Politically Progressive Section

[reverendjeremiah]

Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is opposed to individualism and democracy. In politics, an authoritarian government is one in which political power is concentrated in a leader or leaders, typically unelected by the people, who possess exclusive, unaccountable, and arbitrary power. Authoritarianism differs from totalitarianism in that social and economic institutions exist that are not under the government's control

Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated, and centralized power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers. It uses political parties and mass organizations to mobilize people around the goals of the state.[3]

Authoritarianism emphases the rule of man over the rule of law, it includes election rigging, political decisions being made by a select group of unelected officials behind closed doors, a bureaucracy that operates independently of rules, which does not properly supervise elected officials, and fails to serve the concerns of the constituencies they purportedly serve. Authoritarianism also embraces the informal and unregulated exercise of political power, a leadership that is "self-appointed and even if elected cannot be displaced by citizens' free choice among competitors," the arbitrary deprivation of civil liberties, and little tolerance for meaningful opposition


Why didnt she understand "Authoritarian", yet speak of Stalin in the same post? Methinks she is trying to test me.

Do you progressives draw the line of life at the point of its 'conception' like moronic anti-abortionists, or do you wait until a human can survive without leeching on a mother from inside?

We debate it here and there. But most of us disagree with the "conception" line. As far as I am concerned a woman can terminate her pregnancy any time she wants. Some do the "leaching" or "Pain" thing. We oppose making abortion illegal, and for the most part try to give as much freedom to the woman as possible.

I have a rather unique understanding of ownership... if you ask someone else to protect a thing for you: it isn't yours. If you ask this of a government, you have stated that it is the government which owns a thing, and that you would be grateful if they let you use it.

Well, if you want to get all philosophical on me, as far as I am concerned, nobody really owns ANYTHING, especially their own lives.

That doesnt bode well for society

So property must be protected. There is nothing wrong with protecting things, and society as a whole protecting things as well. I know how you feel about "rights", but I allow you the right to question them, and I will protect your right to do so. See? Thats how it works. Then we all get along and not stab, rape, and murder each other.

Criminal are a different story. Treating our criminals with kindness is a mark of a beneficial society. Surely you can see that..well, maybe you cant.

So... progressives are capitalists with socialistic policies (the 'survival net'). Seems that socialists can have a progressive stance on their socialism easily. But it seems I am right: progressives are misguided socialists Please don't take that seriously, I say it in jest

Thats okay Sae. The word "socialism" doesnt scare me. Democratic Socialists and I get along just fine, with a few disagreements of course. I might even talk them into sparing your life once they find out what you have REALLY been doing all these years.