Leftist/socialist posters - Your positions & ideology

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Talk about your political framework. So, you're a leftist. Are you a "liberal"? "Progressive"? "Social democrat"? "Democratic socialist"? "(Actual) socialist"? Some form of communist? What defines your belief system and how far left do your beliefs go?

I'm a democratic socialist, and am supportive of some forms of democratic communism. Democracy is however inherent to socialism, and that's why i'm unsupportive of undemocratic "socialist" governments. In reality, those governments aren't socialist and income inequality is high in those countries, with few exceptions. Europe is democratic, not technically socialist but has low income inequality compared to other regions, so i'm pretty happy where I live in and i'm most supportive of European socialist parties. My beliefs go pretty far, but i'm moderating my views more recently, and I would say i'm to the right of PVDA, especially on social issues.

Talk about women's rights, minority rights, gay rights and trans rights. Are you a feminist? What are your thoughts on Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement? Do you support affirmative action? Is the gender pay gap a real problem? Do you have any thoughts on intersectionality? Are all white people subconsciously culturally racist? Can oppressed people without power be considered racist? Is cultural appropriation a bad thing and/or a problem?

I'm supportive of those rights where it's relevant. There has been a debate about transforming Black Pete to a less racist version or changing the name of Christmas Market to Winter market, but i oppose those, because these don't affect lives and are not racist at all. We should aim to fight racism where it matters like racist police violence in the USA or occassionally in Europe. That's racism that affects lives. Bullying, name calling and all should not be accepted, but people entering our countries should adapt to our traditions that may have a racist origin, but are not racist anymore. If they don't like it, they could always return to their country of origin.

The gender gap is an issue, and females and males should be paid equally to what they earn, but regardless we should focus on the issues that do matter and affect lives, and not change every little thing that's deemed to be racist or sexist, because it doesn't help the cause. The people revolt against it, and it's not helpful or it doesn't change lives. Don't understand me wrong, i'm certainly anti-racist and anti-sexist, but fight the issues where it matters.

I'm pro-LGBTQ rights. Period. I'm anti-affirmative action as I believe the best person that fits a position should be appointed, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. If that does happen to be a 90% white male club, so be it. If that happens to be a very diverse coalition, so be it. But merit should be the main factor in appointing people, not racial / sex quota.


Talk about "social justice warriors (SJWs)", safe spaces and trigger warnings. Are these things okay or are they too authoritarian? How much diversity and inclusion should be required as opposed to encouraged (EDIT - equality of opportunity VS equality of outcome)? If (for example) gay latinos are allowed a safe space, is it only fair that straight caucasians are provided one too? Should white people feel guilty about their privilege?

I'm not educated on the issue, but i'm generally against it. We should all get along in the society regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation. Forming own clubs of your origin, gender, race of sexual orientation isn't making progress at all, but is by definition racist or discrimination as well. We get along if we are more mixed, not if we create bubbles of certain groups, because it doesn't allow integration for those people.

Talk about immigration, both legal and illegal. Is too much immigration disruptive to our cultural values? Should permanent residency be on the table for anybody who lives here illegally? What about DREAMers and children born here who's parents had come here illegally (which is currently legal)? What should the policies be on deportation and detention centers? How negatively would America be affected by "open borders" soft laws and loose enforcement? Should illegal immigrants receive medical care if we adopt single payer and they aren't paying in? How do we "solve" illegal immigration long-term?

Yes, too much immigration is disruptive of cultural values. We can't eradicate poverty by importing poverty. We should first make sure all our citizens are fully integrated and that's why i want to tighten immigration laws. Immigration is not harmful, but uncontrolled immigration can lead to instability. We should focus on re-integrating some of refugees to their country of origin, and focus on getting those places safe back again.

Permanent residency should always be an option however, esp. if children are born here and go to school / work, and if parents found work and if people pay their taxes. Deportation should happen in a humane way. People should always receive medical care if needed, regardless of their situation (illegal or not, refugee or not, inhabitant or not, foreigner or not). All healthcare should be subsidized by the state, including for people who don't live here.

Talk about America's role in the world and what it's goals should be. Should we be using the military to punish naughty governments? Should we leave the UN or work closer with them? Is our relationship with Saudi Arabia appropriate with all the unethical things they do? Is America too friendly with Israel to the point that they aliemate Palestine? Is it possuble to be against Netanyahu's Israel occupying Palestinian land without being anti-semetic? How do you feel about the BDS movement? How do you feel about free trade agreements?

We should first try to consider diplomatic options. If those don't work, i believe in case of genocide an invasion is allowed (Syria-ISIS, Israel-Palestine, Turkey-Kurdistan). Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is not appropriate and in fact hypocrite as we oppose similar governments elsewhere, but we hold relations because of economic reasons. Saudi Arabia should be condemned as a crime nation. America is too friendly for Israel i believe. It's possible to be against Netanyahu's Israel without being anti-semitic. It's called being humanist. I don't know what the BDS movement is. I'm generally against free trade outside Europe because other countries held different labor, environmental standards that harm our interests, and if countries don't follow the same ethic, they should pay a prize for trading with our nations. So i'm in general protectionist to keep our jobs safe, and to make sure companies don't move elsewhere because environmental and labor regulations elsewhere are looser.


Talk about climate change and the future. What level of urgency is needed and what type of plan? Do you like the idea of a Green New Deal? Would the infrastructure part of the plan be a big boost the economy? How do you feel about nuclear energy? Do you support carbon taxes and/or cap and trade systems? Should we be willing to let the economy suffer to reduce emissions?

