Firstly Evening CB Uber I agree with most of that but 40% is still better than places that don't let woman vote or watch peoples votes and threatens them or elects a muppet with 99% win rate when everyone hates him? Our system has worked for hundreds of years and it's part of our culture, we should be proud of it even if we don't always like the person in the 'hot seat'.
That perfectly sums up my take on modern politics. Incidentally, your test puts me 66% dead centre along the right (halfway between Thatcher and Friedman). Surprising and perhaps a little artificial (I cringe a bit at these kind of things where specific scenarios can swing you). I'd consider myself a highly moralistic, humanitarian with a belief in following the laws (as long as they agree with my personal ethics) and fairly old fashioned to boot. Perhaps I just like being a disagreeable little ****e!!!
Hey, I agree with you, Ellers. I fear a succession of hamstrung hung parliaments, coalitions and more frequent elections as is the case (I believe) in countries such as Italy. For me, far better to have a government with a majority, but with a strong opposition to hold it to account.
That's probably why one should be wary of putting people into boxes, Matt. I think we need a spreadsheet. There's an element of "point in time" stuff in it too. I accept that I'm ever so slightly autocratic and ever so slightly left these days - if you have to use those parameters - as there is clearly too much commercial power sitting with too few individuals, thus restricting a more equitable flow of wealth across those that help generate it. I'm all for a free market, but there has to be some control and regulation in certain areas. I also believe we need something akin to a "benevolent dictatorship" for a period of time to deal with a myriad unpopular things to address our social ills. I am too much of an idealist.
Did someone mention spreadsheets!?! In all honesty, my views on multinationals probably pushed me Eastwards while my views on authority and the penal system (being no real deterrent against crime) vs the death penalty and universal acceptance, for example, kept a balance. I believe that freedom comes from a diverse but ethical society. Like you Ubes, idealist (but I'm very quick to draw and absolute on opinion). All very interesting and a few questions that I haven't asked myself recently.
People that resent paying taxes into the state that gave them the opportunity to earn large amounts of money in the first place (sorry Stan). A welfare state that is a disincentive to work. mental really if you work hard expect to pay lots of tax if you do nothing expect to be rewarded off the back of the people that get off their arses even here with our small working population 170,000 beneficiaries have spent five or more years on a benefit 60,000 have spent at least ten years and 100,000 had spent at least nine of the last ten years on a benefit
Presumably you meant westward, with your view on crime offsetting you? Much the same as for me, but I land up pretty much near the bullseye every time. The authoritarian/libertarian axis is an interesting one, and seldom discussed with quite the same passion as left/right. I believe very much in small government, low taxation, low state interference in everyday lives etc., but again there's some "point in time stuff" about how I feel today: recent governments have interfered in every aspect of our lives, telling us how to live, what to think, what to eat, how to bring up our children and so forth. I very much resent this intrusion, but accept that there are enough ill-educated people for whom this might be necessary. So whilst railing against the authoritarian stance that we've come to accept, I would support the "benevolent dictatorship" approach for a period of time in order to restore a balance and common sense to the way society operates. Too big and too controversial a subject for here. Great Tweet from IDS about Maggie this morning.
I'm going to get my wife and 17 year old son, who's doing A level politics and claims to be far to the left of anyone in his class, to do the test this evening. Agree that the authoritarian/libertarian axis is (for me) the most interesting. I was pondering this last night and have just retaken the test to make sure I was consistent - I was, frighteningly so. As I am edging towards the anarchist end of libertarianism, I thought about who represents this group - and came up with the green brigade, protesters, St Pauls camp out people etc....this can't be right, I have very little time for them.......then wondered a bit more and concluded that these people are probably actually very authoritarian - they like to force their views on others, I think have pretty rigid codes of practice within their groups, and can obviously organise themselves. Thankfully abandoned them and discovered my true role model - PJ O'Rourke - in his '**** off and leave me alone, free to do what I want, I promise I won't interfere with you' mode, rather than the neo-con economics. And of course the ingrained cynicism.....
Very surprised that I sit next to Gandhi. Thought I would be further over to the right but I gave my honest answers. As I said at the end of the day we all have different views due to age, where we are from and our upbringing and of course what our political views are. My family were not miners so our views will be different to theirs but for me looking at the Thatcher as a PM and how she managed to get there is a remarkable story
LOVFL ...........Cerny you little minx....I love keyboard warriors Sorry Cerny, but after Sunday I can never take you seriously anymore. You asked for a spare ticket (paying cash) and had the offer from 9's. I think you talk more than a little bullshit.
