What international parties do you support on the other side of the spectrum?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Well, the US Democratic Party is centrist...

Otherwise, well, from what I know of Peru I'd have supported Toledo in this year's elections. In Italy I might support IdV, which isn't ideologically left-wing. In Russia I'd support whatever party opposes Putin, right or left. There are probably a few others, too.

[Antonio the Sixth]

In Russia I'd support whatever party opposes Putin, right or left.

The Communists?  They're the largest non-Putin party.

The only reason the communists are so strong is that they are a joke opposition and therefore are tolerated.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The FDP is to the right of the CDU these days anyway...

The FDP is very socially liberal and that is more important to me than anything else. It isn't as if they would cut everything like Republicans are trying to. I can't say how I'd truly feel unless I lived in Germany I suppose.

Today's FDP is basically a bunch of demented neoliberal hacks. Saying they're better than Republicans isn't really saying much.

[Antonio the Sixth]

When I do, it's only because the party on "my" side of the spectrum is so morally bankrupt and corrupt that it is indefensible.  (New Democracy in Greece, for example.)

If it were broadened to include parties with views diametrically opposed to mine but generally on the same "side", I'm sure there's plenty.  Lega Nord jumps to mind.

Let me understand, did you say you would support the Lega ?

[Antonio the Sixth]

When I do, it's only because the party on "my" side of the spectrum is so morally bankrupt and corrupt that it is indefensible.  (New Democracy in Greece, for example.)

If it were broadened to include parties with views diametrically opposed to mine but generally on the same "side", I'm sure there's plenty.  Lega Nord jumps to mind.

Let me understand, did you say you would support the Lega ?

That's what he's probably saying. I think he has made some Pro Lega Nord comments in one of the Italian election threads. Looking at his Political Matrix scores, it's probably because of LN's stance on economic issues and federalism.

In this case... EPIC FAIL

[Antonio the Sixth]

You guys really need to know Lega Nord better. If reading wikipedia's article doesn't make you vomit, it means that article isn't accurate.

[Antonio the Sixth]

You guys really need to know Lega Nord better. If reading wikipedia's article doesn't make you vomit, it means that article isn't accurate.

I don't think people that aren't Italian or follow Italian politics can really understand it. I mean, I'm obviously for federalism but Lega Nord's version of federalism is different. I can understand people on the Right thinking that they like Lega Nord's economic stances but you dig deeper than just a Wikipedia page and find out that their policy is basically, "We hate the south. They're animals. They're North Africans. Cut them off entirely."

Yeah, definitely. These guys will make the nuttiest of all teabaggers look perfectly sane.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Oh yeah, sure : mafia, corruption, tax evasion are so great things...

[Antonio the Sixth]

You endorsed Lieberman ? ROFL

[Antonio the Sixth]

Oh yeah, sure : mafia, corruption, tax evasion are so great things...

They're not, but neither is police brutality, punitive taxation schedules (and enforcement), and...corruption.

That's why I'm a libertarian, it takes away the power from powerful people.  Government is always a tool for some power group, be it corporations, labor, or some other agglomeration.  With Obama, it's big labor and big business.  With Bush, it was big business and socially conservative organizations.  And so on.

When the State is too weak, it always serves coalitions of interests, which more often than not are also involved in criminal activites. Just have a look at Southern Italy and you'll realize that.