What direction are your political views?

[thegreenyogi]

Left, Right or center? And why?

Left

Right

Center

[sawno]

I actually did a political compass test super recently if you are curious.

I have always landed in that green square no matter when I took it, the test never really changed much and my core values have remained consistent.

So what am I?
I am a nationalist instead of a globalist (Countries stick within their own borders and don't meddle with other countries affairs, becoming one unified global society is inherently undesirable).

I am a capitalist instead of a communist. I love the concept of ownership and being able to build up wealth. Sure, a consequence is that certain money is accumulating at the top which we will need to have some counter against, but its better than a system where wealth building is prevented to begin with. Because then all the wealth is still at the top except nobody else can build wealth.

I am a liberal instead of an authoritarian (Most people forgot what liberal means, but it means you care about individual freedom and liberty while still believing there should be a government to protect those liberties from things like big corporations and outside threats).

Progressive vs Conservative I am a progressive, I want actual progress in society and for things to get better. I don't just want to perpetually keep things as is. But the direction I want to progress to is the opposite of where we are going, so I side with the conservatives in the push back against what is happening. Once that is achieved though I will continue pushing for my values and I expect them to turn against me at that point if they merely wish to preserve the old like a true conservative.

I am a real democrat, I believe in very direct democracy and there will be posts of mine where i explain in detail how I see that happen. It basically replicates how parliament works on a large scale in society. We need this large decision making scale so that its much harder to corrupt, currently the decision making body is to small so you get a lot of corruption and it doesn't serve the people. But to have an effective democracy you can't make the scale to big either because then the votes dilute to much. Hence nationalist.

I am a populist instead of a corporatist. This one is obvious because populism means that politicians execute the will of the people. For me the people should be above the corporations not the other way round.

With all of the above where does that align me closest in US politics? The MAGA movement, they actually care about liberty, nationalism. They aren't as aligned on direct democracy though but they tend to be very libertarian without being to extreme on that. Unfortunately Trump seems to have abandoned his base quite a lot on these things. I hope they will stick true to their original form though in the next elections and elect someone more populist than Trump.

[Lliam]

I reject labels because people make assumptions about your views when they hear a label. You get pigeon-holed. I don't fit into a nice neat box.

I am not loyal to a political party and I don't care about consensus.

Liberals think I am conservative and conservatives think I am liberal.

I despise the current Democratic party more than the Republican party, which I also don't like.

I don't consume corporate media which is biased in favor of government policy and presents one-sided information. Instead of giving you information which which to develop informed opinions, it tells you what to think in an authoritative manner, as if you are too dumb to handle information.

I develop opinions on individual issues based on what I know so far. I can modify or change my opinions as I learn more.

In general, I have what I call 1960s-'70s liberal values that value peace, love, tolerance, open-mindedness, fairness and justice, liberty and freedom. I distrust authority, hate authoritarianism, and oppose imperialism, aggression against other countries and war.

In tests, I am identified in the left-libertarian (libertarian socialist) sector.

[sawno]

Unsurprising we get similar outcomes Liam. I think on most things we have similar views. Its just that the liberals of your time tend to be called conservatives now, but if people take a honest look you see that people have forgotten what liberal means and the conservatives are actually trying to conserve liberty.

[Lliam]

@sawno. Right on, bro.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

Im a centrist who actually really likes things and hates things from both the left and the right. Im a huge supporter of LGBT and women's rights but also want a large military presence and to limit some of the social programs that are being abused. I want to extremely fund education in this country, I think guns should be regulated like it says in the constitution but I support people's rights to have them. Im just sort of a mixed bag.

[Jersey2]

Education is being funded well. The issues are corruption, a huge Administration staff sucking the money up and teaching methods that have not gotten better for 100 years.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

It really isn't. They keep reducing the amount going to spending and using it on wars. Current administration even wants to do away with the department of education completely. Not sure what world you live in where you think education is well funded. Teachers pay is abysmal and only schools who do well on state tests get funded well. Its a messed up system currently

[Jersey2]

The IS spends the most globally per pupil. Search for info on where the money added of the past decades has gone. It will reveal that it is Administrators. Not teaching, not things that directly help students.

From Ai:

US public schools average ~$17,000+ per pupil (historic highs, top globally), with real spending up ~30-40% long-term. Yet ~40%+ of budgets go to non-instruction (admin, support staff, benefits, operations). Non-teaching staff grew far faster than teachers/students. Outcomes (NAEP/PISA) stagnated relative to dollars.

Core issue: Money increasingly diverted from classrooms to bureaucracy and overhead, not raw underfunding.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Jersey2]

The US* spends

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

The US doesn't spend that money equally as your AI response shows. It still doesn't mean it's getting enough, roughly 2% of the goverment gdp currently. Remove all this standardized testing that determines who gets what and help those underprivileged schools suffering.

