- 19 Jan 2012 23:00
#13876972
My political interest started months ago, and back then I was a pretty orthodox social democrat. Since then, my views have drifted to the right substantially. Anyway, here they are:
Philosophical Viewpoint: Freethought all the way. Dogma should be avoided. This naturally makes me an atheist. Also, moral nihilism in the strictest sense. All this means is that I don't think that objective morality can exist. I do recognize, however, that morality and empathy is important and that any non-psycopath will have at least some outline of a moral compass. Vehemently opposed to political absolutism.
Foreign Policy: Very moderately non-interventionist. The country should interfere if a group is getting slaughtered somewhere else with little provocation. War is not justified by economic profit. World peace is impossible to achieve now or any time later, however. We should promote the national interest as long as it doesn't involve the slaughtering of people in other nations. War should be used relatively sparingly, and should not be treated lightly (i.e. punishment of our soldiers for disgracing the corpse of enemies).
Immigration: Immigration should be relatively open, but immigrants must go through the process. Strengthen the borders substantially, and only deport illegals who have been here for a short time and did not bring their family with them. Discourage extremist immigration, and encourage immigration of skilled workers.
Social Policy: Allow gay marriage, because it has been shown to do little (if any) harm to society. Pro-choice for first and second trimesters, but not pro-choice for the third trimester. Indifferent to pornography. Pro-euthanasia. Anti-death penalty (too strong an assertion of state power) and relatively soft on crime. This means that criminals should be rehabilitated for the first time if possible, and harsher sentences for repeated offenses. Favor the decriminalization of all drugs, because addiction should be treated as an illness and not a crime. Drug use should not be encouraged, though. The state should not enforce subjective 'moral' behavior. Against teaching creationism in school. Against burning the flag, because it is a sign of threat. Pro-separation of church and state. Criticism of government policy should be allowed, and censorship should be light.
Economic Policy: The state should regulate large corporations to make sure that their profit-making does not run against the public interest or occurs at the detriment of the nation. Healthcare should be given to every citizen, and welfare should primarily be directed at the poor. In favor of a system of welfare that pays cash on top of earnings at work and does not pay as much when recipient is unemployed. Such welfare policies have been shown to increase employment, reduce poverty and divorce rates, and increase general well-being. Equality of opportunity should be emphasized. Pro-labor unions, and union membership should be encouraged. Pro-minimum wage. High taxes on the rich (heavy progressive tax system). Generally in favor of left-leaning centrist economic policy. Strongly against unrestrained capitalism and social darwinism.
Political Policy: In favor of a system of proportional representation. Pro-publicly funded campaigns, and in favor of publicly funded non-partisan newscasting. In favor of ending corporate personhood, and making it easier for third parties to get elected. Pro multi-party system. A wider range of ideological views should be encouraged.
Quiz Results:
Political Compass: E L/R = -3.25, S L/A = -3.90
Political Spectrum Quiz: Left = 3.64, Libertarian = 2.09
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Do these views correspond to any one particular ideology? Lately I feel like I've been syncretizing some nationalism, classical liberalism, and social-democracy together to create this mess. Modern social-democracy seems too radical, classical liberalism seems too internationalist and philosophical, nationalism seems to nationalist, etc.. So I've felt a need to make some sort of compromise. I really, really don't want to see myself as a run-of-the-mill American social-liberal though, and I feel like I have been drifting that way unfortunately.
Philosophical Viewpoint: Freethought all the way. Dogma should be avoided. This naturally makes me an atheist. Also, moral nihilism in the strictest sense. All this means is that I don't think that objective morality can exist. I do recognize, however, that morality and empathy is important and that any non-psycopath will have at least some outline of a moral compass. Vehemently opposed to political absolutism.
Foreign Policy: Very moderately non-interventionist. The country should interfere if a group is getting slaughtered somewhere else with little provocation. War is not justified by economic profit. World peace is impossible to achieve now or any time later, however. We should promote the national interest as long as it doesn't involve the slaughtering of people in other nations. War should be used relatively sparingly, and should not be treated lightly (i.e. punishment of our soldiers for disgracing the corpse of enemies).
Immigration: Immigration should be relatively open, but immigrants must go through the process. Strengthen the borders substantially, and only deport illegals who have been here for a short time and did not bring their family with them. Discourage extremist immigration, and encourage immigration of skilled workers.
Social Policy: Allow gay marriage, because it has been shown to do little (if any) harm to society. Pro-choice for first and second trimesters, but not pro-choice for the third trimester. Indifferent to pornography. Pro-euthanasia. Anti-death penalty (too strong an assertion of state power) and relatively soft on crime. This means that criminals should be rehabilitated for the first time if possible, and harsher sentences for repeated offenses. Favor the decriminalization of all drugs, because addiction should be treated as an illness and not a crime. Drug use should not be encouraged, though. The state should not enforce subjective 'moral' behavior. Against teaching creationism in school. Against burning the flag, because it is a sign of threat. Pro-separation of church and state. Criticism of government policy should be allowed, and censorship should be light.
Economic Policy: The state should regulate large corporations to make sure that their profit-making does not run against the public interest or occurs at the detriment of the nation. Healthcare should be given to every citizen, and welfare should primarily be directed at the poor. In favor of a system of welfare that pays cash on top of earnings at work and does not pay as much when recipient is unemployed. Such welfare policies have been shown to increase employment, reduce poverty and divorce rates, and increase general well-being. Equality of opportunity should be emphasized. Pro-labor unions, and union membership should be encouraged. Pro-minimum wage. High taxes on the rich (heavy progressive tax system). Generally in favor of left-leaning centrist economic policy. Strongly against unrestrained capitalism and social darwinism.
Political Policy: In favor of a system of proportional representation. Pro-publicly funded campaigns, and in favor of publicly funded non-partisan newscasting. In favor of ending corporate personhood, and making it easier for third parties to get elected. Pro multi-party system. A wider range of ideological views should be encouraged.
Quiz Results:
Political Compass: E L/R = -3.25, S L/A = -3.90
Political Spectrum Quiz: Left = 3.64, Libertarian = 2.09
-----------------------
Do these views correspond to any one particular ideology? Lately I feel like I've been syncretizing some nationalism, classical liberalism, and social-democracy together to create this mess. Modern social-democracy seems too radical, classical liberalism seems too internationalist and philosophical, nationalism seems to nationalist, etc.. So I've felt a need to make some sort of compromise. I really, really don't want to see myself as a run-of-the-mill American social-liberal though, and I feel like I have been drifting that way unfortunately.
Not that liberalism is bad or anything, but that it's so conventional. I guess that I'm gonna stick with 'social-democrat' for now, although I've grown to be more moderate than Ralph Nader and other social-democrats.
One of the things that I've noticed on this forum is the strive to be unconventional for many members. I guess that I would fall into this category despite my gradual moderation in political views over time.
- By ingliz
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