Political Philosophies
Left (Liberal)
Liberals claim to embrace freedom of choice in personal matters, but support significant government control of the economy so that they can become independently wealthy and important. They support a government-funded safety net to “help the disadvantaged,” which they quickly plunder. Liberals advocate strict regulation of business, which they like to demonize publicly in order to gain the trust (votes) of the economically less fortunate. Ironically, leadership strives to grow this category as a base. They favor massive, crippling environmental regulations, defend civil liberties when victims and others might vote for them, and free expression when they agree with its content. Liberals always support government action that on its face claims to promote equality, and they often like to say that they tolerate diverse lifestyles.
Libertarian
Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and economic matters, as if that could ever happen in this day and age. They advocate a much smaller government; a fantasy one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, in principle, and promote private charity; they tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties. Libertarians just want everyone to be good, so hardly any government is necessary.
Centrist
Centrists espouse a “middle ground” regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the political winds of the moment, they sometimes favor government intervention and occasionally support individual freedom of choice. Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind, tend to oppose “political extremes” because of their own innate fear of being decisive, and emphasize what they describe as “practical” solutions to problems but are merely wimpy dances of avoidance.
Right (Conservative)
Conservatives tend to favor economic freedom for themselves, while frequently supporting laws to restrict personal behaviors that violate their own “traditional values.” They oppose excessive government control of their businesses, while endorsing government action to defend their particular flavor of morality and the traditional family structure. Conservatives usually support a strong military, oppose bureaucracy and high taxes, favor a free-market economy, and endorse strong law enforcement. Because THEY don’t do anything wrong.
Statists (Big Government)
Statists want government to have absolute power over the economy and individual behavior. They couldn’t care less if economic liberty and individual freedom are practical options in today’s world. Statists openly destroy the free market and everyone else. They openly maintain insanely high taxes and centralized planning of the economy, punish diverse lifestyles and flush civil liberties down the toilet. Nations that espouse these qualities are greatly admired by modern liberals, as well.
Filed under: Philosophy
Tags: « centrist • conservative • government • Liberal • libertarian • political philosophy • statist • taxes »
by ike
No Comments »