answer to the quote above: maximization of freedom for all implies restriction - laws, rights.

Absolutely. The restrictions are that you cannot violate the freedom of anyone else. That is, you can't coerce anyone else.

But saying one has the freedom to coerce is ridiculous - freedom and coercion are mutually exclusive.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

I'd say Im mostly Libertarian, though I havnt made up my mind about gun ownership yet. Also, I think that government should tax, offer unemployment benefits, social security, education and universal health care. however, there should also be private sector alternatives so that people can choose between one or the other.
I'm only going to support lower taxes once we cut military spending, and balance the budget and pay off the entire debt.
maybe there should be a law which prevents the government from going into debt.

[David Floyd]

Mostly Libertarian? OooKkkkk.....

[cinch]

Larry Of Arabia:

maybe there should be a law which prevents the government from going into debt.

What should they do during the next major recession/depression?

[David Floyd]

For starters, not what FDR did. Completely unconstitutional and immoral.

[cinch]

My Political Philosophy:

It's still growing and transforming, but at the moment, I'd have to say I believe in tempered capitalism. Social Democracy. Up with small business, up with Keynesian economics. There are times when taxes need to be raised. Heavy funding to health care and education are wise investments. Try to place the world as a whole ahead of the country whenever possible.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

[David Floyd]

Try to place the world as a whole ahead of the country whenever possible.

But wait, governments are elected by and for the people of the US (for example). And in your example of allowing raised taxes and the like, why should the taxpayers fund other countries, who are not paying taxes to the government, and hence not contributing to your social welfare or health care funds?

That's a serious question, not a troll - just want a clarification

[Buck Birdseed]

I'm a post-socialist. This means I believe society is made up of identity groups competing for power- men vs. women, cultural groups against each other, races, sexualities and classes all trying to achieve more of the power in their relative division. My aim is to create a civic republican society that is set up in such a way as to make sure all of these groups have their fair share of the total power in society, and ultimately co-operate towards the goal of an open, new pluralist society where every identity perspective has a look in.

Maybe you can think of it in terms of the classic Marxist class struggle, but remove the primacy of economics and expand the the definition of haves and have-nots to cover other divisions as well, each with its own closed system. The gay-bisexual-straight system of divisions needs to be considered from a different perspective than the man-woman one, there's no direct split between, say, the upper class and blacks.

I'd consider anyone trying to help the groups with too little power in such systems left wing and anyone trying to help the groups with too much power right wing. Therefore I consider myself extreme left. Most others tend to think of me as weird centre-left, though- advocating a democratic, open, plural society with a wide variety of decision makers and a marked element of citizenship does not square off with many people's definitions of an extreme-left person.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
maybe there should be a law which prevents the government from going into debt.

I guess you want another Great Depression. Why don''t you read something by Keynes to change your mind. I go with Keynes' idea, Build up a good "safety net" of cash from surpluses and use it in recessions to lessen the impact of unemployment.

[David Floyd]

Buck, if it makes you feel better, I consider you an extreme lefty

Odin,

I guess you want another Great Depression. Why don''t you read something by Keynes to change your mind. I go with Keynes' idea, Build up a good "safety net" of cash from surpluses and use it in recessions to lessen the impact of unemployment.

Or just do away with things such as protectionary tariffs and dicking around with interest rates, and let the free market and Smith's "invisible hand" run the show.

[Oerdin]

Originally posted by connorkimbro
i'm a big fan of freedom.

I'm a big fan of free beer.