Your stance

[AlexGTV]

Darwin said and I paraphrase "It's not the stronger that survives, nor the more intelligent. Survives he who is the most adaptive to change". As I firmly believe choices we make that resemble nature, filtered through culture of course, are the best choices, I am left. But I believe we need some of the instincts of the right. Left may be more intellectual but without any insticts we are drained. So recapitulating I'd say my ideal politics are left in intellect with some of the urgency of right.

In Greece we are governed by EU basically as a result of politicians that have no responsibilities, are in it (for the most part) solely for the money and corrupt. They are good students that memorize their wooden speeches and good gangsters preserving their clan. Sadly, the only people that truly give a s*** for their land are either uninformed, broke of both. Sigh...

 

[Keef]

Communist. I just fully agree with a lot of what goes on with Socialism. I have no idea why. Maybe I should go do some reading...

There's by far and away enough reading in this forum on this site to show that communistic ideals are entirely irrational, don't work, and are just plain wrong. Historical examples abound, so unless you prefer failure to success, there is absolutely no reason to subscribe to such an ideology.

 

[Joey D]

There's by far and away enough reading in this forum on this site to show that communistic ideals are entirely irrational, don't work, and are just plain wrong. Historical examples abound, so unless you prefer failure to success, there is absolutely no reason to subscribe to such an ideology.

But I wouldn't go based just what is on this site. GTP's opinion givers has a very strong libertarian bias so reading the rhetoric posted on this site is only looking at one side of the spectrum. It's important for anyone seeking out where they stand to do as much reading across a broad spectrum of topics and stances to see what they agree with most.

I know I fell into that trap and didn't seek out where I really stood on things and took other people's opinions as my own. For someone like GT_P5 who is younger, I think it's important for them to become educated on various topics and see where their alignment falls.

 

[A2K78]

You have yet to demonstrate how Roe v. Wade is detrimental to the pro-choice movement, if that is, in fact, the assertion you're trying to make.

Honestly, I have no idea what you're driving at.

A woman should be able to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, for any number of reasons. She should not be made to bring the pregnancy to term, because someone else has decided that life begins at conception, and that small, undeveloped mass of cells now has civil rights.

Again, I'm not trying to change your stance on abortion other than giving you the libertarian case against Roe v. Wade, and that is is the fact it violates the individual right of a woman and that of the individuals states.

 

[YSSMAN]

For someone like GT_P5 who is younger, I think it's important for them to become educated on various topics and see where their alignment falls.

Get out there and read, that is the best thing you can do. Read selections from the left and right, and go from there. This cannot be stressed enough, I think far too many people box themselves into a single political ideology by reinforcing their ideals in the echo-chamber. A good bit of right wing ideology drives me up a wall, but it is important to understand where they are coming from.

 

[Blank_Redge]

Again, I'm not trying to change your stance on abortion other than giving you the libertarian case against Roe v. Wade, and that is is the fact it violates the individual right of a woman and that of the individuals states.

Uh... sorry man, but I'm totally not understanding your line of reasoning.

http://supreme.justia.com/us/410/113/case.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v_wade

What, exactly, do you see in Roe V. Wade that violates a woman's rights? If anything, I'd argue that it protects a woman's right to choose to have an abortion.

You've stated a couple of times now that Roe v. Wade violates a woman's rights. Could you demonstrate how it does so?

 

[RAZRr1275]

This is a good site to use to see where you fall

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

 

[Blank_Redge]

This is a good site to use to see where you fall

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

Heh. Cute. According to that chart, I'm somewhere in between Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.

I should hope to one day be as noble as either.

Anarcho-Communist. Sounds about right.

 

[RAZRr1275]

Heh. Cute. According to that chart, I'm somewhere in between Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.

I should hope to one day be as noble as either.

Anarcho-Communist. Sounds about right.

Yeah I also fall around the Dalai Lama range

 

[slayer91]

I fell around George W. Bush, Nicolas Sarkozy and Margaret Thatcher.

 

[GT_Prologue5]

Get out there and read, that is the best thing you can do. Read selections from the left and right, and go from there. This cannot be stressed enough, I think far too many people box themselves into a single political ideology by reinforcing their ideals in the echo-chamber. A good bit of right wing ideology drives me up a wall, but it is important to understand where they are coming from.

Hey, I said I was going to read more on it, and I am.

Whether or not it's practical isn't my concern. I'm no politician, and have no care for people elected. Socialism/Communism is just a very profound one to read and understand that fits my style, and it gets past the stereotypes on Communist governments and looks a little further on a previously hated subject.

