I am a Liberal. Socialist in Economic Theory, Libertarian in Social Philosophy.

[Taverner]

I believe we owe it to our poor, our unemployed, the homeless, the underemployed to make sure they don't die. All mouths deserve food.

I believe to take a human life is wrong, whether it's someone who had the bad luck to be born in a country we declared war on, someone who is a mass murderer, or someone who was innocent.

I believe life begins at breath. No breathing, no life.

I believe if you are an adult, you are responsible for your own actions. That is a two way street: but it means you can do what ever you want to with your body. It's yours - not the government's and definitely not the churches'. It also means if you hurt someone, you need to be rehabilitated.

I believe scientists, real scientists (e.g. NOT the Heritage Foundation or BYU) know more about the world than do Preachers, Politicians, Ex-SNL stars, or men with bad haircuts.

I believe you owe it to yourself to reward yourself at least once a day just for sticking it out and being alive.

I believe you owe it to your loved ones to reward them at least once a day for sticking it out and putting up with you.

I do not believe in thought crimes. Whatever you think, no matter how strange, is yours. Actions, on the other hand, affect everyone. There is a clear difference.

I believe that you have a right to own a gun. To use it, that's a different story. But to own one, sure. Chances are it will collect dust, but it isn't my decision, or the state's, to make.

I believe who you love, what you believe, where you come from and what languages you speak is yours alone. No state or church has the right to judge it, and you are entitled to every right that everyone else has.

Thank you.

[TheKentuckian]

1. I like the way you think

[hifiguy]

2. Same here, Taverner

A Scandinavian style democratic socialist on economics (though I have some pretty strong structural Marxist leanings) and a pure libertarian about how consenting adults choose to lead their lives as long as they directly harm no one else.

:hi:

[Taverner]

3. I am no Wiccan, but I do love the Wiccan Rede

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, An it harm none do what ye will.

Makes perfect sense to me

[rjj621]

11. Me too, always agreed with it n/t

[RevStPatrick]

4. Yep... sounds about right!

Unfortunately, we now live in Psychopath Nation, where too many people don't understand these simple concepts...

[blindpig]

5. Libertarian social and economic are joined at the hip.

The economic is the meat of it, the social just a teaser and excuse for the wealthy to be able to do whatever they like.

[Taverner]

6. So you think we should be socially controlled?

[blindpig]

7. I think we should control the capitalist class..

by means of a dictatorship of the proletariat. Once that job is done we will have a society of consensus, which is communism.

[Taverner]

9. I love Marx, but that is my problem with him: 'Dictatorship of the Proletariat'

I don't like dictatorship of any kind

[blindpig]

12. We live under the dictatorship of Capital as we speak.

It hardly matters what you or I like, it is a matter of preserving the revolution. Not a good idea for the former ruling class, with it's money and influence, to be allowed to cause mischief and counter-revolution. Not so much about preferences as necessities. Took a while for me to accept this but I see no other way to surely succeed.

[Taverner]

13. Yes we do. And it is killing us.

But...without democracy there is no critical thought. You have to allow for dissent if you are going to have progress. Otherwise all science becomes Lysenkoism.

[blindpig]

15. Who said anything about being without democracy?

Dissent is of course permissible until democratic decisions are reached, then those decisions should be acted upon without interference.

[phleshdef]

8. By technical definition, most people who consider themselves liberal are socially libertarian.

But the way we use these kinds of labels in modern day America does not always reflect the technical definition. Regardless, most people who consider themselves liberal tend to have views that favor personal freedom when it comes to social issues.

[blindpig]

14. But personal freedom to what end?

The poison pill in the libertarian candy box is labelled 'freedom to own the means of production'.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Economic socialism isn't "liberal"

by definition, liberal economics favours free trade and free markets. If it's socialist, it isn't "liberal". I think you mean "I am a democratic socialist".