Farmer Labor and Freedom Party members only

[Frodo]

Hey guys, I'm changing parties

Ben Meyers
Populist Party
Florida

Don't worry Keystone Phil, you still have my support

Our chief populist party here is the Freedom Party.  I highly recomend the party.

there are actually two populist parties -the Freedom Party and the Farmer-Labor Party.  the only noticeable difference i see between the two is that the former seems more conservative (socially) than the latter.   

Actually there is a very large difference between the two. The Freedom Party is, at heart, a centrist party. Economically it is slightly centre-left while socially its centre-right to right. The Farmer-Labor party is mostly interested with economic issues. It's far more to the left economically while staying moderate on socially issues, although this varies greatly. Basically the Farmer-Labor party can be seen as a Socialist party while the Freedom Party is more of a Christian Democratic party out of the European mold.

Acctually, though our gneral outlook and our ideals are similar, the Freedom and Farmer-Labor Parties do have some considerable policy differences.  While the Freedom Party is cautious about mega-corperations, our attitude is generally pro-business, but not anti-labor, in that we want to work to protect workers, while not damaging business or the economy.  We recongnize that captialism comes with casulties, but see our primary responsabily to be strong support of programs that improve education and living conditions, and also expand oppertunity for the lower-classes and marginalized, all while preserving the Free Market.  We seek to raise all people up to a higher standard.  The Farmer-Labor Party is a party that is more interested in "leveling the playing field" with restrictions on business, the economiy and the free market.

____________________________________________________

there are policy differences between the two parties to be sure, as Senators Colin Wixted and Supersoulty have elucidated already, but, recognizing that the views of the leadership may not necessarilly always reflect those who follow them, i want to have individual members -the 'grunts', so to speak- voice their opinions about this prospect of an alliance based on left-leaning economics and social moderation.


and for the record -as a member of the Farmer-Labor Party-, i approve of the concept of a merger, though i recognize that the devil can be in the details. 

[Kodratos]

I would support it in theory, because I think there should be fewer parties.

[Sam Spade]

As an outside observer, parties in Atlasia tend change and move quickly over time.

My own personal opinion would be to let some external events cause it to happen, though a sort of shared agreement between the two parties might be the best way to open up terms between the two.

Think about it:  The same thing could certainly happen between the Union and Libertarian party eventually also on the other side of the spectrum.

Just a little conjecture here.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

strongly opposed. the Freedom Party's social conservatism does not fit with me or many other members. The whole point of the FL party is to have an economically leftist/socially neutral party, which fits perfectly for both economically and socially leftist members like me. Plus I strongly dislike the Freedom party's neo-con foreign policy slants. The bottom line is: Can you imagine me in the same party as Supersoulty and John Ford?

[Ebowed]

I voted disapprove, but I'm not 100% sure.

[Frodo]

I voted disapprove, but I'm not 100% sure.

why?  BRTD i could understand since he is an uber liberal, but of all the members of the Farmer-Labor Party, i thought you seemed the most receptive to the idea of a merger, given your relative social conservatism and economic moderation.   

[Ebowed]

I voted disapprove, but I'm not 100% sure.

why?  of all the members of the Farmer-Labor Party, i thought you seemed the most receptive to the idea of a merger, given your relative social conservatism and economic moderation.   

I like the FL party because it basically leaves most social issues completely alone, and leaves it up to each individual member.  I may have populist leanings but I am not a total social conservative.  This misconception is likely due to my stance on abortion, and even I used to think I was a social conservative in the past.  But this is not the case and I would rather be part of a party that is economically left but leaves social issues up to the members, rather than a self-described populist party.

[King]

If FLP and F were to merge, that party would have well over 30 members (twice as much as the next party).  I don't want to return to the days of a dominant political party like the AFDNC.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

by the way, note the political compass chart. Quite a disparity:

[The Dowager Mod]

Dissaprove

[Frodo]

by the way, note the political compass chart. Quite a disparity:

i wouldn't put too much emphasis on that chart if i were you.  people's scores change quickly and wildly on a faulty Political Compass quiz that tends to ask the most odd questions that seem to have nothing to do whatsoever with politics. 

in case you haven't noticed, my own scores have fluctuated quite a bit since i first took the political compass quiz back in February, when i scored as a solid liberal, than as a moderate liberal, and now as a populist liberal. my position on that chart (as represented by my assigned number '27' doesn't reflect the latest score i received.  i am sure the same can be said for others on this forum.  that chart therefore proves next to nothing since it is easily and often outdated almost as soon as it is updated.     

[The Dowager Mod]

If i wanted to be in the freedom party i would have joined it.

[Frodo]

all right, i'm breaking this topic down to more digestible chunks (i think):

Freedom Party members: how do you feel about a Populist Alliance that did not take any official position on hot-button social issues like abortion or gay marriage, and instead lets its members decide on their own how they would approach such issues?   

