What is your political ideology? EDITED

[theVOID]

The American cult of individualism bothers me.

This is what happens when you set up some colonies in another continent and then dump all your misfits, malcontents and religious nuts into it as a way of getting rid of them.

Pardon?

Australia was founded by convicts.To this day we have a healthy contempt of authority. However, our form of democracy emphasises equality rather than individualism.

I understand but reject Libertarianism as I do all ideologies.I think the premise of the desirability of a laissez fare economy is as flawed and romantic as Marxism in the unfounded assumptions it makes about human behaviour.

Except nobody expects a 'Libertarianish' state to be all roses like they do with communism, we just expect the government to waste much less of the precious few resources we have - Government spending is inherently wasteful, stupid laws like anti-drug laws cost far far more than they ever benefit us, regulations often do more harm than good - especially when they are specifically tailored to change the direction in which the market is growing, bailing out failing businesses has to stop, Welfare and social security should only be for the destitute poor and those who have the ability to work should do so or starve, those who have money in their old age should be required to spend it all before receiving a cent of state support, and that would be quite easily achieved if the governments and reserve banks around the world didn't keep marching on under this illusion that inflation is a good thing - Inflation is the bane of savings, a whole lifetime of fiscal responsibility can be thwarted by an ever decreasing value on the individual dollar as the money supply is expanded - As far as the rest is concerned, such as public education, i'm generally against but think that a case-by-case basis needs to be established for what services of this nature are truly something that benefits from being socialised.

[muhtesem insan]

The American cult of individualism bothers me. It seems to be used to allow some forms of social injustice and inequality which I think are unconscionable in such a rich country. But hey. I'm an outsider, what do I know?

It's all about a healthy balance between individualism and communism

Actually individualism and communism is not mutually exclusive, on the contrary communism is an individualist ideology.

[theVOID]

How? Communism is far more of a hive approach to society than one based on individual liberty, the dictates and direction of the society are determined from on high and dealt out to the people.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

The American cult of individualism bothers me. It seems to be used to allow some forms of social injustice and inequality which I think are unconscionable in such a rich country. But hey. I'm an outsider, what do I know?

It's all about a healthy balance between individualism and communism

Actually individualism and communism is not mutually exclusive, on the contrary communism is an individualist ideology.

Really? Gee,you learn something every day here. That certainly wasn't the impression I got from reading"Capital" at university. Me and my teachers must be really stupid. Thank you so much for correcting my unforgivable misunderstanding.

Oh,just so I don't get all confused again,could you perhaps give me a broad outline of your very different interpretation of Communism,citing Marx where appropriate? About 3000 words should be enough for a simple outline.

[theVOID]

OWCH! That was freaking brill Pad.

[KichigaiNeko]

The American cult of individualism bothers me.

This is what happens when you set up some colonies in another continent and then dump all your misfits, malcontents and religious nuts into it as a way of getting rid of them.

Pardon?

Australia was founded by convicts.To this day we have a healthy contempt of authority. However, our form of democracy emphasises equality rather than individualism.

I understand but reject Libertarianism as I do all ideologies.I think the premise of the desirability of a laissez fare economy is as flawed and romantic as Marxism in the unfounded assumptions it makes about human behaviour.

So how would you define our (Australian) form of democracy Pad?

Just curious..

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

So how would you define our (Australian) form of democracy Pad?

Just curious..

OK, my opinion for what it's worth. I may be a minority of one,which bothers me not at all:

Pluralistic,with an emphasis on equality rather than the rights of the individual. If we have a single guiding principle ,I think it's "the common good" which to me seems to be the antithesis of Libertarianism..

We seem to follow some basic Keynesian principles,.IE consistently high levels of employment, high wages and high taxes. (we have one of the highest minimum wages in the world)

Australia also has major infrastructure for social justice: EG A decent public education system to university level. Universal health care and a sophisticated and relatively equitable Federal welfare system.

Perfect? Of course not, but I'm aware of only a few other countries which come close as a just and equitable place to live. The US is not one of them.

[KichigaiNeko]

So how would you define our (Australian) form of democracy Pad?

Just curious..

OK, my opinion for what it's worth. I may be a minority of one,which bothers me not at all:

Pluralistic,with an emphasis on equality rather than the rights of the individual. If we have a single guiding principle ,I think it's "the common good" which to me seems to be the antithesis of Libertarianism..

We seem to follow some basic Keynesian principles,.IE consistently high levels of employment, high wages and high taxes. (we have one of the highest minimum wages in the world)

Australia also has major infrastructure for social justice: EG A decent public education system to university level. Universal health care and a sophisticated and relatively equitable Federal welfare system.

Perfect? Of course not, but I'm aware of only a few other countries which come close as a just and equitable place to live. The US is not one of them.

"Common Good" = "Fair Go" ?

Agreed our system is far from perfect and subjected to the same machinations by ambitious people as any other ..

Ooooo I just love it when you talk Finance

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

"Common Good" = "Fair Go" ?

"Fair suck of the Sauce bottle?"

No, I think they're different. "A fair go" is as much about natural justice as anything else,and actually refers very much the individual.


Aussies do I think value the individual, as long as he's not up himself or overtly selfish,and "sticks by his mates".Loyalty is highly valued here,at least in my circle.

EG Lady MacBeth ( Gillard) upset a LOT of voters the way she ousted Kevie.She was seen as treacherous and unjust, and therefore untrustworthy. So far she also seems incompetent,gutless and boring,transparently holding onto power at all costs.

[theVOID]

She wants to make it easier for us kiwis to visit