Climate change is high priority, if not the highest priority of all. We should negotiate with every country on the world, including crime nations to form a climate agreement, and there should be strict sanctions for countries that don't follow those strict regulations and don't meet their goals. We need a high level of urgency and i'm a proponent of a Green New Deal, even if expensive. I support expanding our infrastructure where needed however, and especially investing in green infrastructure. Bridge disasters like Genua have painfully showed us that a bad state of infrastructure can cause lives. I'm supportive of nuclear energy as a short term solution to stop climate change. I support a progressive carbon tax. The more carbon you emit, the more you get taxed. I believe we need to limit production and consumption and that we should adapt the economy in an economy that serves us, instead of we serving the economy. The planet is our home, and we need to treat our home with respect. The economy will suffer if climate change is left untreated and that's why we need to focus on green infrastructure, green technology, green jobs and green energies.

Talk about health care and what it means to you. Is it a luxury or a human right? Do you believe in single payer? Should hospitals be privatized or public facilities? Should dental and ocular health be covered under single payer? Does having a private option (for basic care) work or ruin everything? Are "death panels" and long wait times a real issue or mostly right wing talking pointz? Do we need more government control over pharmaceutical costs?

Healthcare is a human right and should be fully subsidized by the government. I believe in single payer and in public facilities. Dental and ocular health facilities should be covered under single payer, as well as abortion clinics and psychiatric hospitals. A private option doesn't work. Long wait times are a real issue, that's why we need to focus on expanding those facilities and hiring more health workers. I believe Cuba (however not a democracy) is a perfect example of how health workers should be put to work. We need more government control over pharmaceutical costs, and i believe those should be fully subsidized by the state as well. Healthcare is important, and investing in healthcare saves lives, and make people able to contribute for a longer time to the economy.


Talk about worker's rights in America, including unions and minimum wage. Do unions in America need to focus on their members more instead of benefitting themselves? Are you pro-union? What perks would unions offer instead if single payer is implimented? How high should the minimum wage be? Should all full time workers be able to afford shelter and food? Does a high minimum wage lead to businesses leaving a country and damaging the economy?

We need more labor unions. We should implement a higher minimum wage, adjusted to inflation but however adapted to the circumstances where some people live in (rural vs suburban vs cities). Unions should obviously focus on their members, and should be non profit organizations. The right of a home and the right to food are fundamental human rights that everyone should be able to afford, including those who don't work. Higher minimum wages don't cause businesses to leave a country and damaging the country, if we adjust that in our trade deals.



Talk about the role of the government in providing certain things for all of it's citizens. We have roads, police, fire departments and an army, but what else should be provided? Is it moral and practical for the multi-millionaires to pay extra to ensure certain things for everyone else? Will that ruin the economy as postulated in the theory of "trickle down economics"? If taxes are raised on corporations, will they leave and damage the economy?

Healthcare, food, energy, electricity and water are all things that should be provided to all of cour citizens. It is ethical for those who can contribute more to pay extra for certain things for everyone else. If we are more strict on who we trade with, businesses and rich men won't leave. We should also fight economic fraud at a higher rate.


Talk about who you think holds the power in America. Is it the legislators? The Illuminati or some secret government (jews, extraterrestrials, the ultra-rich)?  The corporations and the oligarchs? Do politicians really represent their voters or do the donors and lobbyists call the shots in Washington and tell Pelosi and McConnell what they can and cannot do? Is government corruption fixable without a massive overhaul of the law and the establishment?

I don't believe in conspiracy theories, but donors and lobbyists hurt our interests, and that's why we need to oppose both Democrats and Republicans as they're corrupt and a bunch of elitists who work for theirselves and their donors and multinationals. Our interests are stake, and that's we need more folks to turn out at the polls and on the streets, and why we need to elevate third parties to have a bigger chance of success.


Talk about government control of our speech and bodies. Are you pro-choice or pro-life? Do you support assisted suicide? How strongly do you support free speech and where do you draw the line? What are your thoughts on making it illegal (discrimination) to use a trans person's wrong pronouns?  What are your thoughts on letting fascists speak at college campuses, providing they do not incite or promote violence? Do you think the Social Justice Warrior and Cancel Culture movements are at times too authoritarian by advocating censorship, or do you agree with the censorship?

I'm pro-choice, and abortion clinics should be subsidized by the government. I support assisted suicide as the right to die is a fundamental right. I support free speech, including racist speeches. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that's a fundamental right, otherwise we live in a dictatorship. As long, violence is not promoted, i don't care about fascists speaking at college campuses, providing there is room for debate and for fact-checking. I disagree with the censorship of all groups.


Talk about your views on drug laws, gun laws, prostitution and the prison system. Should marijuana be decriminalized (or legalized)? Should all drugs or most be legalized or decriminalized? Are non-violent drug sentences too harsh in America? Should a citizen be allosed to own a functional army tank or nuclear warhead? Do you think there is a serious problem with the private prison industry lobbying Washington to keep prisoners flowing in and providing profits? Should a prison provide mostly punishment or mostly rehabilitation?

The prison system is overcrowded, and should be more humane. They're still people. Their sanction is their freedom taken away. We should still make sure that life in prison is good, and we shouldn't starve them to death or make those prisons anarchist like in Latin America. We should work on a day and night structure for prisoners, that they still contribute to the economy in their prisons, work on psychological and psychiatric healthcare of prisoners and making sure life is acceptable in prisons. Their sanction is as i said their freedom taken away. All drugs should be decriminalized, marijuana should be legalized. Citizens should not be allowed to own an army tank, nuclear head, or weapons of destruction, but i'm not opposed to citizens owning a hand gun. Prisons should be non-profit organizations.