[Jersey2]

NYC is going to spend over $40,000 a student with abysmal results. My kids went to a Top 1% High School. That isn’t top 1% in income. They actually spent less than the nearby city which had a 50% drop out rate and very low scores for reading and math. The city I am referring to spend an eve $10,000 more per student. The school system my kids went to spend less than the national average by thousands of dollars.

It is hard to understand but that is what the results are for these two school systems that share a county border. My kids all went on to get their Masters Degrees in STEM.

[Jersey2]

An even $10,000*

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

As you said, that money is going to administration and not the teachers. When you refuse to pay a living salary to teachers you'll end up with only the bottom of the barrel in a lot of places. We need more funding and for it be used correctly to pay teachers, not administration

[Jersey2]

I agree. Cut Administrators back to the amount we had 30 years ago and spend the money on teachers.

[TonyMetal___86]

@Ez-Bri-Z_v2 it's normal that you support the LGBT community cause you're one of them but supporting women's rights for what?

I believe that women now have excessive rights, especially in some European countries...

If i were in position, i'd give men more rights, in a way to make men and women somewhat equal, yet still admit that a man is a man and a woman is a woman...

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

Give men more rights? Lol they love to say that women only have rights because they "gave" them to us. Men have way more rights than women. Here in the US women's right to choose their own health decisions was taken away completely on many state levels and protections stripped away on a national level.

This whole DEI purge that conservative men have been pushing for is to eliminate jobs for minorities and women. So in that aspect any woman or minority voting for it is a fool.

What supposed excessive rights do we have though? I will give you the floor to explain that to me.

[TonyMetal___86]

In the western courts and societies, women always gets the privilege in custody and alimony, plus she receives 50% and more of her husband's properties... etc

Women have shelters and are protect by the laws unlike men... etc

I have watched many social experiments done in public where it's obvious that the society always aims to protect a woman while everyone stands against the man...

Women are listened to and are taken seriously unlike men, even if a man cries, he gets shame for it, no matter what a man does, he's always wrong and criticized while women no matter what they do, they earn the sympathy and acknowledgement of the others... etc

The list is endless...

You are well aware that what i'm saying miss Bri are facts...

Let's not forget also that the community expects from a man a lot more from what they expect from a woman 🤷🏻‍♂️

[msc545]

@TonyMetal___86 well said, my friend.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

Alimony is awarded to the spouse who makes less. This works both ways. For example, Britney Spears had to pay alimony to her former husband. If you think women get it more often then treat women better in the workplace. Pay us equally and don't gatekeep us out of jobs we can do.

Custody I will give you but keep in mind that male judges are also making those decisions so again, look inward men. You are part of the problem too.

Men have shelters too here in the US. Can't speak for other countries.

Protecting women is again a chilvaric trait. It's not a "right" and therefore does not meet your initial claim.

Women are not listened to and are for more often dismissed. Why do you think rape convictions are do abysmal? Nobody believes women when we come forward. This goes for most things men do and goes unpunished from sexual harassment to abuse to simply just pointing out the fact that women have it just as hard, if not harder than men, without being dismissed as a feminist or being crazy.

And no, we dont expect more from men other than to treat us as equals. It's the golden rule. Do unto others...

[TonyMetal___86]

You said that i'm a part of the problem just because i'm a man? 😏

I'm not related to what other men does, i'm related to my own actions, right?

Are you related to what other women does?

When these feminazis shouts in the streets "death to men", "we don't need men" and all kinds of insults, are you related to them just because you're a female? I guess not...

I represent myself only!

You're trying to counter all the facts that i have mentioned with excuses, i'm not saying that what you said is wrong, they are true, but speaking in generally and in numbers, they rarely happens...

In the end, to me it's not a battle to show who is more oppressed and who has it harder in life, to me i believe that men and women were created to love, care, support each other because they complete each other, that's how i see things!

If a man and a woman came to me and i was the one to judge who's right or wrong, i'll search for who is really right and who is really wrong, it's not like i'll take a stand with a man just because he is a male like me if he isn't right... etc

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 thanks 😌

[msc545]

Here in California, where I live, alimony awards and child support awards are vigorously enforced against men, and they are not enforced against women at all. What that comes down to is that women can refuse to pay alimony and refuse to pay child support, and nothing much will happen to them. If men do the same thing, they will go to jail.

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 that's what must be fixed, the laws were created to help the oppressed and help humans to earn their rights...

When a law oppress someone, it isn't a fair law anymore and it isn't justice anymore!

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

No offense, but im aware of your bias in this area. I assure you that it goes both ways.

