What is the range of political views on this board?

[E_Smith]

I saw a post earlier stating that this board is way way left compared to a "mainstream" democrat. I am curious as a frame of reference where people stand or what they consider themselves. So how many are socialists, how many are capitalists (it seems many people here reject capitalism), communists, libertarians, anarchists??? if someone could put up a poll like this it would be awesome. some of the terms may not be mutually exclusive. but I'm just curious what peoples viewpoints are because inevitably that colors their version of reality.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. of your choices,

I would call myself a socialist. Socialism is the pragmatic way-government, which in itself can be regulated by the people, regulates commerce.

[amber dog democrat]

2. Just hang out and read

That may give you a good idea of the spectrum. I would go by what someone says rather than an assessment. But for the record I am a socialist.

[E_Smith]

5. yeah thats what i've been doing

and i would say so far i think its weighted to socialism. its funny how this is considered a dirty word to conservatives. by the way, can socialism be squared completely with the US Constitution? if so then the arguments of conservatives that socialism is somehow anti-american is baseless.

[TahitiNut]

16. Well, today's brand of 'conservatives' are half-socialists.

They love the idea of socializing costs while privatizing profits. They love socializing military personnel while privatizing the objectives and war-profiteering. Just look at the inauguration ... corporations and the People of the District of Columbia bore the vast majority of the costs, and the costs borne by the corporations come out of the assess of the workers and the customers, not the executives or fat cat owners.

In other words, they love the "Socialism" of National Socialism.
Americans are the most politically stupid (as in 'stupor') people on the planet!

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[drdtroit]

29. Perhaps this is being stated as a matter in the informative

rather than in the judge-mental. Or is that illegal? i don't quite remember that law being introduced, at least not yet. :)

[TahitiNut]

31. So, you think it's smart that 50% voted these Fascists another 4 years?

I see. :eyes:

[I_equals_PRT]

3. ultra liberal and so proud of it

because liberal means "loves liberty" and that says it all for me, the government is our servant, not our master, the only powers government has come from the people. Keep the government subservient.

[troubleinwinter]

4. There are 63,000 registered users,

and appx. 200,000 unique visitors per week.

I don't know what a so-called "mainstream democrat" is, nor who makes such a determination.

There is a wide variety of Democratic, liberal and progressive viewpoints here, along with more than a few disruptive conservative "trolls".

[ruggerson]

6. Full on free market capitalist

who believes in freedom across the board, unlike the republican hypocrites who only believe in freedom when it suits their utilitarian agenda.

[EVDebs]

12. Your free markets need regulating ! USA is a mix of free/regulated market

Laizzez fair capitalism, as even Teddy Roosevelt found out, need to show restrain in ripping off consumers. It's only human nature.

[phaseolus]

7. Never met any communists

...since they're practically non-existant in the U.S. population, though I've seen a couple self-identified socialists here. From what I can tell it's pretty much yer basic bell curve centered on "garden variety liberal Democrat" and "garden variety Green".

I'll place myself in the first category. I've accepted capitalism, though I don't like the right wing's visions of what capitalism is. (You can't trust 'big business' to look out for our interests, taxation should be progressive, and right-wing churches need to stay out of my bedroom and my kids' science classrooms IMO.) I'm intrigued by the criticisms coming from people further left than I am, re: whether corporations should have all the legal rights that an actual human being has, but I kinda suspect overthrowing corporate law all at once would be a disaster.

Let the right wing have their way for much longer and you WILL see me, and others like me, go further left. If you're scared of people singing songs like "The Revolution Starts Now", just watch what happens if things keep heading the way they're being steered these days.

It's a fair question... Welcome to DU.

[E_Smith]

14. thanks. i feel the same way

i used to consider myself a type of liberal republican, conservative on fiscal issues and liberal on social issues. but each year of the Bush regime as moved me further and further left (i voted for Gore).

[mongo]

8. I am a capitalist

or at least a believer in free enterprise, which is not the same as capitalism as practiced in America.

I am CEO of a C-Corp in which my wife and I own all the stock. I am also a retail clerk, maintence man, janitor, well - you get the idea.

I think that when there is a compelling national interest, industry should be regulated (clean air laws and the like). But I think that the real reason most laws regulating business get passed is to give a competative advantage to the biggest players (who can better afford the cost of compliance).

That being said, on social issues I am very libertarian. I think that current drug laws suck, obscenity laws suck, prostitution should be legal - and somewhat regulated.

