Question of the Day, 4/11/10 - Politics

[Tangerine]

Perhaps one of the issues in Cong is that, we only discuss the issues, but not why we have the stance on the issues itself.

So, today's question is,

What are your political position, economic and social? Why do you hold these positions (ie, why are you conservative on these issues, why are you liberal on those issues?)? What ideals do these issues reflect, and why do you hold these ideals? What makes you believe in these ideals?

Previous Questions
First Thread, Info
Second Thread
Third Thread
Fourth Thread

 

[Eraddd]

I have no political position. I look like a conservative at some points, and a liberal at others.

I can't really comment on the economy because quite frankly, I'm just not that knowledgeable of that subject. I do have a superficial knowledge of the recession, but I just don't have enough knowledge to actually make a decision (I seriously need to catch up on that economy reading sometime)

Social issues, I'm still torn myself. On one hand, I like mercy. Helping each other in a society is what I'm for. But the other hand is that many people take advantage of these "perks" and use them. And why should i use my tax dollars to help some coked up druggie in the first place? I'm still doing a struggle on this issue.

All in all, I'm an ambiguous bastard.

 

[Zach]

In general, I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal

 

[Ferrouswheel]

You should include foreign policy as one of the components.

I tend to be socially liberal in almost every situation, though not in all of them, and fiscally conservative. However, I believe that there are social needs that override the economy, such as Health Care.

Though health care is a bad example for reasons I won't go into here.

Edit: In response to the below post: The War on Drugs is a hideously stupid idea, and is causing war in Mexico between the drug cartels and the Mexican military, the Department of Homeland Security believes that within a year the violence will end up spreading to the southern United States.
As an example, the city of Juarez has a murder rate 33x the rate of New York City, 7 years ago (before Mexico agree with Bush to crack down on drugs, the level was lower then most cities.)

 

[Alan]

In general, I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal

I'm basically that. I would rather keep most of my money and have a small government than pay alot of my money in taxes and have a ginormous government. I believe in being self sufficient and not having to rely on somebody else.

That being said, I really don't care what people do as long as it isn't hurting anyone, "wanna smoke pot? go for it." I also am very anti-censorship, since its getting ridiculous (for instance in pokemon, "No gambleeng it promotz bad habitts 4 kids"), the kids are gonna see/hear stuff sooner or later anyway.

 

[cantab]

In general, I'm fiscally conservative and socially liberal

A position better known as libertarianism.

My own political views can be boiled down to two sentences.

Individuals should be free. In order to protect the freedom of individuals, organisations must be regulated.

('Organisations' includes the government itself, as well as business. But it's not too clear to me how exactly you regulate government. In Britain we don't have a written constitution. The House of Lords, where usually and currently no party has control, goes some way towards moderating and reviewing bills put forward by the Commons. And the European Court of Human Rights has on several occasions overturned decisions by the UK government.)

If you want a label, and the usual result when I take political compass-type quizzes, I'm a left-libertarian.

I also am very anti-censorship, since its getting ridiculous (for instance in pokemon, "No gambleeng it promotz bad habitts 4 kids"), the kids are gonna see/hear stuff sooner or later anyway.

The only censorship in Pokemon was self-censorship by Nintendo. Had the gambling been left in the games would simply have been given a higher age rating by the European ratings board. They would never have been stopped from going on sale.

 

[Firestorm]

That being said, I really don't care what people do as long as it isn't hurting anyone, "wanna smoke pot? go for it." I also am very anti-censorship, since its getting ridiculous (for instance in pokemon, "No gambleeng it promotz bad habitts 4 kids"), the kids are gonna see/hear stuff sooner or later anyway.

Kids are more impressionable than adults which is why that stuff is "censored". For example, once I have kids I will not allow he or she to play a game like Gears of War until I feel that his or her mind is able to take it.

I'm whatever supports high government regulation of businesses and enough taxes to support public services. What I don't support are terrible governments using those taxes inefficiently.

 

[Maris]

my postiton can be summed up as "let people and organizations do what they want and accept the consqences and as long as said actions do not cause direct harm to another."

simply put "You want to smoke 5 packs a day FINE have fun ooo you got lung cancer to bad so sad dont expect any help from me (the government)"
or "you made 50 mil last year Congratulations!"


so I favor proportional tax systems, lack of so called "nanny state laws (classic example seat belt laws) and free exchange(eg:amesty to illlegal immgrents lack of import quotas/ free knowledge exchange except in nat security concerns)


this apperntly puts me far right wing extreme which is fine with me(except for illegal immergration... though im probably clueless anyway so perhaps limiting the amount of people in a country could be a good thing.)

 

[Thorns]

right libertarian, also i support the rudd government and hope it stays in office for another term. we got free laptops for education (read: posting on smogon during science) so it's all good

 

[Electrode]

I haven't always been political, and my political views are ever-changing--sense I'm starting to become more political--but I'll give what I've been thinking more recently.

I am more libertarian in belief than anything, though I wouldn't say that I'm strictly libertarian because I believe that busniesses do need to be in check on some things, such as the enviroment.

I generally don't like government when it comes to taxes, because I see it as an individual being forced to pay for a good that he or she may not use or may not want. That being said, I like the idea of citizens being able to opt out of certain taxes, and not recieving the benefits of that tax. I believe this because I think that the end shouldn't justify the means. (For instance, if we based policy off of what it gives people in the end, then why don't we just have all extra money made go to helping the poor?) Also, I see it as forcing people to buy goods/policies, and I don't like people being forced to pay for things they don't want.

I believe that beliefs should not be altered by policy--for instance, if one wants to believe in human sacrifice, then they can believe in it. However, I also believe that actions should be prevented and outlawed when it infringes on anothers right; so a person may believe in human sacrifice, but may not practice it.

 

[b0b3rt]

Purely libertarian.

Technically, regulating a company's impact on the environment isn't against libertarian principles, as in theory pollution can be an externality. However the EPA is a dungpile.
Also

What I don't support are terrible governments using those taxes inefficiently.

Pretty much all large governments, unfortunately. Also I don't support that in principle either as to me property rights are more important then thoroughly dubious "positive" rights.

 

[Firestorm]

Pretty much all large governments, unfortunately. Also I don't support that in principle either as to me property rights are more important then thoroughly dubious "positive" rights.

I haven't done enough research to really have a strong stance on it, but part of that I believe is the way governments are reliant on corporations to run the massive marketing campaigns to get elected.

As far as "property rights vs 'dubious positive' rights", I lean towards the second! For example, I disagree with the "opt-out" idea Electrode mentioned.

I believe I'd be categorized as socialist in the US.

 

[Rairde]

I don't vote. I'm not a masochist. :]

 

[rbygsc kid 251]

I'm basically that. I would rather keep most of my money and have a small government than pay alot of my money in taxes and have a ginormous government. I believe in being self sufficient and not having to rely on somebody else.

That being said, I really don't care what people do as long as it isn't hurting anyone, "wanna smoke pot? go for it." I also am very anti-censorship, since its getting ridiculous (for instance in pokemon, "No gambleeng it promotz bad habitts 4 kids"), the kids are gonna see/hear stuff sooner or later anyway.

I would agree 100 percent with this post, and it reflects me pretty accurately. In general though, i just stay away from the whole thing. I don't care to watch the news, and i just work my butt off to try and make something for myself.