[David318578]

@Ez-Bri-Z_v2 im actually very similar with hating things on both sides. But just an fyi the constitution doesn't say to regulate guns. It said to regulate a milita, the modern day milita would be our National Guard.. which is regulated.
The constitution is pretty clear on restrictions for the government vs freedoms for the people, and guns fall into the freedoms for the people category.

[purplepoppy]

I'm on the left, I believe people should be treated fairly, given the same opportunities, and treated with respect. But I also believe that comes with a responsibility to behave and not take the piss.

[Iron_Man]

How can we get you on the right side?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@Iron_Man using how she defined left, to get her on the right side, you have to persuade her to believe less in fair treatment, less in equal opportunities, less in equal respect. Logically speaking

[Iron_Man]

@Maybe_Maybe_not she’ll have to move to America so I can showb her the ropes. She loves her job working with sheep. It’s gonna be hard to get her to come to America.

[Iron_Man]

Show

[purplepoppy]

Think I'll stay in safe sunny wales

[Iron_Man]

You don’t think USA is not safe. It’s as safe as you can get.

[Iron_Man]

I’ve never had any problems here

[Iron_Man]

And for your information, this is called the sunshine State Florida

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@Iron_Man I agree it's gonna be REALLY hard to convince her, but if you can do that, then I will have to rethink my speech analysis abilities lol

[Iron_Man]

@Maybe_Maybe_not she’s a very confusing person the way she behaves, but it’s gonna be tough, but is it worth it? And she’s very attached to her sheep job. She has a fear of Donald Trump. She thinks that everybody around here is a vigilante and they’re not.

[Iron_Man]

Hey Poppy, Jen told me that you blocked her. Was there particular reason why?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@Iron_Man Not confusing to me, I view her as extremely consistent instead, but there's a catch, you have to operate finely with dead pan, caustic, sarcastic and cynical humour. As long as you don't operate like that, you will find her confusing

[Iron_Man]

@Maybe_Maybe_not i’ve done well with her. That’s why I’ve been talking to her all this time.

[Zack-Bann]

Central and somewhat right leaning on a lot of topics
But do admit that the left have a few good ideas sprinkled in with all the social destruction that’s called socialism.


I simply don’t think I can afford to be a bleeding heart liberal in today’s world.


I already pay way too much taxes while working like an absolute dog.
I think i should pay less not more.
I don’t mind the taxes that help protect and ensure our survival but I do mind all the financial aid programs that just redistribute our hard earned money to people who did not earn a single dime of it.


Even when I myself was eligible for such aid I didn’t apply for it.
Because I would rather earn my own way instead of getting neutered by a handout


They say the most valuable thing to come out of a mine is the miner.


So long as we prevent people from going into the mine they will always sit on their asses with hands held out to eat the scraps they are given


It’s unfair to the workers and also unfair to those getting paid to be parasites.


A healthy society is a functioning society that has thriving industries
Such places also have reduced crime rates because no one has the time to partake in the degeneracy that creates criminals.


But I don’t think society should be rigid either.
Freedom of expression, sexual liberation, mental health, all these things are also important and beneficial.


It seems today no side is asking for the full package.
It’s always one or the other.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Do you feel represented by any political party, in your location?

[Sunrising]

My political views are the correct way.

My views are not to the left, to the right or centre of political views.

I want to live my life the best way I can, and I want the best politicians to look after my interests whatever their persuasion.

For example there is a right way and wrong way of doing everything, I want the best people to make the right decisions, not the best of the left or best of the right for whoever is in power.

At present we have a divided country, I want a united country.

[Sunrising]

You might say the system would not work, but the best people find a way, and they will make a compromise with each other to achieve the best results for the country.

[Levin]

Somewhat leftist/libertarian according to the the political compass test.

https://www.politicalcompass.org/yourpoliticalcompass_js?ec=-1.5&soc=-1.79

See when the girls hate me because they think I'm right wing. I'm actually a commie like them!

My views are less hard-headed and more, 'it depends on...'.

Ultimately I'm a libertarian on the social side so believe people should be able to have their own autonomy.

I don't really believe in a dichotomy between the state and private enterprise. Both are bad when they become too powerful and there should be a balance between them. In Europe I believe we have gone too far too the left though, and want the government to control every aspect of our lives.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Between left and far-left.

I want more taxes, more infrastructure, more schools, more hospitals, more social workers, more libraries, more unions, more courts.

And I know I won't have them.

But somebody told me that if I want a good paycheck, I have to ask for, reasonably, more than what is offered.

Maybe I forgot to look twice at the word reasonable though.

[molonski2]

I can't really answer the question , because


I'm right preference ( Australia ) but Centre with a right twig , predominantly business ease focused , but I never believe in " rusted on " as per USA politics , I think is every State were a potential Swing State you'd get a better federal outcome.