[Ebowed]

BRTD i could understand since he is an uber liberal, but of all the members of the Farmer-Labor Party, i thought you seemed the most receptive to the idea of a merger, given your relative social conservatism and economic moderation.   

By the way I wouldn't necessarily say BRTD is "uber liberal."

[The Duke]

BRTD is not as good an indicator of FL ideology as, say, Al.  Don't use BRTD as a reference point for the FL.

I would oppose the merger, unless the Farmer-Labor members would accept, without question, our foreign policy platform.  There is no reason to have a merger if we'd have to give up on this area of critical importance to the founding of the Party itself.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

At the FLP conferance (which will begin on wednesday and finish on... oh... let's say sunday) there will be a vote on a possible merger and also a vote on a formal alliance of some kind.

[Frodo]

I would oppose the merger, unless the Farmer-Labor members would accept, without question, our foreign policy platform.  There is no reason to have a merger if we'd have to give up on this area of critical importance to the founding of the Party itself.

we will consider this if you, in turn, accept our precondition of having the proposed Populist Alliance not have any official position on social hot-button issues like abortion and gay marriage, among others, and instead let each potential member approach such issues on their own -in essence, it should be neutral on such issues.  that is a matter of critical importance to the Farmer-Labor Party.  if you're willing to accept it -without question- we will in turn consider your foreign policy prescriptions.   

[minionofmidas]

I would obviously leave the party immediately.

[Peter]

I've got to say that the concept of having Supersoulty and Nym in the same party after these two famously fought against each other in the first Presidential conest is somewhat bizarre. If it happened, I would expect to see either a breakaway party along the lines of the UL, or an influx of members to the ILP, not that I'm complaining about the latter possibility.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

by the way, note the political compass chart. Quite a disparity:

i wouldn't put too much emphasis on that chart if i were you.  people's scores change quickly and wildly on a faulty Political Compass quiz that tends to ask the most odd questions that seem to have nothing to do whatsoever with politics. 

in case you haven't noticed, my own scores have fluctuated quite a bit since i first took the political compass quiz back in February, when i scored as a solid liberal, than as a moderate liberal, and now as a populist liberal. my position on that chart (as represented by my assigned number '27' doesn't reflect the latest score i received.  i am sure the same can be said for others on this forum.  that chart therefore proves next to nothing since it is easily and often outdated almost as soon as it is updated.     

They may fluctuate, but how often will you find a case where there isn't a huge difference between the average member of both? There are obviously key differences between the two parties, as proven by the

I'll echo Texasgurl's comment. Setting up a party containing me, Dean, her, josh22, supersoulty, and Ford doesn't make much sense since we don't even agree economically (and the Freedom party is much further right on econmics than us).

Peter is also right, if this were to go through, I'm off to the ILP, although these poll results don't worry me.

[Sam Spade]

I've got to say that the concept of having Supersoulty and Nym in the same party after these two famously fought against each other in the first Presidential conest is somewhat bizarre. If it happened, I would expect to see either a breakaway party along the lines of the UL, or an influx of members to the ILP, not that I'm complaining about the latter possibility.

This is a very reasonable hypothesis.

[12th Doctor]

I know I am not a "grunt" but as I have noted, while the two parties share many common goals, we differ somewhat on both our fundamental values.


Economically, the Freedom Party generally seeks to create economic growth through moderate tax cuts for all groups (I have acctually proposed eliminating all income tax for people making under $35,000 per year, but this is not the official stance of the party), freer trade (with free countries), technological development and loosen some regulations on business.  This higher growth will create more tax revenue, which can then be used on social programs designed to help lift the poor out of poverty (such as the ill-fated Unwed Mothers Protection Bill, education and targeted development programs).

The Farmer-Labor Party is bascially socialist in their economic view (and I am not using that a smear term, just a fact).  They seek approuches that are anti-cooperations and attempt to "level the playing field" through regulation.

On other issues, the FLP doesn't really take solid stands.  However, judging from their membership, it would not be a great leap to say that they do not agree with us on foriegn policy issues (esspecially since Free Trade is a major part of our FP platform).

On social issues, I usually agree with Al, but I don't nessesarly represent the pole of the Freedom Party, just as Al doesn't nessesarly represent the pole of the FLP.

[12th Doctor]

Whiel I have expressed to members of the FLP that I think that I would be the best chioce to represent thier views in the White House, there is a barrier of speration there.

[Ebowed]

On other issues, the FLP doesn't really take solid stands.

That's what I like about it.  We have economic stances and then everyone gets to figure social / foreign issues out for themselves.

[12th Doctor]

On other issues, the FLP doesn't really take solid stands.

That's what I like about it.  We have economic stances and then everyone gets to figure social / foreign issues out for themselves.

I wasn't knocking it, you ca like it if you want.  The FP preferes to take some basic stances on those issues.