Liberalism, Conservatism, Extremism, and Moderation
Let me clarify:
First question: Liberalism VS Conservatism
Are you a Liberal? Conservative? A little bit of both? Is one better than the other? If so, why? CAN you be a little bit of both, or do you have to be JUST one or the other?
ME: I'm more of a Liberal, but I still parallel a few Conservative-like mentalities. I am pro-gay rights. I am for freedom of expression, especially in Artistic ways. I am for equality between man and woman. I am against Racism and most forms of Discrimination. I am for most kinds of sexual liberation, and in the End I am always for choice. I am against use of Force to suppress a group of people. I am always for exploration and research on an issue before judgement. However, I am personally against Abortion and the Death Penalty. I think very few cases justify the act of killing.
What about You?
There are many Ultra Conservatives that I cannot meet eye to eye with. In my opinion, many ultra-right wing people seem close minded and harshly judgemental. They seem to beleive that there is ONLY ONE TRUTH and only one acceptable way to live life. It seems they forget about the concept of Free Will, the concept of Choice, and Freedom in general. They tend to think it okay to enforce thier beleifs upon other people, and to involve religion and personal opinion into politics. Many of thier beleifs parallel Dictatorship in my opinion.
However, there are also many Radical Liberals that I cannot meet eye to eye with either. In my opinion, many radical left-wing people seem to think that right and wrong does not exist. They tend to beleive that there is no such thing as morality, and that life is a free for all, some kind of orgy. Even the term "Respect" seems to be a lost cause for many people like this. They tend to think that Law is automatically conformity, and that Order threatens individualism. "I can do whatever I want" seems to be the philosophy of many extremist liberals. Many of thier beliefs parallel Anarchy in my opinion.
I strongly beleive there needs to be a sense of Moderation in all ways of thinking.
Second Question: "Synthesis of Choas and Order"
Can one exist without the other? Is one more valuable than the other? Is "moderation" the mediator between the two? Do you HAVE to pick one over the other? Is Extemism the REAL danger?
I strongly beleive that Chaos and Order thrive off eachother, and that one cannot exist without the other. The Goal of Law should not be to restrict freedom, but to PROTECT it. The Goal of Freedom should not be to DEFY Law, but to SHAPE it.
If there is a constraint on freedom then there is less "choice" involved in determining what our Laws will be and how they will evolve with an ever changing society.
If there is no respect for law, then freedom is endangering itself. The freedoms of one individual would come into conflict with the freedoms of another individual, and there would be no Law to protect one from the other.
Re: Liberalism, Conservatism, Extremism, and Moderation
Skipped the second question cause the first one is more interesting (and didn't feel like reading the second one completely might do it in a while tho)
I'm pretty liberal in my socioeconomic values, which means I agree with most of what you say. However I'd probably be considered conservative in my opinions on government
to make it easier for ppl I agree with or am in favor of:
- Gay rights (marriage, adoption and the whole shabang)
- Freedom of religion
- Equality between men and women
- Sexual liberation (as long as it is concentual, and it isn't 'pedophilia)
- The use of marijuana (for adults)
- Abortion
- Choice (but choice needs to be safeguarded and guaranteed by law- a lot of the times)
I am against
- Racism
- Oppression
- The death penalty
- Flat-taxes
- Unlimited free speech (in my opinion you can't say whatever you damn well please)
now opinions on government:
IMO the state needs to make sure people have get the same chances in life (this could mean positive discrimination), free education (almost free, totally free is pretty much impossible, including uni or college), free health care (this can be totally free in some cases) the right to work and to living.
As can be seen before I am all for a progressive tax rating. The rich earn more so they should pay more. ppl who earn a minimum wage or slightly above that should not be expected to pay as much (percentile wise) as ppl who make 10.000 € or $ a month.
The government should make sure it can supply basic goods, electricity, water, transportation, Internet access and such at a decent price for all.
I can debate with right-wing and extrem-right-wing people without much of a problem. altho I think they are small minded and have a very disturbed way of looking at things
I can also debate with extrem-left-wing people altho their views are simplistic and don't work unless everyone in a society adheres to some norms (the ones they make for themselves) which is a tad too idealistic for my taste.
Hope that answered your question
__________________ Be smart, be cool, be sexy = be LIBERAL!
Re: Re: Liberalism, Conservatism, Extremism, and Moderation
Indeed you did.
I agree with you about "unlimitted free speech", because then that allows Neo-NAZIS and ppl like KKK and such to make public statements against every other minority group, all they want, and the rest cannot complain about it.
Unlimitted Free Speech would also allow employees to say "**** you" to thier bosses, it would allow for verbal sexual harassment, and it would allow for vulgar insults to be included in politics as well. This would promote vast chaos, and decrease the order.
You're right: Ultra Conservatives are terribly small minded, while Fanatic Liberals are idealistic to the point of non-realism.
I think there is a common thread though: Hatred exists in equal strength between both extremist Conservatives and extremist liberals.
I know a few extemist liberals who say things like "I have the right to hate whoever I want". There are Liberals who think that wrong and right do not exist. Some of these extremist examples beleive that "morality" is nothing more than a made up attempt at conformity.
I am a Liberal, and i have many liberal freinds. I feel more free around them, i feel i can be myself without being judged. I also have a few conservative freinds, who although do not approve about much of my behavior or choices, they still respect me enough to not talk about it, and just laugh it off.
But i have recieved more direct prejudice from an extremist liberal than an extremist conservative.
In High School a Liberal Italian harassed me simply because I didn't do drugs. I know it sounds retarted, but in his mind, i was too uptight and had to many sticks up my ass or whatever, i was a "momma's boy" in his eyes, a "teacher's pet", a "pussy" for not ever wanting to take drugs.
I went to a gay club a while back, and i was insulted by many of the guys there because they didn't like my "shirt". It wasn't "$lutty enough" it wasn't revealing enough, it was too "proper" therefore i "why did i bother showing up?" "When you get a sense of style we'll be your freind"....yeah okay, if that's not the most rediculous form of prejudice, i dont know what is...
Oh wait...
Maybe this is....i met a liberal black dude, he hates Bush and all that crap. He wanted to start a fight with me, cuz i slick my hair back. He thought i was italian, im actually hispanic, but it doesn't matter. He called me things like "f-a-g", "pretty boy", "girly boy", "queer" etc. He WANTED to FIGHT because my hair was GELLED....???????
Dude...SOME Liberals are just as dangerous as some conservatives.
perhaps you didnt meet a dress code? i dont know.
wear a tshirt, jeans, and sneakers to many clubs and the bouncer will stop you right at the front door.
life's a b!tch for us non-dapper slackers, isnt it?
Even still.....A bouncer's job is what it is, so that's almost justifiable.
But for some idiot to not want to be your freind cuz he didn't like your shirt? No wait....for TEN idiots to not want to be your freind cuz they don't like your shirt ?
"I mean, i'd **** you...but i wouldn't want to be your freind, cuz that shirt totally gives away what kind of person you are"
KMC Community Forums
Jun 2nd, 2006 05:54 PM
Hahahaha!