In Australia right now , it's wayyyyyy too far into the idiot left , so the system is not working , let's see.

[Lesbologist]

I'll put it like this... I say non-partisan when they ask me about political parties when I'm getting a driver's license. I don't like either party, I just lean with who's being more logical and less detrimental to myself at the time. But I have little to no loyalty to any of them.

[goaded]

Which party would you say is being "more logical and less detrimental to" yourself, right now?

[Anonymous]

I keep a left direction on my views.
It's just because most of the time right is inspired by faith. And faith has cause me metal harm, physical harm in my life.
I belong to a minority in my own country, where I have faced harrasment on being different and even thinking different.

Left ideology has some better views on some cases, trying to provide some protection against harrasment.

Funny thing religion teaches us to be kind, loving, and accepting. But now it's brewing war, destroying human rights and it keeps happening.
But in my country, religion itself has multiple different clans, and each clans has its own rules and untouchability is still practiced in my country.

[Jersey2]

I am on the Right, conservative. The logic makes perfect sense to me and I am a very logical person. Some on the Left seem to be there through desperation. Others because grandpappy was Democrat. Others yet, because they can’t think for themselves.

[RichardCranium6201]

D. None of the above.
Why because it's all there for us to believe we have a choice in voting. But we don't. We really honestly don't have any say in anything. The polls are for us. Not them. They already know. But to us, it gives us hope. Or a false hope. How ever u look at it.

[Surely]

I don’t believe in communism nor socialism. I am married to a woman that believes everything she hears on The View and CNN. With an extreme case of TDS. Even though I had to explain what those initials mean to her!
I believe that if Iran had nuclear weapons. They would use them. But I am pitying the Iranian and Cuban civilians for what they are being put through from Trump’s blockades.
No handouts and treat people fairly when they deserve it.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

When you say socialism, what country on earth, in 2026, could represent socialist policies, in your opinion?

[TonyMetal___86]

I don't have or follow any direction, i am what i am, i just support the people who seem to have a near or identical ideology as mine...

I hate no one and i respect everyone, i have my own way in life, actually in each party or each political wing, i find positive and negative things...

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Would you say that your ideology is not reflected in any left, center or right positions?

[TonyMetal___86]

@Maybe_Maybe_not more into the conservative part, the republicans part too...

[Still-alive]

Left and more specifically progressive. im a bernie bro. i want universal healthcare, free college and very sympathetic to universal basic income. i think its a huge travesty and crime we allow people in our society to become homeless so just having the basics as a cushion should be necessary. I also want to heavily tax the rich and think billionaires shouldn't exist so they don't become uber powerful like ours today eg: Elon, beezos, etc.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

... since your views scream far-left to me, how far from democrats your views actually are, you think ?

[Still-alive]

@Maybe_Maybe_not well i hate the dnc and think they are doing a shit job representing the people for starters. they just released their awful autopsy report of the 2024 eleciton. just sheer incompetence. I hate the aipac and more centrist dems like chuck schumer or even Hakeem Jeffries.

[Still-alive]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86l7YuVp_i8

this video pretty much covers my thoughts on the state of the current Democratic party

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Acronym attack, let me look up DNC, AIPAC lol

[Still-alive]

@Maybe_Maybe_not where are you from anyways? Europe? Canada? lol

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Okay DNC, check and AIPAC seems to be a fat one I never heard about lol

[Still-alive]

@Maybe_Maybe_not They're genocidal maniacs and have seem to have a ton of our politicians republican AND democrat by the balls.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Canada, nah, too cold. Antarctica? Much too cold.

I much prefer temperate climates, those where you're never too far from 🥐 and 🥖

[lilBigPotato]

By American standards probably communist...

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I kind of have the same "issue", the asker is Italian though

What would be a few beliefs you have, identified as left?

[lilBigPotato]

@Maybe_Maybe_not same affordable universal healthcare for everyone. Doesn't matter if you're in minimum wage or millionaire and of course it's not tied to your job. Affordable education for everyone. Proper regulation and taxation of companies, strict gun control, pro abortion, pro gay marriage, decent minimum wages and pensions, etc. Just to name some basic stuff that I see as normal but seem to freak out other people on here.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Okay, seems like the classic leftist I'm used to, indeed
@Still-alive I suppose you believe in similar policies?

[Still-alive]

Eh pretty much. Im also for gun control and think it should be heavily regulated. We can’t just ban guns in the US because there really are way more guns than people here. So its unrealistic to just ban it when criminals could still get them easily.

But i am in favor of heavy gun control laws and think you should have to pass strict tests in order to own one. Similar to how Japan does it actually.

