Calling American Forum Regulars - Just a bit of help?

[Dirk]

I still seem to be having a bit of problem with the American version of the term "Liberal". On the political spectrum, i am told, it is around the centre-right. Is that correct? Could a forum regular that's been here a while give me a quick run-down of what precisely it entails? And also, being a forum regular, you'll probably have a decent understanding of my ideals, so basically, what i want to ask is:

What exactly is a liberal, and am I one?

 

[DodgeFB]

I still seem to be having a bit of problem with the American version of the term "Liberal". On the political spectrum, i am told, it is around the centre-right. Is that correct? Could a forum regular that's been here a while give me a quick run-down of what precisely it entails? And also, being a forum regular, you'll probably have a decent understanding of my ideals, so basically, what i want to ask is:

What exactly is a liberal, and am I one?

Not liberal in this country in my opinion. Here they seem to think "government" is the answer to any problem. That don't sound like a wagon you would ride.

 

[David]

I still seem to be having a bit of problem with the American version of the term "Liberal". On the political spectrum, i am told, it is around the centre-right. Is that correct? Could a forum regular that's been here a while give me a quick run-down of what precisely it entails? And also, being a forum regular, you'll probably have a decent understanding of my ideals, so basically, what i want to ask is:

What exactly is a liberal, and am I one?

Liberals are quasi-social democrats with strong ties to capitalist leaders with a focus on the common good rather then the ruling class. Most self-described liberals are really state capitalists (Obama) and the ones that are liberal tend to be labeled as socialists (but as capitalists by the socialists and communists).

You're not a liberal, at least not by the American definition. You're a leftist Libertarian and if you were American and not an anarchist, I'd say you'd bee in the Libertarian Party, though people would assume you were a anarco-capitalist with such an affiliation.

 

[myp]

Liberals are quasi-social democrats with strong ties to capitalist leaders with a focus on the common good rather then the ruling class. Most self-described liberals are really state capitalists (Obama) and the ones that are liberal tend to be labeled as socialists (but as capitalists by the socialists and communists).

You're not a liberal, at least not by the American definition. You're a leftist Libertarian and if you were American and not an anarchist, I'd say you'd bee in the Libertarian Party, though people would assume you were a anarco-capitalist with such an affiliation.

I pretty much agree with David here, except that, left-libertarians do exist here in the states and as such I do not see you being labeled an anarco-capiatalist and I am not sure I see you in the Libertarian Party either.

As for strong ties to capitalist leaders- I would change that to say strong ties to crony (or state) capitalist leaders- not real capitalism.

 

[Nemo]

Libertarian philosophy has no practical utility in the governance of men. It is an egocentric, even selfish, ideology; and can only be supported by promotion of one?s own self-interest at the expense of everyone else. In short: it is nonsense. Throughout history, there have been those that thought man could be governed by enlightened self-interest and there would be no need for laws to rule our lives. They were impossible dreamers - their perfect world does not exist. In all of history, there has never been any society governed by such principles. It simply doesn?t work; it fails to take human nature into account. The sad truth is that man is not basically good, and it is only the sanction of the law that keeps him in line. I am reminded of W. Somerset Maugham?s novel The Moon and Sixpence (a novel based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin) in which the narrator asks Strickland about his views on Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative: Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law. To which Strickland. replies, "I never heard it before, but it's rotten nonsense."

 

[deanhills]

Libertarian philosophy has no practical utility in the governance of men. It is an egocentric, even selfish, ideology; and can only be supported by promotion of one?s own self-interest at the expense of everyone else. In short: it is nonsense.

Totally agreed Nemo and so much on the mark. It is nonsense. When I did the Political Compass test it came up as Libertarian for me, and that is nonsense. It is almost like an "other" category, in that someone who thought they were smart went out to find a fancy category for those who do not fit in with liberal or conservative, left right or centre.

 

[David]

I pretty much agree with David here, except that, left-libertarians do exist here in the states and as such I do not see you being labeled an anarco-capiatalist and I am not sure I see you in the Libertarian Party either.

As for strong ties to capitalist leaders- I would change that to say strong ties to crony (or state) capitalist leaders- not real capitalism.

That's what I said. :giggle:

Liberals are quasi-social democrats with strong ties to capitalist leaders with a focus on the common good rather then the ruling class. Most self-described liberals are really state capitalists (Obama) and the ones that are liberal tend to be labeled as socialists (but as capitalists by the socialists and communists).

 

[Abbott Presley]

“Given the existence as uttered forth in the public works of Puncher and Wattmann of a personal God quaquaquaqua with white beard quaquaquaqua outside time without extension who from the heights of divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown but time will tell and suffers like the divine Miranda with those who for reasons unknown but time will tell are plunged in torment plunged in fire whose fire flames if that continues and who can doubt it will fire the firmament that is to say blast heaven to hell so blue still and calm so calm with a calm which even though intermittent is better than nothing but not so fast and considering what is more that as a result of the labours left unfinished crowned by the Acacacacademy of Anthropopopometry of Essy-in-Possy of Testew and Cunard it is established beyond all doubt all other doubt than that which clings to the labours of men that as a result of the labours unfinished of Testew and Cunard it is established as hereinafter but not so fast for reasons unknown that as a result of the public works of Puncher and Wattmann it is established beyond all doubt that in view of the labours of Fartov and Belcher left unfinished for reasons unknown of Testew and Cunard left unfinished it is established what many deny that man in Possy of Testew and Cunard that man in Essy that man in short that man in brief in spite of the strides of alimentation and defecation is seen to waste and pine waste and pine and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the strides of physical culture the practice of sports such as tennis football running cycling swimming flying floating riding gliding conating camogie skating tennis of all kinds dying flying sports of all sorts autumn summer winter winter tennis of all kinds hockey of all sorts penicilline and succedanea in a word I resume and concurrently simultaneously for reasons unknown to shrink and dwindle in spite of the tennis I resume flying gliding golf over nine and eighteen holes tennis of all sorts in a word for reasons unknown in Feckham Peckham Fulham Clapham namely concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown but time will tell to shrink and dwindle I resume Fulham Clapham in a word the dead loss per head since the death of Bishop Berkeley being to the tune of one inch four ounce per head approximately by and large more or less to the nearest decimal good measure round figures stark naked in the stockinged feet in Connemara in a word for reasons unknown no matter what matter the facts are there and considering what is more much more grave that in the light of the labours lost of Steinweg and Peterman it appears what is more much more grave that in the light the light the light of the labours lost of Steinweg and Peterman that in the plains in the mountains by the seas by the rivers running water running fire the air is the same and than the earth namely the air and then the earth in the great cold the great dark the air and the earth abode of stones in the great cold alas alas in the year of their Lord six hundred and something the air the earth the sea the earth abode of stones in the great deeps the great cold on sea on land and in the air I resume for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis the facts are there but time will tell I resume alas alas on on in short in fine on on abode of stones who can doubt it I resume but not so fast I resume the skull to shrink and waste and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis on on the beard the flames the tears the stones so blue so calm alas alas on on the skull the skull the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the labours abandoned left unfinished graver still abode of stones in a word I resume alas alas abandoned unfinished the skull the skull in Connemara in spite of the tennis the skull alas the stones Cunard (mêlée, final vociferations) tennis… the stones… so calm… Cunard… unfinished…”