Thing is I'll never force my theology or political views on others. You can be who you want. Republican, Democrat, Totalitarian, it's your choice. I don't believe in a Communistic government, but it intrigues me, and it's the one that holds my interest. I don't want to care to know what Democracy is- it's been 200+ years in the States and still going, so it must work. Again, I don't care if it works, I enjoy the study of it. Kinda makes me feel half-Commie-ish.

 

[Blank_Redge]

Whether or not it's practical isn't my concern.

In my opinion, it should be. At the least, you should be able to present a good supporting argument, in the event that your position comes up in debate.

Say, for example, in the GTPlanet subforums. Heh.

 

[BrutherSuperior]

Socialism/Communism is just a very profound one to read and understand that fits my style, and it gets past the stereotypes on Communist governments and looks a little further on a previously hated subject.

Socialism/communism is very romantic in theory...an absolute disaster in practice.

"The society that puts equality before freedom will end up with neither. The society that puts freedom before equality will end up with a great measure of both." - Milton Friedman

 

[Blank_Redge]

Socialism/communism is very romantic in theory...an absolute disaster in practice.

Yeah; even as a self-avowed Communist, I acknowledge that there are few working examples of either a Communist or Socialist environment. The only good Communistic model I can easily cite is the small-scale Israeli kibbutzim. On the large Socialist scale, Sweden works, but I wonder how much of that is due to it fitting in with the pre-existing culture.

 

[BrutherSuperior]

Yeah; even as a self-avowed Communist, I acknowledge that there are few working examples of either a Communist or Socialist environment. The only good Communistic model I can easily cite is the small-scale Israeli kibbutzim. On the large Socialist scale, Sweden works, but I wonder how much of that is due to it fitting in with the pre-existing culture.

The right to own and acquire personal property is paramount in any society...which basically means people have a significant amount economic freedoms. Sweden & Israel have these kinds of freedoms.

Private property rights & communism go together like oil & water.

 

[Blank_Redge]

Private property rights & communism go together like oil & water.

'S why you gotta use egg yolks as an emulsifier.

Again: I think Marx and Engels had some good ideas, but I don't take the Manifesto as The Gospel Truth.

 

[Joel]

Most people say that communism and socialism are "great in theory, horrible in practice". I argue that it's horrible in theory as well. It ignores human nature, and gives little incentive to be successful. With communism, who is going to be a doctor and spend years and years in school doing that, when you can make the same salary flipping burgers?

 

[Blank_Redge]

It ignores human nature

I see your argument, and raise you an argument.

There's folks that feel that people only work towards their fullest potential if they feel there's some sort of tangible reward for the effort invested, usually translated as higher salary.

I'm of the belief that that's cultural indoctrination. I believe that it's possible to create a culture of people that strive to achieve, for the sake of doing so. I believe that there are at least enough people like that, right now, that a smaller Communistic model could be put into action (not unlike the aforementioned kibbutz.)

But hey, what do I know? I'm just a dreamer and an idealist.


(Oh, and for the record: Ernesto "Che" Guevarra went to medical school. Fat lotta good it did him at the end of his chosen career path. Irony, eh?)

 

[DK]

According to the Political Compass, I am an economically liberal and social libertarian.

 

[AlexGTV]

Most people say that communism and socialism are "great in theory, horrible in practice". I argue that it's horrible in theory as well. It ignores human nature, and gives little incentive to be successful. With communism, who is going to be a doctor and spend years and years in school doing that, when you can make the same salary flipping burgers?

I agree, even in theory I never had an affection for it. I'm all for social wellfare, protection and integration of the poor, disabled, minorities etc. but capitalism is vastly superior when it comes to economy and the formation of society as an outcome. Besides in capitalism when you can't beat the big guy many times you can go with him. In communism you are working for the state with not many incentives as you said and not many options.

Communism could only work if the standard of life was very high which frankly I can't see how could it be done. It's a paradox, if the unqualified worker earns the same as an architect that would lead to inflation effectively and to a weak economy. I will agree with Marx that much of the wealth of capitalism lies in the hyper-value of the laborer's work. Capitalism though comes and gives the answer as we see that the minimum wage in USA, the heart of capitalism, can be as much as triple the wage of developing countries.

 

[Liquid]

I came out as Ghandi-like, on the Political Compass. Interesting. I thought my latent anger at modern society would shine through, but my externally effervescent, cheery demeanor triumphed in the end. And that's a good thing.

Interesting thread by the way, as OP I'm pleased we're getting a lot of different opinions.