Anyway if thats what she means by ‘strict’ gun control im in favor

[lilBigPotato]

@Maybe_Maybe_not it might sound like "typical lefties" stuff to you but a lot of those position are also widely accepted by conservative political parties in Europe. A lot of what counts here as right is still considered far left in the US. No right wing political party would get rid of universal healthcare, 30 paid yearly vacation days, strict gun control etc. They see the benefit and also it would be political suicide. So the political debate is more like how is the healthcare funded and not if it should exist in its current form.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@lilBigPotato
Oh wow, I made a totally poor entrance here I see, no no lol, I'm not in the US, I'm like a thousand kilometres above you, and that's why I'm used to your positions !
Plus, the "classic leftist" was a term of endearment !

Now, still-alive is in the US, and that's why I wanted to see what he thinks about your beliefs, because I know how left, center and right can be relative

[TonyMetal___86]

@lilBigPotato what does a communist means miss potato?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@TonyMetal___86 An interesting question actually, since the fall of USSR, but North-Korea may be the closest thing to communism (Stalin style) still active

[TonyMetal___86]

@Maybe_Maybe_not ah ok, but i don't think that people likes communism these days 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@TonyMetal___86 True, there isn't much love for a communism comeback, around the world lol.

Which isn't what she meant anyway, she just meant that, seen from USA, left-wing policies she and I believe in might be perceived as extreme, in fact as extreme as communism, whereas for us it's just standard left

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

With "us", I mean EU

[TonyMetal___86]

@Maybe_Maybe_not 👍🏻👍🏻

[msc545]

Well said. Looks like we're traveling in the same boat. Other people on here indeed go crazy about the things that you and I believe in.

[TonyMetal___86]

@msc545 row row row your boat, gently down the stream... hehe

[msc545]

There is nothing at all wrong with communism, as we can see that. It is only when it is paired with authoritarianism, which is something that is conflated by most Americans, that it becomes obnoxious.

[lilBigPotato]

@TonyMetal___86 it was an exaggerated joke. @Maybe_Maybe_not explained it well.

[TonyMetal___86]

@lilBigPotato i was talking to msc545

[lilBigPotato]

@TonyMetal___86 it was a trying to the comment you tagged me in.

[lilBigPotato]

Reply**

[TonyMetal___86]

Ah ok, about asking what a communist is? It wasn't a joke potato chips girl, i really don't know what a communist is and how they think...

[Godihateyou]

My political views are Center based on the political views of the 1980s when I was born. But now I'm considered a Nazi because I believe in safety, structure, a successful economy and I also believe tiny hat wearing terrorists that I cannot name are members of a church (maybe a synagogue) of Satan and if I say it I will have my freedom of speech violated and be banned.

[andreasderjuengere]

I think 3-dimensional.
To a simpleton I may be categorized as "leftist".
Where my actual 'direction' is forward.
And to be more precise, my "position" is up, but from the underground.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Don't you think that all political beliefs we have belong to a quite identified grid though?

[andreasderjuengere]

Not really. One can pick positive details from any 'theory' around, but overall can avoid 'following' only one specific 'idea'.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Oh but with political beliefs I didn't mean one belief or one theory, I meant a set of beliefs on a map if previously identified political concepts

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

*of previously

[andreasderjuengere]

Maybe... I am then an anarchist (not to confuse with anomie, please)

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Occasionally, I'm teasing people about the difference between anarchy and anomie. Pleased to meet you... Again? I believe we talked about that before, but it was a year ago maybe

[andreasderjuengere]

True 🫠

[jazzy34]

Left. In short, I care about people and I want them treated with dignity and respect.

[sawno]

The right wing does to by the way, its usually the left that slanders them as all kinds of words but if you'd actually get to know them you'd see its not true and just a means of bullying.

[Anonymous]

The Party I most closely align with would be The Constitution Party. I don't know if they take an official stand regarding Israel, but I am completely against Zionism, and also against the murderous genocide being perpetrated on innocent civilians by the Israeli Defense Force

[katiesmuff]

I think center would be exactly where I am. Things in both parties I don't care for and a real shame that the word comprise has disappeared.

[strateguy632]

i think america should have borders same as any other country. so that makes me a "far right racist" they say?

[Smashingdoozy]

Depends on the country.

Generally central left leaning.

[loveslongnails]

If you're in the USA and claim to be "right-wing", it means you're a Trump supporter, which means, you can't think your way out of a paper bag.

[RichardCranium6201]

And if ur left, all ur names are Karen.

[RichardCranium6201]

Doesn't that just sound stupid. I don't believe all ur names are Karen. But that's sound stupid right? So does your question.

