If you are a Leftist, why are you one?

[KonaKane]

Recent conversations here have brought up the question about Leftism on DU, and who is and might not be a real "Leftist". So I have an honest and forthright question for leftists on DU - why are you one?

Since I asked, I guess I should start. Keep in mind that I am describing myself as an American Leftist, because that is my experience in time and location. I have noted some real changes in Leftism between today and more than two centuries ago, in Europe.

Why I Am A Leftist

I am a Leftist because....

I believe in the dignity and spiritual soveriegnty of humankind

I believe in the classic Rights of (hu)Man - The rights of freedom, peace, happiness, and self defense against oppression of all types.

I believe in the power of human collectivity; that when the community and an individuals needs come into conflict, the community must prevail, with respect to the individual.

I believe in finding a commonality with my fellow human, and cooperative action to make common aspirations a reality.

I believe that power of all types must be checked by the will of the people.

I believe that capitalism, as the primary economic force in my culture, be constrained from committing its excesses.

I believe in the free association of working people, to unionize wherever and whenever they see fit, as a check against the worst of the ownership class.

I believe in equal rights under the law for all people, regardless of their gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, ethnicity or any other division which can be used against them by the powerful.

I believe that sufficient food, shelter and health care should be provided to all who need it.

I believe in speaking truth to power, and resisting by all means necessary any force which threatens our most sacred human rights.

I believe in peace and cooperation with all of my fellow humans, and reject and resist warfare and propulgating the industry of war for its own sake.

I believe in social progressivism, liberalism, and any other ambitions that seek to collectively move humanity to enlightenment, peace and happiness.

I believe in social justice, and a system in which each can air their case quickly, honestly and without fear of retribution, to be judged by their peers.

I believe in the sovereignty and freedom of thought, and the power of counterculture to expose and redress regressive and anti-social cultural trends.


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Your turn.

[KonaKane]

1. synchronicity or what....

right after I posted this I saw three other threads on the theme....wow....

[applegrove]

2. I believe that people working together with empathy can do incredible things.

So I like government. I believe that corporations are only good at very specific things.

[KonaKane]

5. Yes - cooperative action is one of the biggies.

And also something that drives the righties batshit nuts.

[county worker]

3. "sufficient food, shelter and health care should be provided"

I don't want to disagree with anything you posted, I just have this question. Who and how do we provide sufficient food, shelter and health care? I work with people who try to do just that. Our budget is 6 million less in revenue than last year.

The one problem that I have with some people who call themselves leftists is this. They have ideas that are results but leave out the action. Here the action is procuring the goods to provide to people. Some one has to come up with the money to buy the goods and someone has to distribute them. So I agree with your ideas, I want people to realize that you haven't done anything by wanting something good for people. You have to work at making it happen.

[KonaKane]

6. For me its about the "ability" part.

Any nation as rich and powerful as ours....who can start and keep going TWO ridiculous, senseless elective wars that are costing upwards of three trillion dollars...definitely has the means to provide food, shelter and health care to their citizenry who require it. Much smaller nations with a far tinier budget do a semblence of this already. I refuse to believe that mine cannot.

I totally agree with your comment about the importance of work, though, Without it nothing even gets off the ground.

[izquierdista]

4. Correct upbringing

I was taught to share, wait my turn, and be polite to other people -- all kinds of people.

[KonaKane]

7. Perfect.

Can't say it much better than that.

[mzteris]

8. it's kinda funny -

I think I'm a leftist for the same reasons that some people call me a troll...

go figure.

:shrug:


I espouse what I believe to be very liberal positions (being out of the "norm") - and yet I'm constantly - er - chastized - by some who think those positions are right wing... it truly is baffling to me sometimes.

[KonaKane]

9. You cant please everybody

which is what I was trying to say on another thread that was addressing this issue....to no avail.....

[Lorien]

10. Protecting the environment from destruction and species from extinction

most "Leftists" leave the environment, climate change and biodiversity out completely these days while they were HUGE issues for us in the 1970's. How important will every other issue be if we have a planet that can't support life?

[KonaKane]

11. amen....and that's really strange because Marx talked ALOT about the environment

Especially in his "Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts" which I think is much more the bedrock for modern leftism than even the Communist Manifesto.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. I defer to your words...so much better than mine.

You've stated it perfectly why you and I both are Leftists.

Thank you!

[KonaKane]

13. Thank you!

we're all in the together.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Don't disagree with ANY of this, other than

I would keep capitalism down to private ownership of small firms, by law. And I would have government become the "investor" for worker owned factories that shared profits among ALL the workers. I REALLY don't like capitalism. The less of it, the better we ALL are.

[David__77]

15. Because imperialism ruined my life early on.

It destroyed my father and my family, and then I realized it's killed millions and it's about much more than me...

[KonaKane]

16. Imperialism is a huge hulking evil.

I'm sorry to hear about what it did to your family. The human toll of this disease is incalculable.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. I was a red diaper baby - moved left from there.

"Freedom is the absolute right of all adult men and women to seek permission for their actions only from their own conscience and reason, and to be determined in their actions only by their own will, and consequently to be responsible only to themselves, and then to the society to which they belong, but only insofar as they have made a free decision to belong to it." Mikhail Bakunin

[obxhead]

18. I think of others, therefore I am. nt

[rbixby]

19. I am because...

we're all in this together, and the only way we can move forward is if we do it together and take care of each other.