My Political Compass
67The inspiration for this hub
- My Political Compass
In the Hub I Thought I was a Republican by Paul Edmondson, livelonger posted a link to this online test, which is a nice (richer) indication than just left or right. It only takes a couple of minutes and...
Here is a list of some famous people
I saw a few others doing this...
So I did too.
Economic Left/Right: -2.62; Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.92
I'm apparently leftish in fiscal areas, which is very odd since I am very economically conservative within reason (aka, globalisation sucks but it is ok if we're protected, etc.). I am environmentally liberal, which is no secret with me being a scientist, but I do feel that it's way overblown among celebrities and rich folk. I feel PETA is useless and even dangerous, mind you.
But I found this graph exciting because I'm not an extremist as I've been dubbed by many! I may be the only person who agreed that sex before marriage is morally wrong but it's ok for consenting adults, gay or not, to enter a relationship and not have the govt. intervene!
While I like the idea of total liberty, I also embrace the ideology that people shoul not be unemployed. I feel most importantly that jobs in America should promote American economics. Lately the unconstitutional bail-outs of large corporations shows the government's care more for business than citizenry.
That, friends, is a scary thing. Liberty is not best left in the hands of money-manipulating CEOs, but in the hands of grass-roots workers who choose for themselves how they care to spend their money!
CommentsLoading...
Let's put it this way, if you choose to not work then you cannot rely on the government to pick up your arse in return. 'Should' designates the ideal that if you opt to be a working individual then you have every opportunity available to you to do so in a field that you are an expert in.
Okay. But many people opt out of working and don't expect to be supported by the government, Is there a problem with that? By the same token, nobody can be forced to provide another person with an ideal job opportunity. You can be an expert in something really difficult and challenging, and there just might not be a market for it.
What about a country of independent farmers and shop keepers who don't expect anyone to either employ them or work for them? Isn't that an ideal situation?
I didn't say employment was for a corporation, so whatever. It's a moot point to argue independent farmers because in turn they supply the nation with food...or in our case, exports. Working is working, some will do it and some won't, but there ought not to be compensation for those who choose not to. If you don't work don't expect to be paid.
T.Keeley, who needs to be paid if he can grow his own food?
Look, commerce is great, as long as it's optional. But the moment people think their very existence depends on doing work that someone else thinks is valuable enough to pay for, then people start doing things just to please others, instead of themselves.
I didn't say employment was for a corporation, either. So "whatever" right back at you. Whatever whatever means.
Whether we like it or not, we're in a globalised world. As much as I disdain that fact, it is what it is. Amish people will find it harder and harder to coexist in materialistic America. It's sad, yes, considering my family roots are a mix of coal mining and farming, but the reality sinks in as the coming decade paves new ways to amuse ourselves to death.
I wasn't trying to sound flippant with the word "whatever", so my apologies. A better word missed my fingers as I typed.
Commerce sadly is becoming less and less optional as our nation displaces work to China and Indonesia...albeit strange that we're moving in that direction, the market will literally own our very government if we're to keep moving this way...not that it already doesn't. I'm a reluctant American at best, but I agree with you don't get me wrong.
even if it is optional, everyone should work if able. That doesn't mean you need to be paid, but you need to beneift whatever society you're a member of of, even the amish agree on that. Ethic is something of a lost art, and the hardest workers sadly seemed to have died with my grandfather. I will openly admit I am a nothing compared to him.
T. Keeley, I think it's easy to work hard at something you love. If it's your own business, your own farm, your own child that you're raising, then working hard comes naturally to all of us. The less of a stake you feel you have in an undertaking, the more you will slack off. People who get paid by the hour feel less of a need to accomplish something in an hour, than those who get paid by the product. But those who are making the product for themselves have the biggest stake of all. The decline in the work ethic is directly related to the fact that so few workers feel they have a direct stake in the outcome.
Don't I know. I did commission only sales for insurance companies for about a year and am working as a CSA at Sears Auto, another commission job. I wish more jobs were set up that way.
An interesting hub. As for employment, you both have valid points. I am still not sure what is meant by "people should not be unemployed." I have been largely unemployed for the past five years. Some of that time, I have been able to receive unemployment benefits, but I don't think it is the job of government to provide a job for me or insist on anyone else providing a job for me. In theory, the unemployment benefits are an insurance program, not a government handout, although in reality, the insurance premiums, which are forced on employers, do not cover the cost of the program, so government does fund a big part of it.
There are extreme situations at times (Great Depression) when the market for labor does not work properly, but most of the time (the last 60 years or more in the US), a free market economy will do well at keeping those who want to work (for themselves or someone else) employed. I have at times taken positions which pay well below my profession.
As for working for someone else "by the hour" causing a person to have less motivation to do their best, that is sometimes true, but doesn't need to be. I have done assembly work in factories and some other "menial" tasks, but have always chosen to do my best and take pride in my work. Most people don't just want a paycheck, they want to feel productive, to have a sense of accomplishment. I have been self employed and worked on commission as well as worked in hourly or salaried positions. I have nearly always found that I could have that sense of accomplishment, although there have been times when I felt frustrated and unproductive.
Of course it is best for both worker and employer if the worker enjoys the job. I don't know what percentage of folks do enjoy their work, but there are lots of school secretaries, bus drivers, warehouse workers, factory workers, sales people, etc. who do. Sometimes it may not be just the work, but the surroundings and the atmosphere that make the job enjoyable (or not). Some like work with mental challenges, some like physical activity, and some (especially those commissioned salesmen) just love to close the deal and count their earnings.
There will always be some who cannot work and our society should have a way to help provide for them (though family, if available should be primarily responsible). For those who choose not to work, it should still be up to them to find a way to survive, not to rely on government.
Finally, when we look at the numbers, we should not expect the unemployment rate to drop much below 5%. The natural dynamics of the market, with businesses closing, new businesses forming, people moving, etc. means that there will always be some people looking for work.
This is AWESOME! But I can't read the graph, which I would like to see. Can you make it larger?
I tried...the best thing I can recommend is hit the site yourself and check out your score. The graph shows up by default afterward. It really is a fun thing to try, and I consistently have been categorised as a libertarian on them, so it's pretty accurate.
Aya Katz Level 4 Commenter 3 years ago
T. Keeley, what do you mean when you say "I also embrace the ideology that people should not be unemployed"? Do you believe in forcing people to work for other people when they don't want to? Or do you believe in forcing people to employ other people when they don't want to? Or do you mean both?
I thought the libertarian credo with regard to employment is that everybody has a choice.