[RichardCranium6201]

We don't have a choice in anything. Whether ur left or right, it doesn't matter who is in the white house, all the same agendas are coming out. All the 'parties' do is keep us separated. Because u can concure people with devision. If we stood together, they wouldn't be able to break us.

[RichardCranium6201]

But no one from either side wants to admit this.

[RichardCranium6201]

Sorry I meant conquer. Not concure lol

[loveslongnails]

@RichardCranium6201 What I have said is "It's 2 sides of the same coin... to a point". The underlying grift is present no matter who is in power, but there's a vastly noticeable difference in how many crumbs are left on the table, and why.

You did, however, prove my point with precision. The right-wing has indeed moved so far right that the mere mention of saying " Wait a minute, that's wrong and totally fucked up" makes the protestor a "Karen". So when you are forced off of the land that's been in your family for generations, because of "eminent domain" in order to make room for a data center, now you're a left wing complainer? Or when your water source turns brown and unusable, and you're forced to truck in fresh water forever, or try and sell your property that no one wants now, and you call out the bastards who did it, you're a Karen?

The whole system in the USA is FUBAR, in general. But if I were forced to live there, I'd rather it be under a liberal party who allows you the illusion of overall freedom and in some instances actually gives you some, than the dystopian one the Trumpers are building.

[RichardCranium6201]

That's why I don't even care about politics.

[RichardCranium6201]

I don't support any thing they do. And I don't vote cuz I'm not going to waist my time on them

[loveslongnails]

@RichardCranium6201 That's your choice. As I said, IF I were forced to live in the US anymore, which I'm not, and those were my only choices, I'd do what I had to do so I didn't live in an Orwellian world. Thankfully, I don't need to decide that anymore, but 180 million people do.

[RichardCranium6201]

Well thanks for the debate... have a great day and stay blessed always

[loveslongnails]

@RichardCranium6201 Thanks, you too, stay safe.

[exitseven]

It is right. It used to be center but somehow everything changed

[DryGermanGuy]

Independent/centrist. I vote for both our Conservatives and our Social-Democrats.

[OneViewpoint]

I'm Center Left but in the USA today, that means I'm a "commie".

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Is there any US party that represents closely enough your views?

[OneViewpoint]

@Maybe_Maybe_not ,

Both major party's have been bought by dark money and are owned by the 1%. So Republicans no longer exist. The MAGA Fascists are far from my values. The Democrat party is completely ineffectual and useless. The progressives seem well intentioned and have some good ideas but they will never be allowed to have any real power given the low IQ of US voters.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

All right, please name a progressive party you could align with?

[OneViewpoint]

@Maybe_Maybe_not ,

There isn't any official progressive party in the US. Why do you have this need for me to "pick one". Sometimes there isn't one to pick. That may be disturbing to you. For me it's just a reality.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

A need would be a big word lol, no no, I'm just entertaining the convo, casually

[OneViewpoint]

@Maybe_Maybe_not ,

So why do I need to pick one?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Oh you don't, you absolutely don't, I was just curious if there was one party you'd find, because I am not really familiar with US parties, except Democrats and Republicans

[OneViewpoint]

@Maybe_Maybe_not ,

That's really it for all practical purposes. There is a "Green Party". And there are "Independents". And there are candidates who list themselves as a "Progressive". But they are so infinitesimally small that a vote for them is a wasted vote.

The reality here is that a 2 party system suits the 1% because it's relatively cheap to buy both those parties with dark money. That allows the illusion of free and fair elections with competing agendas. But if you look at every piece of legislation passed into law over the last 50 years, it all serves the 1% and destroys the US middle class.

If the 1% is picking all of the candidates, it doesn't matter if a Republican or a Democrat wins. The 1% will get the vote they want in the legislature. Simple, efficient, cheap.

And that is why we will never have a coalition government like say Italy. All those parties would be difficult to control.

[Bricealan]

@thegreenyogi I am fiscally conservative, and socially liberal, to a point.

[Xawyx-2]

My views are partially related to both left an right.

But not left and right from my country.

[Dargil]

The best interests of the country and its citizens. Whatever that means.

[Ariesman81Nshiiit]

Fiscal conservative, social conservative, sexually liberal.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Socially conservative and sexually liberal. I'm intrigued about what it concretely means, in your daily life, please give me more

[Ariesman81Nshiiit]

@Maybe_Maybe_not

It means I'm the male version of the nerdy librarian

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Ah, I have not heard of nerdy librarians like that, the ones I know of are sexually conservative and socially liberal lol

[Ariesman81Nshiiit]

Brother, you're hanging out the wrong libraries

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Eh, I don't have many options, there are like 6 of them here, granted, I don't go to the uptown ones

[Iron_Man]

I’m on the Right I’ve always been a republican. I come from a Republican family.