[pnorman]

9. "Libertarian socialist" (aka: "Chomsky-socialist")

It doesn't differ much from what's termed "anarchism". But the strength of this DU is the relatively wide range of views expressed here in relative amity. It ranges from supporters of Lieberman to those who might be termed crypto-Stalinists.

pnorman

[pnorman]

22. "The Political Compass"

http://www.digitalronin.f2s.com/politicalcompass/

The idea behing the test and analysis is that a one-dimensional line of Left vs Right, or Libertarian vs Authoritarian, isn't good enough for a useful description. Far better would be a TWO-dimensial plot.

Needless to say, I'm well in Quadrant III, along with Einstein, Chomsky, Ghandi, and Bishop Tutu. (Also, the Land & Liberty person on this thread).

pnorman

[E_Smith]

24. i took the test

and I came out in quadrant III as well, which according to the chart would place me with the Greens. funny, thats not where I place myself... I think I'm more along the lines of liberal democrat in the second quadrant. the problem with that test is that it is purely abstract. I may agree with Greens in these abstract concepts but I have a more pragmatic view of the world, so that in practice my politics are further to the right. The chart is very cool though and enlightening.

[pnorman]

25. The "Movement" NEEDS to be based soundly on a pragmatic view of the world.

NOW, as at NO other time in our recollection. We've lived through times of great horrors and atrocities, but until now, they all had something that could reasonably taken to be Casus Belli. Not now. ALL that mankind has strived for over the millenia is at risk; not just the accomplishments but the ideals also.

But we also need the "impractical dreamers" to leaven the mass, and let others know that they're NOT alone. You've just discovered that you too have a "dreamer" component in your make up. We're a lot larger and more influential than we imagine. Take hope!

pnorman

[ArcRabbit]

10. Poll here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1522169&mesg_id=1522169

[E_Smith]

13. as someone pointed out in that thread

that poll is flawed. it doesnt include the full range of the political spectrum.

[McKenzie]

11. A believer in human dignity and compassion

that's why I'm here on the DU. Bentham, Smith et al would be birling (spinning) in their graves if they could see the mockery of free enterprise that our world has become. Free markets require easy access and a level playing field, not the oligarchic fascism that is corporate rool. An accident of birth, and inheritance of unearned wealth, gives the power elite a grossly unfair advantage.

[mhr]

15. Fiscally Conservative - Socially Liberal - Believe In Regulated Capitalism

In the public sphere, if we have to spend money, spend it very wisely.

People have the right to live their life as they see fit as long as their actions do not impinge on others.

Regulated capitalism balances the needs of labor and investors and helps preserve society and the implied or stated social contracts.

On the economy, do we want a society that supports an economy or an economy that supports a society?

[PA Democrat]

17. Very nicely stated

and pretty much reflects my positions. I would add that I am greatly concerned by the amount spent on maintaining our vast military empire- more than 700 bases overseas.

[mhr]

18. There Is A Developing Policy Strategy That Defines

The use of our military in terms of defending and extending globalization.

This doctrine states that the reason the US military budget is so large is because the globalized countries are willing to subsidize the US military by buying our debt, provided we protect the global economy and attendant corporations.

Further this doctrine defines the globalized world as the "Core" and the non-globalized world as the "Gap". The goal of global economic policy is to align third-world countries from the Gap with the Core.

As a means of last resort, the US military is the last line of defense to enforce this transformation.

The invasion and occupation of Iraq is now being justified within this framework. As an example of the importance that this rational is given inside the beltway, the Air Force is requiring every new Flag Officer to be briefed on this policy paradigm.

More about this policy can be learned here:

rtsp://cspanrm.fplive.net/cspan/project/ter/ter122004_barnett.rm

http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/index.htm

[PA Democrat]

20. That is frightening

I pity the guys who have joined the military in the altruistic belief that they are defending their country.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. Anarchist. Of the Tolstoy, Gandhi, Chomsky, type.

Non-violent, communitarian, socialist.

[Clarkie1]

21. I'm a liberal democrat n/t

[ZombieNixon]

23. I'm a free-marketeer, as RFK Jr. said on NOW the other day.

The market is free only because there is regulation. The right regulation prohibits monopolies, which generates compeitition, which helps the economy, and only then is the market truly free.

[John_H]

27. Great lakes pro union democrat a la the pre-run Kucinich

Although my mindless support of labor unions is waning with every vote they cast for rethugs over guns. I believe that the government playing a major role in making good ol' american prosperity available to anyone willing to achieve it is an infinitely better than trusting the Micheal Dells of the world to trickle a tiny yellow stream of their share down to the rest of us. Morally troubled by abortion but not willing to trample over any law of the land to make myself feel better. Nafta, Gatt, and all other trade policies dictated by General Motors lobbyists suck. Sending poor and middle class kids to die in wars of choice is idiotic and evil. Party loyalty wins political fights, as Rethug wins and Dem losses have proven beyond doubt.

