What Political Ideology Are You?

Smidgey · 10-12-2007, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason phillips

Sorry Smidgey I didn't notice your post earlier. My understanding of a 'Safety Net' Welfare state is Loans giving to charities to help individuals who can't help themselves. The money will come from Low Flat rate Tax but would be gradually phased out as Charities take over The role of The state & individuals become more responsible & less dependent. I think it would take a few decades before everyone in the UK gets used to living without any Welfare state at all.

Thank you for your reply. I would tend to agree with the idea of phasing out. My 'utopia' would be to have everything funded by VAT. At current levels the amount of wealth the government gets from VAT is about 96 billion pounds, which can account for the armed forces, justice, law and order and about half of the infrastructure/transport budget. I would shift the focus from public transport to construction of transport infrastructure. Currently about 80% of money is spent on rail, a service which is only used by about 10% of the population (if I remember my figures correctly, obviously these are not exact), this must change.

I would also expect that we would no longer be spending so much on justice and corrections since we would not be imprisoning people for consensual acts.

As to your discussion with Eurosceptic Atlanticist. If you do not mind me butting in, I would like to say I agree with the stance of Milton Friedman. He also made a very good argument concerning medical drug legalisation. We are often told of how the government (at least in America) protected them from thalidomide, however, we never ask ourselves how many thousands - if not millions, if lives have been lost worldwide because governments have been extremely risk averse. A drug which is never released but could save thousands is not a headline story.

jason phillips · 10-12-2007, 10:59 PM

I agree with all of that Smidgey, excellent Post. Spoken like a true Libertarian.

Westcountryman · 10-12-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason phillips

Good point my Thatcherite friend. There may other things that shouldn't be banned, like things that if banned would take away Freedom from an Individual.

I see your point (although I don't agree) with things like drugs. However, when it comes down to things that are nothing but harmful to humans (such as meat not fit for human consumption ie. It would lead to serious illness or death) there is no susbstitute for regulation or the informed work of local regulatory departments.

jason phillips · 11-12-2007, 12:37 AM

Thats why your a Thatcherite Social Conservative & I'm a Libertarian.

Westcountryman · 11-12-2007, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason phillips

Thats why your a Thatcherite Social Conservative & I'm a Libertarian.

Yep, 'fraid so.

kernow · 11-12-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason phillips

Sorry Smidgey I didn't notice your post earlier. My understanding of a 'Safety Net' Welfare state is Loans giving to charities to help individuals who can't help themselves. The money will come from Low Flat rate Tax but would be gradually phased out as Charities take over The role of The state & individuals become more responsible & less dependent. I think it would take a few decades before everyone in the UK gets used to living without any Welfare state at all.

Sounds good but will end up with the "Workhouse " having to be brought back. You cannot rely on charity to support a National welfare state! Every able person should pay a welfare tax which can ONLY BE USED for the welfare State Cut out the abuse of the system by the work shy, teenage single Mothers, "lead swingers" and Britain being the free charity shop that the World and his Wife head to. Genuine decent people should always be helped by the State when they need it. Those who abuse the system should be severely punished!

Smidgey · 11-12-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kernow

Sounds good but will end up with the "Workhouse " having to be brought back. You cannot rely on charity to support a National welfare state! Every able person should pay a welfare tax which can ONLY BE USED for the welfare State Cut out the abuse of the system by the work shy, teenage single Mothers, "lead swingers" and Britain being the free charity shop that the World and his Wife head to. Genuine decent people should always be helped by the State when they need it. Those who abuse the system should be severely punished!

Firstly, I don't believe that the workshop would come back. Why do you think that it would?

Secondly, America has a very similar system to the one you describe. It is almost a complete failure.

Thirdly, the vast majority of people require no benefits and in a free market society there are always more jobs than the number of people, unless there is market collapse (which more often than not is caused by government - c.f. the great depression).

mr.growbag · 11-12-2007, 08:06 PM

I would call myself a nationalist. Some of my views could be classed as left wing, for example on workers rights, ending poverty etc, whilst some could be described as right wing, anti-immigration, zero tolerance on crime etc.
Yet both left wing and right wing opinions come together in nationalism, as you want the best for the people and the country itself.

Smidgey · 11-12-2007, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.growbag

I would call myself a nationalist. Some of my views could be classed as left wing, for example on workers rights, ending poverty etc, whilst some could be described as right wing, anti-immigration, zero tolerance on crime etc.
Yet both left wing and right wing opinions come together in nationalism, as you want the best for the people and the country itself.

If you want what's best for the country, why do you support statism?

tito · 11-12-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eurosceptic Atlanticist

I see your point (although I don't agree) with things like drugs. However, when it comes down to things that are nothing but harmful to humans (such as meat not fit for human consumption ie. It would lead to serious illness or death) there is no susbstitute for regulation or the informed work of local regulatory departments.

If there is such a demand for such things (and I think there is an enormous one) the free market will regulate.

Just like the AA and RAC rate hotels.

View Poll Results: What Political Ideology Are You?
Conservative	16	22.86%
Classical Liberal/Libertarian	18	25.71%
Socialist	2	2.86%
Social Liberal	1	1.43%
Nationalist	20	28.57%
Other Please State	13	18.57%
Voters: 70. You may not vote on this poll

10-12-2007, 10:59 PM	#72 (permalink)
jason phillips Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Worcester Posts: 23	I agree with all of that Smidgey, excellent Post. Spoken like a true Libertarian. __________________ ' For Life, Liberty & Prosperity ' The Libertarian Party of The United Kingdom WWW.lpuk.org www.LibertarianUK.net

11-12-2007, 12:37 AM	#74 (permalink)
jason phillips Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Worcester Posts: 23	Thats why your a Thatcherite Social Conservative & I'm a Libertarian. __________________ ' For Life, Liberty & Prosperity ' The Libertarian Party of The United Kingdom WWW.lpuk.org www.LibertarianUK.net

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11-12-2007, 08:06 PM	#78 (permalink)
mr.growbag Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Glorious Devon Posts: 48	I would call myself a nationalist. Some of my views could be classed as left wing, for example on workers rights, ending poverty etc, whilst some could be described as right wing, anti-immigration, zero tolerance on crime etc. Yet both left wing and right wing opinions come together in nationalism, as you want the best for the people and the country itself.