Hi all,
Quite surprised this one has not passed here in Offtopic. Or I just didnt find it.
Post here your political views, how you 'found them' and what motivates to adhere to them.
In my view it can range from (near)communist to libertarism. Just keep the posts civil people, cannot stress that enough. You get a point about politics better across when being civil, and who knows, you might convert someone;)
(I never heard of anyone being convinced to another political view by pure impoliteness).
Since I opened the topic, I'll start
Around my 18th I started to get interest in politics in general. Reading a lot about different -isms, I found that classical liberalism, which is linked to the so called 'negative freedom perspective' suited me best compared to my general views about society and individuals. In my view, another should never have any authority over what I do with my body, mind or wishes, as long as those do not oppose anothers personal space/freedom. In that sense I probably am a classic example of a 'nineties Dutchmen' a period of time here in the Netherlands where 'really everything was possible and fine.'
Though I am a huge promoter of everything free market and capitalism, I cannot close my eyes how negative and extreme uncontrolled capitalism can become. It gives a limited few abnormal amounts of power, and as we all know power corrups, absolute power corrupts absolutely. A state should be a 'referee', but not controlling. Make the rules fair and just. What is fair and just you might ask? I do not know, differs from perspective. Which circles around, back to my point about individuals. Who are you (or I) to judge and decide what is best for someone? Experience? Differs per person. The right thing? I could do a Godwin here. 'Social'? I think its fairly asocial to take someones money or rights (called stealing on the streets) and distribute it to another taking another piece for yourself (only governments and maffia have this behavior).
But my point about capitalism is just the same about governments. Governments have 1 striking similarity with (big) companies, the desire to grow. And my faith in both institutions is very limited.
I would like to make exceptions in these thoughts. Common law, some public utilities (health care, roads, schools and basic social security)
My 'natural opponents' are therefore socialists, communists, conservatists and 'Christian Democrats', all believers in a system where its followers want to exert power over others. I have sympathies for the libertarians, but I could never become one, since it is an unworkable system that would collapse sooner or later.
Lastly, in my country, the 'liberal' Netherlands (not so liberal for at least a decade anymore), there is not a single true liberal party to be found. We have 2 calling themselves liberal, but I think the call of power was too strong and they abandoned their former liberal beliefs. So not having a feasible and sensible option to fit my beliefs I voted on the Libertarian Party last year. They failed to get a seat in the House of Parliament.
Please post your thoughts and why's on this subject or refute my silly beliefs
Quite surprised this one has not passed here in Offtopic. Or I just didnt find it.
Post here your political views, how you 'found them' and what motivates to adhere to them.
In my view it can range from (near)communist to libertarism. Just keep the posts civil people, cannot stress that enough. You get a point about politics better across when being civil, and who knows, you might convert someone;)
(I never heard of anyone being convinced to another political view by pure impoliteness).
Since I opened the topic, I'll start
Around my 18th I started to get interest in politics in general. Reading a lot about different -isms, I found that classical liberalism, which is linked to the so called 'negative freedom perspective' suited me best compared to my general views about society and individuals. In my view, another should never have any authority over what I do with my body, mind or wishes, as long as those do not oppose anothers personal space/freedom. In that sense I probably am a classic example of a 'nineties Dutchmen' a period of time here in the Netherlands where 'really everything was possible and fine.'
Though I am a huge promoter of everything free market and capitalism, I cannot close my eyes how negative and extreme uncontrolled capitalism can become. It gives a limited few abnormal amounts of power, and as we all know power corrups, absolute power corrupts absolutely. A state should be a 'referee', but not controlling. Make the rules fair and just. What is fair and just you might ask? I do not know, differs from perspective. Which circles around, back to my point about individuals. Who are you (or I) to judge and decide what is best for someone? Experience? Differs per person. The right thing? I could do a Godwin here. 'Social'? I think its fairly asocial to take someones money or rights (called stealing on the streets) and distribute it to another taking another piece for yourself (only governments and maffia have this behavior).
But my point about capitalism is just the same about governments. Governments have 1 striking similarity with (big) companies, the desire to grow. And my faith in both institutions is very limited.
I would like to make exceptions in these thoughts. Common law, some public utilities (health care, roads, schools and basic social security)
My 'natural opponents' are therefore socialists, communists, conservatists and 'Christian Democrats', all believers in a system where its followers want to exert power over others. I have sympathies for the libertarians, but I could never become one, since it is an unworkable system that would collapse sooner or later.
Lastly, in my country, the 'liberal' Netherlands (not so liberal for at least a decade anymore), there is not a single true liberal party to be found. We have 2 calling themselves liberal, but I think the call of power was too strong and they abandoned their former liberal beliefs. So not having a feasible and sensible option to fit my beliefs I voted on the Libertarian Party last year. They failed to get a seat in the House of Parliament.
Please post your thoughts and why's on this subject or refute my silly beliefs