[More Than A Feeling]

28. left leaning libertarian here

I understand that when you have markets, there are sometimes going to be winners and losers, because that is the nature of the competition which makes markets function. Of course, some people never get the chance to compete in those markets because of the circumstances to which they are born, or a bad choice they have made. I am all for giving those people their chance to compete fairly, or even a second chance, if necessary, if it can be done with out completely wrecking the market. I also think that government, being the regulating structure within which markets operate, is the proper vehicle for doing these things, in a lot of cases.

Socially speaking, I am just about as liberal as you can get. I am pro-gay marriage (marriage is a sacrament of churches, but surely once gays got their civil rights, they could find churches that would marry them, then noone's religion is infringed upon, and gays are still married) and pro environment (done in an economically sensible way. I am not a fan of command and control regulations (you must install this scrubber to abate that much pollution) because it is not efficient). I am pro choice (in the sense that I understand that outlawing abortion is not the most effective way of decreasing them).

But that is just me, proud member of Democratic Underground and the Democratic Party.

[Sugarbleus]

30. I'm for capitalism WITH A CONSCIENCE. Accountability is the key

No one involved in Corporate Capitalism believes in accountability. I believe in regulating EVERYTHING.

None give a damn about conscience, ethics, nor the overall health and well being of the entire population. It's an every man for himself attitude corrupting the market place.

I'm part Socialist, part Libertarian, part Liberal democrat. I am registered as a democrat, as I have been all of my voting life, but stuff changes so my philosophies have had to change too.

For me, life in America is like being stuck on a perpetual roller coaster ride. Politics and social attitudes change faster and more critically than the weather!! America, my home, is a fickle lover :crazy:

[durutti]

32. Probably some kind of socialist. n/t

[Q]

33. I'm an American who happens to be a Democrat...

What you seem to be looking for is a stereotype. There is no 'color' to reality. It's always in black and white.

[E_Smith]

35. no not at all

I'm not looking for a stereotype, in fact I don't know enough about the different labels to associate a stereotype to them. I'm simply trying to gauge the political spectrum to see where different points of view are coming from. And yes I agree reality is reality, but how reality is presented and with what facts is often determined by the person's political view. No one is purely objective, and many people are looking to reinforce or promote their ideology and therefore present biased arguments.

[Cats Against Frist]

34. Libertarian Socialist

in theory.

Democrat
in voting practice.

Libertarian socialist, who is also a moderate libertarian, and advocates for different kinds of libertarianism, including the whackjob anarchocapitalists and "ancient ways" stateless social fascists because I'm like a LIBERTARIAN and not a pretend dogmatic libertarian, who wants liberty but only my way. I am a federalist and a de-centralizationist

in actual pragmatic practice


Kind of confusing, but I think it's a pretty realistic position, classically liberal, BUT with a non-coersed socialist federalist, pro-cooperative, pro-commune, pro-syndicalism option.

[El Fuego]

36. I think the right is so FAR RIGHT that the center is now left.

I vary by issue. Sometimes I'm very liberal, sometimes I am moderate.

After reading your post, I'm realizing that I am turning into an ANARCHIST.

[ThorsHammer]

37. Registered Republican; voted for Bush/Cheney........................

in 2000. I did NOT vote for them in 2004. In 2000, I actually believed all the talk about how he'd run as a moderate, stay away from nation building, build bipartisanship, etc. 9/11 gave him a mulligan, as the whole country united for a while, but he instead escalated things rather than working as a moderate. I'd probably be considered conservative on DU, and liberal on another board. I consider myself open-minded and moderate on the whole.

[E_Smith]

38. not probably, definitely

if you voted Bush/Cheney in '00 you are as far right as you can be here probably without getting your posts deleted!! haha.

[jswordy]

39. Won't speak for other members, but I am...

a staunch fiscal conservative and social progressive.

I believe carrying a heavy debt load is no good for individuals, nor for the country. I believe that the leverage provided by debt is useful at times, but only in proportion to the ability to repay.

On the other hand, I believe that there is a wide range of individual behavior that is not nor should be criminal, and that the liberties framed in the Constitution were intended to allow a wide latitude for those.

I would much rather the government turn its magnifying glass away from our private lives and toward our national debt.

I believe there is a direct role of government in the lives of citizens, and in its influence on the cycles of capitalism -- and that this role exists whether one wishes to acknowledge it or not.

In a computer test of how much my views match President Bush, I returned a ZERO match.