Which do you identify with : liberal, conservative, libertian, populist?
By laylomo
@laylomo (165)
United States
November 12, 2007 1:34am CST
While many Americans call themselves liberal or conservative, I think the best way to measure political ideology is using the four listed in the title.
A pure liberal is liberal on both economic policy and personal conduct. They want the government to reduce economic inequality, regulate business, tax the rich heavily, cure the economic causes of crime, allow abortions, protect the rights of the acused, and guarantee the broadest possible freedoms of speech and press. They tend to be the young, college-educated citizens.
A pure conservative is conservative on both economic and conduct issues. They want the government to cut back on the welfare state, allow the market to allocate goods and services, keep taxes low, lock up criminals and curb forms of conduct they regard as antisocial. They tend to be older with the highest income.
A libertarian is conservative on economic matters, but liberal on social ones. They want a small, weak government, with little control on the economy or the personal lives of the citizens. They tend to be young, college-educated, higher incomes with no religious ties.
A populist is liberal on economic matters but conservative on social ones. They want a government that will reduce economic inequality and control business, but they also want to regulate personal conduct, lock up criminals, and permit school prayers.
I identify most with the libertarian theory because it allows for the people to live as pleased. Life and let life, I say.
Which do you identify most with and why?
3 people like this
5 responses
@eclecticsteve (253)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I identify most with Libertarian theory. I may have exceptions, but as a general rule, I believe that a person has the right to live as he/she wishes as long as he/she doesn't interfere with the rights of another. The government (or for that matter, the masses - remember majority rule, with minority rights)should not dictate the lives of individuals.
2 people like this
@Lady_Justice (969)
• United States
16 Nov 07
Political issues like these tend to be too complex to really get into in depth on a discussion board like MyLot. However, from your definitions I'd have to say I'm conservative (traditionally so, not neo-conservative) and I lean libertarian.
@zenmachado (1617)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I have no intention to impose my personal beliefs.. at least not with a certain fervor... yet the type that I identify with, is actually the goverment that has been placed in heavin.. a godly kingdom in which man cannot soly rule.. one in which man does not have his selfish hands in, and therefor ruins the perfect social state that could eventually become..
Yet, by no means do I disrespect the governments that have been instituted by human society.. I just respectfully remain neutral and with out placing forth a proactive hand..
I personally believe that man does rule himself into ruin, seeing as how they never look to a selfless ambition, but only to the cause that will reap material or power rewards...
1 person likes this
@Commonsense0 (516)
• United States
28 Dec 07
I have my own set of beliefs, and they don't really fit any of these. I won't go into that, but if I had to choose one to identify myself with I would have to go with libertarian. But I try to respect other's beliefs.
@jormungand (91)
• Turkey
28 Dec 07
I absolutely agree that we cannot think politics on a one dimension scale of liberal-conservative. There must be more dimensions. I have also a problem with the word "liberal", because liberals are actually not "liberal" when it comes to economic issues and the role of state. I prefer to call it "left".
Personally, I think I'm between liberal/left and libertarian, because if everything is up to commercial companies, and the state could not "protect" the people from this companies, it will be a mess. And I think that the state must give some services, like health, free.
There is a test called "World's Smallest Political Quiz" to find your political map on http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html It measures your, say, "liberality" on personal and economic issues, if both of them are high, you are a libertarian. If low, statist/populist. If the personal score is high, you are a liberal, and if the economic score is high, you are conservative.
The quiz is a little shallow (only 10 questions?) and libertarian-biased (Advocates is a libertarian organization), but it deserves to take a look.
@laylomo (165)
• United States
28 Dec 07
On top of liberal, conservative, libertarian, and populists, there are a lot of theories that have to do with political thought. But generally, this is the most accepted form of political theory.
Funny thing, I took that test about a week before you responded. According to the test, I am indeed a libertarian, very much so. But like you said, it's a bit shallow.
What did you get on the test?
1 person likes this
@jormungand (91)
• Turkey
29 Dec 07
I agreed to all personal issues, but couldn't decide some of economic isues. So, changing by my answers on economic issues, I am either a libertarian or a liberal. I like to call myself left-libertarian:)