POLL: As an Atheist, What Do You View as Being the Most Rational Political Outlook?

[EgoRaptor]

Why is Zionism missing from the poll?

Because Zionism isn't a political philosophy.

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

[Captain Colostomy]

Because Zionism isn't a political philosophy.

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

Good luck getting anyone to swallow your whack interpretation of zionism. That's why it has no business in this poll.

[TaraJo]

Because Zionism isn't a political philosophy.

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

Because we're looking for over-all political philosophies. Zionism concerns itself almost entirely with one very small strip of land a few thousand miles away from most of us. Honestly, what happens there has little to no impact on my day to day life.

[xpastor]

Because Zionism isn't a political philosophy.

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

NB: the poll asks for your opinion as an atheist which is the most rational political philosophy? It is true that many Jews (including Israelis) are atheists. Nevertheless, Zionism is surely a religious movement. Ultimately it appeals to the notion that the Jewish god Yahweh deeded a very precisely specified piece of real estate to his people ca. 1800 BCE, and if in the last 2000 years other people have planted olive trees there, it's too damn bad for them because the land belongs to the Jews, olive trees and all.

[WesOlsen]

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

God damn why are you so obsessed with Jews? I've never met anyone as obsessed with one tiny piece of land and one ethnic group as you. Why would you describe yourself as a Zionist? Are you sure you're not jewish? What's the zionist approach to tax banding in Canada or health care in Spain? Derp derp. Demanding that zionism be included as a general political or economic outlook is like saying that Boer should be considered a general political or economic outlook. The Boers are political odd balls and so are the zionists. Whilst sleepy faps off to Allah and king Abdulla are you fapping off to Ben Gurion and Ariel Sharon? Imagine if someone on here was obsessed with brown people or Signapore independance or something, it would just be a bit TOO weird if they tried to slip it in to every bleeding topic. You don't hide your agenda particularly well I must say. Zionism has a religious and a political dimension yes, but it's just so precise and specific to one issue that persistant peddling of it is SUSPICIOUS. Just sayin.

[TaraJo]

Yeah, I guess that's the best way of putting it.

I mean, I support gay rights. That doesn't mean 'gay rights' is a political philosophy. I support unions. That doesn't mean 'union support' is a political philosophy. There are people who passionately believe in capitalism, but capitalism isn't a political philosophy. Those things can all be part of a larger, overall political philosophy, but by themselves, they aren't even close to being comprehensive enough.

And, yes, Zionism falls into that category. I can think of a few secular reasons to support Isreal and their right to exist, but supporting Isreal isn't a comprehensive political philosophy. How would "supporting Isreal" impact immigration policy? How about tax policy? How about gun rights? Or abortion? None of those issues have anything to do with Isreal (except maybe immigration, but the effect there is very minor) but they're all issues that have to be dealt with in politics.

[EgoRaptor]

Yes it is. How is the belief in Jewish self-determination not political?

NB: the poll asks for your opinion as an atheist which is the most rational political philosophy? It is true that many Jews (including Israelis) are atheists. Nevertheless, Zionism is surely a religious movement. Ultimately it appeals to the notion that the Jewish god Yahweh deeded a very precisely specified piece of real estate to his people ca. 1800 BCE, and if in the last 2000 years other people have planted olive trees there, it's too damn bad for them because the land belongs to the Jews, olive trees and all.

Actually the founder of modern political Zionism was an atheist who was opposed to Judaism.

[Lek]

Re OP:

Please. No matter what we dream up - we're fucked. Until the human race can advance intellectually about half-million years (give or take), we're just fucked.

We've had a million years already to advance intellectually. Any system that is made up of immoral people will be corrupt. That's why there never was and never will be a perfect system of government.

[Creed of Heresy]

Perfection is the fool's gold of the social landscape; it can look like the real thing, but it never actually is.

[Lek]

I think capitalism that is moderately regulated by government works best. The US was the first nation in the world to have a widespread middle class. The problem is that the upper class oppress the majority and that is why anti-trust laws and labor unions proved effective in maintaining a more level playing field. The problem with socialism is that the government is notorious for being inefficient and wasteful, i.e. social security and medicare going broke and the post office losing billions a year. Look at how Obamacare has gone so far. The military is strong, but I was in the military and was awed at the waste and abuse. It comes with a high price tag. Look at Greece, Italy, France and Spain these days and you'll see their socialistic systems are crumbling. I still think we have the best system although it's not perfect.