Political Confessions....

[Francisco Montana]

In light of some recent posts here, I thought it might be fun to post where you think you fall out of line with what you thought was your political idiology.


I'm a Conservative.


But I have the hardest time with the Death Penatly.

I think we have a culture of death and the death penalty just perpetuates it.

Now hear me out. If we got rid of the death penalty my way, here's basically how it would go:

We wouldn't just house them up in a prison with cable TV and all the amenities of life. No, these murderers would be working hard labour all day, 6 days a week.

And they wouldn't be busting up useless rocks... that's senseless.

They would be working in factories on site making things for children in need, etc.

After a spell, maybe they could work their way into a program that allows them to go on a 'field trip' and see the difference they are making in people's lives with their hard work.

I think that would go alot further to stemming the tide of death in our culture. There's just something so hypocritical about "Thou Shall Not Kill and if you do We Will Kill You Back."

Anyway, post away any problems you have with my post, or any other 'political confessions' you would like to get off your chest.


Are you liberal against abortion, etc???

Post away.

[therussian]

I have a confession.........


I'm not a communist

Seriously though, I more of a socialist than anything. I believe in free health care, schooling and labour unions.

[First Crusader]

I have a confession......... I believe in free health care, schooling and labour unions.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. - Robert Heinlein

For every government benefit you get, you also get a big increase in taxes in order to pay for it.

My confession... I'm a crusader.

[Erik]

I am a socialist.

Since this is a very broad term I don't fall out of line in any specific way.

But the economy is a major issue for me while most socialist, in my country at least, don't give it the attention it deserves.
There is some kind of myth that the "right" is better for the economy and the "left" is better for social issues.
This is especially strange because in my country there is an independant institution that does economic prediction based on different parties election programmes, and the socialist party is usually in the top 3 (out of about 10).
I feel somewhat like a lone crusader in this department.

edit: Oh yeah and I also support the guaranteed income system, which has mainly right-wing supporters.

[Francisco Montana]

edit: Oh yeah and I also support the guaranteed income system, which has mainly right-wing supporters.

Please elaborate... The only thing like that I know of is in Canada they have the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS). If it's anything like that or minimum wage, those are Liberal causes here in the US and are to perpetuate income redistribution.

[Erik]

Please elaborate... The only thing like that I know of is in Canada they have the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS). If it's anything like that or minimum wage, those are Liberal causes here in the US and are to perpetuate income redistribution.

I don't know about Canada.
I know they do have it in Alaska and Portugal.
But there is no place where the guaranteed income is enough to live from.
It's official name is "Guaranteed Basic Income" (but I only learned this a few days ago).

It is in one way very socialistic because nobody is left to starve to death.
But it can also be combined with right-wing elements like abolishing minimum wages (I also support this), and a flat tax (I don't support this).

My main arguments for supporting it are:
- It eliminates the "welfare trap" and reduces unemployment
- It greatly reduces bureaucracy.

[Francisco Montana]

It is in one way very socialistic because nobody is left to starve to death.

And nobody starved to death in Communist Russia? It's sad that people think Conservatives want people to starve to death or to be poor. Some rich people might seem that way sometimes because they are so removed from our reality. But rich does not equal Conservative...another stereotype us hard working family men and women find offensive.

...abolishing minimum wages

I'm not actually against minimum wage. Like unions, it's when you get carried away that I take exception. I can live with a reasonable minimum wage.

...and a flat tax

Big shcck, I'm for this. The tax code should be 1 page long, not 30,000 pages long. That's my main reason right there. One rate, no ifs, no buts, no loopholes.

It eliminates the "welfare trap" and reduces unemployment

How? You never explained what it is, after all. I'm still curious what it is, and now curious how you think it would eliminate (strong word) the "welfare trap" and reduce unemployment. :original:

[Erik]

And nobody starved to death in Communist Russia?

People starved to death under the Tsars too.
The communist weren't 100% successfull but at least they improved the situation.

It's sad that people think Conservatives want people to starve to death or to be poor. Some rich people might seem that way sometimes because they are so removed from our reality. But rich does not equal Conservative...another stereotype us hard working family men and women find offensive.

The rich are one of the most socialistic voters of all, especially in my country (I think we can blame calvinism for that).
It's the middle class who most strongly opposed socialism.

Big shcck, I'm for this. The tax code should be 1 page long, not 30,000 pages long. That's my main reason right there. One rate, no ifs, no buts, no loopholes.

I agree it must be simplified: one more reason for GBI.
But it can still be progressive.

How? You never explained what it is, after all. I'm still curious what it is, and now curious how you think it would eliminate (strong word) the "welfare trap" and reduce unemployment. :original:

The principle is simple:
Everybody gets a montly check from the government that is just enough to cover basic needs (food, clothing and shelter).
No matter if you are unemployed or make 100k, you get the same amount from the government.

With classic welfare people need to find a job that earns them more than their welfare does or they could just as wel have stayed at home.
That's the "welfare trap".
But in this system people keep their "welfare", so everything they earn directly improves their living conditions, no matter how little it is, thus completely eliminating the welfare trap.

It also reduces unemployment because minimum wages can be lowered or even abolished.
Employers only hire people if they produce more than they cost.
Lowering the cost of labour makes more jobs profitable for the employer.

You can read more about this here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaranteed_minimum_income

[Muizer]

My "confessions". Well not so much a confession as a warning. I'm far left on most issues, but I have to say that as far as social issues are concerned it's only out of "libertarian" considerations: let people do what they want if it does not hurt others. On a personal level I am in fact quite conservative and judgemental. Just an example: I'm in favour of legalizing most drugs. At the same time I find recreational use of drugs (anything from alcohol to cannabis to heroin) distasteful, and I do think less of people who indulge in it in public.

Muizer

[Kanaric]

Taxes now or in the 90s never bothered me.

If we would stop bribing foreign nations, and stop other useless projects, we could keep all our social programs and even increase them AND lower taxes. Though I think we should keep taxes up until the deficit is gone. I'm a hardcore believer in fiscal responsibity and all.

Also I think we should stop paying for 90% of the UN, afterall they aren't our puppet anymore. That would help as well, if other nations complain show their contributions.

edit: Whats funny is if they got rid of or lowered taxes companies would simply pay you less so it wouldn't matter anyways. When they count how they pay you they COUNT taxes in. You would only be making the same. They allready did that when they lowered taxes, they just didn't increase wages or decreased them.

[Kanaric]

Lord Alameda just made me think of a great idea.

Every day you hear about how China or India with its cheap labor is "focing" companies to oursource. Why not put our prisoners as our own version of cheap labor. Train them to make shoes, tvs, or whatever, that would actually be FAR more worth it than execution and they would bascially pay for their own lockup.

It would be like having slaves, but with people who actually are receiving it for punishment. Wouldn't have a shortage of employment either.

[Peachy Carnehan]

I can't say that I have any real consessions to make. Of course, that may be because I don't really identify myself as a member of a single ideology, except to say basically the opposite of socialism. Libertarian would be the party in the USA, but I'm not a member and don't agree with everything they want. I don't have a problem with the death penalty, and it may be the killing of someone, but its not like its the killing of some inocent civilian.


And I don't really regard there as any being any difference between socialism and communism. One is simply the other applied to real life.