Ableton Forum

The basic difference is that Republicans follow a conservative philosophy and Democrats follow a liberal philosophy.

A liberal would say that a proper role for government is to regulate and oversee the economy. Liberals say it's proper for government to ensure that companies do the right thing (such as pay minimum wages), and to ensure that people act responsibly in their finances (such as requiring contributions to retirement savings).

A conservative would say that a proper role for government is to regulate and oversee morality. Conservatives say it's proper for government to ensure that people are punished for immoral acts (such as taking drugs), and that people act appropriately in their marriages (such as banning homosexual marriage).

A libertarian would say that neither of those is a proper role for government. Libertarians say that the only proper role is to maintain an army for defense against invasion, to maintain a court system for ensuring justice, and other constitutionally defined roles.

A populist would say that both economic and moral intervention are proper roles for government.

Some people classify libertarians as conservatives and some classify populists as liberals. Those definitions fall apart when libertarians talk about moral issues like abortion (pro-choice) or drugs (pro-legalization).

Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan both consider themselves "populists," but the press usually classifies Nader as liberal and Buchanan as conservative. Yet they agree entirely on their most important issue, opposing free trade and globalization.

The problem with a one-dimensional definition like liberal and conservative is that it doesn't define well political reality. The two-dimensional definition is better.

kineticUk wrote:Based on my answers I most closely resemble a Liberal ... yes !!!

Seriously mate I have learnt quite a lot from this forum today..Its good stuff.
Thanks again knotkranky for the schoolin'
Proper Interesting.
So who's representin the liberals in this US election...are they sound ?

leisuremuffin wrote:not a whole lot.



.lm.

D DAS wrote:you might as well just call them REPUBLICRATS

knotkranky wrote:

The basic difference is that Republicans follow a conservative philosophy and Democrats follow a liberal philosophy.

A liberal would say that a proper role for government is to regulate and oversee the economy. Liberals say it's proper for government to ensure that companies do the right thing (such as pay minimum wages), and to ensure that people act responsibly in their finances (such as requiring contributions to retirement savings).

A conservative would say that a proper role for government is to regulate and oversee morality. Conservatives say it's proper for government to ensure that people are punished for immoral acts (such as taking drugs), and that people act appropriately in their marriages (such as banning homosexual marriage).

A libertarian would say that neither of those is a proper role for government. Libertarians say that the only proper role is to maintain an army for defense against invasion, to maintain a court system for ensuring justice, and other constitutionally defined roles.

A populist would say that both economic and moral intervention are proper roles for government.

Some people classify libertarians as conservatives and some classify populists as liberals. Those definitions fall apart when libertarians talk about moral issues like abortion (pro-choice) or drugs (pro-legalization).

Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan both consider themselves "populists," but the press usually classifies Nader as liberal and Buchanan as conservative. Yet they agree entirely on their most important issue, opposing free trade and globalization.

The problem with a one-dimensional definition like liberal and conservative is that it doesn't define well political reality. The two-dimensional definition is better.

knotkranky wrote:

kineticUk wrote:Based on my answers I most closely resemble a Liberal ... yes !!!

Seriously mate I have learnt quite a lot from this forum today..Its good stuff.
Thanks again knotkranky for the schoolin'
Proper Interesting.
So who's representin the liberals in this US election...are they sound ?

Yes is right. Liberals are cool, they get laid way more and are in better physical condition. Less uptight too. An overwhelming majority of liberals are musicians and artists. Hot chicks included. It's a good thing.

No, very few are sound, thats why were all bitching at each other. Many point out that all the politicians are ineffective elitists. There is a lot of truth to that. But not entirely, and thats the part I like to focus on. There are many civil servants killing themselves to change what is wrong with our government. Follow the money.


cheers

A liberal would say that a proper role for government is to regulate and oversee people's lives. Liberals say it's proper for hardworking people to subsidize lazy people (such as through unaccountable welfare systems), to remove people's rights to make their own financial decisions (such as forcing healthy non-smoking non-drinking athletic people to pay for the medical results of other's self destructive vices), and by enforcing racist and sexist policies (like hiring quotas or lowering university entrance requirements for people based on the colour of their skin).

A conservative would say that a proper role for government is to subtly protect of the system that has brought us all freedom and prosperity. Conservatives say it's proper for government to ensure that we have a healthy economy and the capability in the long term future of providing essential services (by avoiding crippling taxation and restraining government spending), that people have the freedom to worship, but that people also have a social responsiblity to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of society.