Capitalism is a fundamentally broken system, unfortunately so is socialism. Of the two however socialism tends to be less broken for more people.
The problem with the libertarian ideal of government is that it works really well for the far end of your bell curve, very nicely indeed for the downslope, ok for people at some arbitrary point in the middle and really, disastrously badly for anyone on the left of that line. There are two principle problems, one is that despite their insistence, people often really don't know what's best for them. If they did then McDonalds would go out of business tomorrow, the other issue is that quite a lot of things are too important to be subject to free market forces - education and health are the two main ones and the US provides a salutary insight into how badly it's possible to fail if you cling to the dogma of free markets at any cost in those areas.
Like you I've moved politically over the years. I've been left wing enough to have been a member of the Socialist Workers Party in my youth but now I am a firm centrist in the European style. I recognise that capitalism has its place when properly regulated but that socialism is the fairest system for societies when regarded as a whole. Like you, were I a US citizen my vote would be going to Mr Obama, even if his opposition weren't as actively evil as they are (and they do exemplify reptilian malevolence to a startling degree) giving the people responsible for the mess a mandate to do it again doesn't sit well with me.
The UK elections however are a thornier problem. I have a gag reflex that kicks in whenever I consider voting Conservative. That said I'm not impressed by Labour's stewardship of the last few years. My problems with the conservatives are twofold mostly - firstly they haven't had a leader who I could vote for with a good conscience for a long time (Major was barely clear of that bar) and secondly I would feel dirty at associating my vote with the umbrella of anathemic views that fall under their umbrella - small minded little-britainers, flag-waving jingoists and the faint whiff of corporate greed cut with brimstone that emanates from their monetary policy.
So, fancy setting up a progressive left of centre party that aims to be socially liberal, fiscally conservative and doesn't attract too many nutters?
It does seem that you and I are in roughly the same space.
Taxation isn't evil, but neither is business - which appears to be the divide in some left/right debates. Unfortunately, our UK politics appears to take its template from the US rather than Europe, but then our populations are taking their lead from theirs too.
When recently in Brussels, I very much enjoyed the atmosphere and there were times when things were actually really laid back. I'm sure its not true all the time or for everyone, but the quality of life appears to be different as a consequence.
Belgium has a very high tax rate - as in, most people are on 50% basic rate. The knowledge that you can rely very heavily on government-run things like transport, police, etc has a lot to do with why people are so laid back. They do pay for that peace of mind.
There are very many 'passionate' people in politics, partly because politics is the way to influence what they are passionate about. There is, in itself, nothing wrong with being passionate - but sadly several passionate people also switch off their objectivity.
The problem with the libertarian ideal of government is that it works really well for the far end of your bell curve, very nicely indeed for the downslope, ok for people at some arbitrary point in the middle and really, disastrously badly for anyone on the left of that line. There are two principle problems, one is that despite their insistence, people often really don't know what's best for them. If they did then McDonalds would go out of business tomorrow, the other issue is that quite a lot of things are too important to be subject to free market forces - education and health are the two main ones and the US provides a salutary insight into how badly it's possible to fail if you cling to the dogma of free markets at any cost in those areas.
Like you I've moved politically over the years. I've been left wing enough to have been a member of the Socialist Workers Party in my youth but now I am a firm centrist in the European style. I recognise that capitalism has its place when properly regulated but that socialism is the fairest system for societies when regarded as a whole. Like you, were I a US citizen my vote would be going to Mr Obama, even if his opposition weren't as actively evil as they are (and they do exemplify reptilian malevolence to a startling degree) giving the people responsible for the mess a mandate to do it again doesn't sit well with me.
The UK elections however are a thornier problem. I have a gag reflex that kicks in whenever I consider voting Conservative. That said I'm not impressed by Labour's stewardship of the last few years. My problems with the conservatives are twofold mostly - firstly they haven't had a leader who I could vote for with a good conscience for a long time (Major was barely clear of that bar) and secondly I would feel dirty at associating my vote with the umbrella of anathemic views that fall under their umbrella - small minded little-britainers, flag-waving jingoists and the faint whiff of corporate greed cut with brimstone that emanates from their monetary policy.
So, fancy setting up a progressive left of centre party that aims to be socially liberal, fiscally conservative and doesn't attract too many nutters?
/Iain
Reply
Reply
History is quite explicit on this point.
Reply
Taxation isn't evil, but neither is business - which appears to be the divide in some left/right debates. Unfortunately, our UK politics appears to take its template from the US rather than Europe, but then our populations are taking their lead from theirs too.
When recently in Brussels, I very much enjoyed the atmosphere and there were times when things were actually really laid back. I'm sure its not true all the time or for everyone, but the quality of life appears to be different as a consequence.
So, yeah, I'm with you.
Reply
Reply
I have doubts about that part's possibiity.
Reply
There are very many 'passionate' people in politics, partly because politics is the way to influence what they are passionate about. There is, in itself, nothing wrong with being passionate - but sadly several passionate people also switch off their objectivity.
Or, in short, politics attracts nutters.
Reply
Leave a comment