Your political bent

[Neil]

A conversation at work had me wondering where the people of Languish fall on these things. If you don't identify with any of the above, please explain how you do identify yourself regarding fiscal and social policies.

Sometimes, I feel like I'm alone in my corner.
Social liberal & fiscal conservative.

I like democracy, so I can't be in the same corner as Neil.
I have a lot of concerns about the proximity of religion and politics, so I'm not totally with BB who's more tolerant of this than me.
I don't think research and development should be left exclusively to the private sector, or even exclusively to the universities and I don't think the government should cut financing to Universities that don't do enough applied research instead of fundamental research.

You have problems with the proximity of religion and politics... in Canada? 

And no, you can't be in the same corner as me.

[Eddie Teach]

I feel like I'm alone in my corner.
Social liberal & fiscal conservative.

[Grey Fox]

Social Liberal & Fiscal Communist.

One Union to rule them all, One FTQ to bind them!

[viper37]

You have problems with the proximity of religion and politics... in Canada? 

Those medals given to anti-abortion activists jailed for their crimes...

[viper37]

I feel like I'm alone in my corner.
Social liberal & fiscal conservative.

The general principles are share by many.  The details though... I disagree with science cuts, I approve of Kyoto/reduction of greenhouse gases, I believe protecting the environment is important so long as we don't go batshit insane about it.  Most people describing themselves as social conservative would be against any kind of reduction of our pollutants, consider global warming to be a fraud, believe oil subsidies are good, etc, etc.

[Eddie Teach]

I feel like I'm alone in my corner.
Social liberal & fiscal conservative.

The general principles are share by many.  The details though... I disagree with science cuts, I approve of Kyoto/reduction of greenhouse gases, I believe protecting the environment is important so long as we don't go batshit insane about it.  Most people describing themselves as social conservative would be against any kind of reduction of our pollutants, consider global warming to be a fraud, believe oil subsidies are good, etc, etc.

But you didn't describe yourself as social conservative, so those positions don't really knock anyone new out of your corner.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I would consider myself to be "liberal" both in fiscal and social matters.

I've also spent the past several years ranting about government waste and profligacy 

I wouldn't say that there is a contradiction there though. In the UK, when government expenditure falls below the 40% of GDP level, people tend to get upset about inadequate public services. Conversely, when the tax take rises above that figure people get preoccupied with the state taking too much. So it seems to me that we should try and spend that 40% in the most efficient way possible. In general that has been done, but I think the spending would have been more effective if we did not oscillate between profligacy and gratuitous parsimony.

[derspiess]

So who other than me voted for the first option?  Dps?

Anyway, I'm personally full conservative in both areas but will sacrifice social for fiscal/economic when necessary.

And one thing I've noticed about the so-called fiscal conservatives of Languish is that they tend to find whatever excuse they can to vote against their supposed fiscal interests.

[Sheilbh]

I wouldn't say that there is a contradiction there though.

And of course it varies where you are.  For example Viking's comment about free trade and protectionism just don't apply here.  I don't think any non-fascist party here is protectionist, the British political instinct is towards liberalisation of markets and more free trade.  But I can see that that is more of a liberal/conservative issue in the US and some of the continent.

[Viking]

I wouldn't say that there is a contradiction there though.

And of course it varies where you are.  For example Viking's comment about free trade and protectionism just don't apply here.  I don't think any non-fascist party here is protectionist, the British political instinct is towards liberalisation of markets and more free trade.  But I can see that that is more of a liberal/conservative issue in the US and some of the continent.

+1

The last time a non-liberal government sat in britain the Duke of Wellington was arguing about Corn Laws. Since then Britain has been for free-trade with anybody who free-trades back. The Party is called The Conservative Party but in truth it is yet another shade of liberal. Again, as I said, the opposite of Conservative is Radical, not Liberal. Even British Labour Party governments have ultimately been liberal. 

[Josquius]

What is a "Fiscal conservative"? Conservatives these days are generally economically liberal so...err....eh?
I'm a leftist and that is all that is important, economics are merely a means to an end. I guess I favour a mixed economy?

[Razgovory]

What is a "Fiscal conservative"? Conservatives these days are generally economically liberal so...err....eh?
I'm a leftist and that is all that is important, economics are merely a means to an end. I guess I favour a mixed economy?

It means you talk about a balanced budget when you are out of power.

[Ideologue]

Hard left.   I have no idea what fiscal conservative/liberal is supposed to mean in this context.  Is it "liberal" to believe in "liberalization of trade"?  I'm not for that, I'm for as much autarky amongst the developed world as feasible and forcing shit countries to adopt Western policies in general and my policies in particular if they do not wish to starve.  Is "conservative" meant to be "lower taxes"?  No, I believe in a 90% top marginal rate.  I guess I'm pretty socially liberal.  I voted "other."

[garbon]

What is a "Fiscal conservative"? Conservatives these days are generally economically liberal so...err....eh?
I'm a leftist and that is all that is important, economics are merely a means to an end. I guess I favour a mixed economy?

It means you talk about a balanced budget when you are out of power.

I've never been in power.

That said, I did a mean job of balancing my project budgets.