[goaded]

How are you with killing people who are only accused of drug smuggling (not a capital offence)?

Pardoning and giving money to people convicted of assaulting police?

[Iron_Man]

@goaded I don’t like killing people. I’d rather have them arrested.

[goaded]

Then what do you think about Trump not bothering to do that and simply killing people?

[najekim]

Actually, bring the Federal government back to where it was when George Washington was in office. Could see how much smoother things run.

[goaded]

You remember that, do you?

[najekim]

@goaded Like it was the day before yesterday. . . .;)

[Anonymous]

Left. I was raised to actually care about people.

[CaptainSmartass]

I'm against politics. #PoliticiansForPrison2026

Simples...

[Wodens_Apprentice]

I have the furthest right wing views out of all the people I know and have heard of.

[lightbulb27]

Currently they are starting to go around in a circle.

[Anonymous]

60% right 40% left. If you want to call that center fine. But i view myself more as right leaning.

[Cidknee]

Slightly right of center. Meaning I can get along with center moderately right and slightly left. Its just better to not talk politics.

[BCRanger10]

I'm more on the right.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

What would be the center, to you, then, what kind of center policies you would disagree with?

[BCRanger10]

@Maybe_Maybe_not I honestly don't know what I would consider to be "center" these days. I've seen people who claim to be center, but by my estimation are pretty far to the left.

Here are my positions (some of them, at least)...

- I am opposed to abortion.
- Marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman.
- It should be very difficult to get a divorce; people should be more careful and discerning about whom they marry.
- People should be more dependent on their families, friends, and neighbors for support in difficult times and minimally dependent on the state.
- I am strongly anti-feminist.
- I support the death penalty, though I'm fine if we minimize its use.
- Strong military? Yes. Global presence and frequent, unprovoked, unnecessary wars? No.
- The government can and should regulate who comes into and STAYS in a country.
- College is generally more of a scam now; we should invest more in trade/vocational training.
- I am opposed to the wholesale "repayment" of student loans.
- I am opposed to socialism, Marxism, and communism (and no, Jesus Christ would most definitely NOT have blessed or approved any of those diabolical systems)...
-... but I'm also not as supportive of capitalism (or at least as it's practiced in the US) as I once had been.
- I believe in traditional masculine and feminine roles and responsibilities in the family and in society.

I'm sure there are others, but I think you have an idea now where I stand.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

I already had a clear enough idea of where you stand. I pay attention to the views of active members of g@g hehe.

I'm curious about your development with capitalism, USA version, do you mean that you're now less supportive of free market capitalism and more supportive of social market capitalism?

[queenofcardio]

All over the place

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Tell me about these places, please :)

[KostasKouvalis]

Moderate Conservative, so I guess right

[AgentG111]

Left are idiots and mental midgets.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Democratic socialist.

[4ngelic]

center left

[Agape93]

Central libertarian.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Please share how it translates in terms of policies you believe in

[Agape93]

Pro free speech, reproductive rights, 2nd ammendment, religious freedoms etc.
Anti tyranny, governmental and religious control etc.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Okay, what do you think of anarcho-left ideas?

[Agape93]

Like which ones?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Let's say...
Worker-owned and democratically managed companies
Guaranteed access to housing, food, water, and healthcare as human rights
Replace governments with federations of self-governing communes

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Actually, the last one might not be left leaning, it's maybe broadly distributed alongside anarchism spectrum

[Agape93]

Ok in order

Sounds fine
Minus housing sure, paid for by taxpayers that choose to contribute
No. Nobody has say in my life and my choices over me. Not even at a community level

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Oh? Then I stand corrected, I thought communal systems could be favoured by all anarchists. Then... if you refuse community level management I guess... that belief translates as anarcho-ultra-right to me lol

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Which makes your belief, a total rarity in my political landscape, would you say you advocate for absolute individualism then?

[Agape93]

I'm not an anarchist. I may have some anarchists beliefs, like self governance and supporting revolution and death of tyrants.

Pretty much. There's very few constraints I'm for. Namely, don't rape or kidnap. Wanna steal and face repercussions? Cool. Wanna build your house out of tampons and glue? Cool. Wanna murder someone for a xanax? Bet. Cool. But if one rapes or kidnaps? You're dead. Especially if shtf and the world gets to a lawless state.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

If anarchist dreams ever come to life in the concrete world, I assume you will pick a land somewhere, not so far from a commune. And believe me, I would genuinely trade with you in such a context, I'd inform anyone around me that it's okay to barter, peacefully, with you. Because, based on numerous answers and replies I've seen from you, I can say that I've read enough to trust you.

[Anonymous]

Common sense.

[Sweetdreams1950]

Always left.

[msc545]

Definitely leftist.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Interesting, given our recent chats about women, I have a hard time thinking of you as a leftist lol

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not, you know, there are a couple of areas in which I actually agree with the views of the right. These would be women in general and abortion in particular. If we've not had the discussion, I will tell you that I am vehemently against abortion because I consider it to be murder.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

then, when you look at other leftists around you, if there is any, what do they think of your views regarding these 2 areas?

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not well, so one of my leftist friends on here is certainly not happy regarding my views about women, and I've found that many men in general are not happy regarding my views about women. I guess they have not had my experiences with women, because if they had, they would change their views pretty quickly. Ultimately, if they hang around with women like I think they do, they will change those views. I think the same thing pertains relative to abortion. I am appalled at the number of men who simply pander to women and what women want because they think they're going to get laid by doing that. I've had interesting but rather lengthy arguments again with my leftist friends regarding abortion and the inappropriateness of abortion, in my view.

[msc545]

As I said before, I view abortion as not different than premeditated murder, and I'm not shy about saying that.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Right, I'm not going to replay an argument you know by heart by now.

I just want to look at what notion clashes between you and him, are you disagreeing because you and him define, morally speaking, a human being differently?

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not that's a very good question that I had to think about for a few moments before I answered. I don't think our disagreement has to do with morality at all. I think it has to do with his contention that an unborn child is not a human being and therefore you can't be accused of murder because only humans can be murdered. My contention is that from the moment of conception, an unborn child is a human being, and if you kill it, you are therefore a murderer.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Also I totally get that your view about women isn't random, I am someone believing that there are always reasons explaining how we view the world. So I'm certain there is something truly massive, in your life story, with women, that makes you view things the way you view them.

And similarly, there is nothing like that in my life story with women, it's the opposite, my life is made of good experiences with women, so my views are diametrically different as a result.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Right, about abortion, so this is precisely the one contention I was looking for. And that's what I was calling morality, in philosophical terms. Meaning that your morals tell you that it is fair to say that a human being starts at day 1 of pregnancy, while his morals tell him that it is fair to say that a human being starts at... Good question, right? I'm interested in the answer he gave you.

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not, good question indeed. He tried to argue from biology and size , eg, "it is no bigger than the head of a pin at that stage," etc.

I am a very bad person to argue biology with, given my profession, but nonetheless, he was a very credible opponent. I would go eight or ten rounds with him and just feel exhausted from all the thinking I had to do. In the end, however, I don't think I changed his mind, and I know he didn't change mine. We still knock heads on this issue occasionally.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Then I have a new argument for you both to battle with, and it's biology, neurology I assume: Fetal pain studies

At least you'll get something new lol

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not I don't know if a fetus experiences pain and, if it does, at what age. I'm not sure that anybody knows for certain, but before 24 weeks there is no thalamic connection in the brain which we can demonstrate radiologically. The fetus may not experience painful stimuli. After 24 weeks, when the thalamic connection has been made, then yes, I am very certain that Edith experiences pain.

[msc545]

This does not, by any means, rule out the earlier experiences of pain. My system typed the word Edith for some reason. Please ignore it.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Okay, then when we're done with biological angles, there's history of abortion, the reasons used by several legislations to set legality of abortion at certain terms. I should take a look at that as well

[msc545]

@Maybe_Maybe_not that would be of interest. Please let me know what you find.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@msc545
So far, what I'm looking at is that several developed countries eventually established 12 weeks, on average, as the legal limit. The reasoning underlying this limit involved a combination of social standpoint (women's reproductive rights), and biological standpoints. Back to biology then, quoting what I'm reading:

- below 12 weeks:

not enough neural structures to establish conscious pain perception and sentience, thalamocortical connectivity would only happen between 22 and 34 weeks.

fetal environment contains neurochemicals acting as natural sedatives, keeping the fetus in a state of unconsciousness.

Apparently several medical bodies backed this up, royal college of obstetricians and gynaecologists is cited but I have not investigated their official statement yet

[msc545]

That's a lot there, but I would like to see some evidence that any of it is actually true. We cannot know what the fetal experience of pain is because as far as I can tell none of us are fetuses anymore. I think in the breach that we are obligated morally to not do anything but might cause pain to a developing fetus. Whether it can perceive that pain or not is really beside the point. The point is that it's a living human being from the very moment of conception and our morals traditionally prohibit doing any harm to it. If that is inconvenient for some women then I would suggest that they focus more intently on not having unprotected sex. We have multiple methods of birth control that work really well and the only time wanted pregnancies occur is when women get careless. I don't think that there is any possible moral equivalence carelessness and committing murder by doing so. Those two acts are grossly disproportionate.

[Bykurs10]

Left