MovieChat Forums > Politics > Am I a socialist?

Am I a socialist?

posted 4 years ago by Ghaleon (606)
14 replies | jump to latest

I believe that everyone should have equal rights under the law, but don't believe in reparations or special provisions for anyone.

I believe that taxes should be low to moderate, unless you're obscenely wealthy. That we should have government funded healthcare and education.

That everyone should have the option of free housing and food. Nothing extravagant. Something equivalent to prison accommodation, but you're free to come and go as you please and don't have to share space with other people. Basically, just tiny rooms that only have a bed in them. Public showers and toilets, kitchens and so on.

I believe that people should stop having kids, or only have one or two at most and that the government should incentivize people to get sterilized by paying them to undergo such a procedure.

Even though I don't do drugs, I believe that all drugs should be legal to sell, purchase, and use. The use of drugs and alcohol should be allowed from age 16 on.

I believe we shouldn't spend much on the military or police.

That instead of prison for minor offenses people should receive a hefty fine as a deterrent.

For serious crimes, there shouldn't be a death penalty.
However, physician assisted suicide should be an option for anyone.

This one I'm willing to admit might be a bit too liberal: the age of consent should be 16, and that anyone that age or older has the right to engage in sex work.

I believe in freedom of speech. I find the notion of hate speech to be a bit silly. If we stop letting words hurt us and allow people to speak freely then good ideas will most likely prosper. While ones that we deem hateful will be still be criticized.

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

That all sounds very sensible, you dirty lefty libbie commie!
Not sure about the drugs part, even though im a fan.

I like the sterilisation incentivisation , although isnt that a right wing thing? just shows there surely to god is some things that left and right can agree on .

Stop people pumping out babies they cant look after by bribing them not to have any more with a couiple cases of beer! brilliant! as long as its all volantary obvs.

[–] Ghaleon (606) 4 years ago

Yeah, I must admit that I didn't think of that idea entirely on my own.

Also, here's one thing I forgot to include in my post:

I believe in freedom of speech. I find the notion of hate speech to be a bit silly. If we stop letting words hurt us and allow people to speak freely then good ideas will most likely prosper. While ones that we deem hateful will be still be criticized.

Do you consider that sensible? I'm open to discussing the matter.

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

freedom of speech , yes
I dont agree that includes hate speech.
I think society can commnucate good ideas well enough without people going rounding and preaching stuff like "Hey! lets go kill all of those type of people because i dont like em" (or worse because god said so)

I nice quote i heard on the subject was something along the lines of
"If the best thing you can say about your speech , is that you have the legal right to say it , then its not got much going for it", or something like that

[–] Ghaleon (606) 4 years ago

Fair point, but there are instances where jokes have been labeled as hate speech.
I don't think allowing people to say whatever they want, or publish and create works of art or literature that are deemed controversial should be limited.
I find certain things distasteful, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't exist.

I believe we should have tougher laws prohibiting violence, though. There's no reason to respond to the words of another person with physical assault.

[–] user111 (358) 4 years ago

"I believe we should have tougher laws prohibiting violence, though. There's no reason to respond to the words of another person with physical assault"

I'm not aware of any situation where it's ever considered legally permissible to respond to verbal abuse with physical violence are you?

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

Theres a lot lot of facets and angles to what "free speech" actually is , a lot of people , probably myself included , dont have the correct definition.

There was that story recently about that Silicon valley high flyer racially abusing Asians in som cafe - was ejected from cafe , and subsequently lost his job and shamed on the net.
Not prosecuted for what he said though
Free Speech rights intact!
"free speech" does not mean you can say what you want without consequence though.

[–] Rorikon (17872) 4 years ago

Thing is, that type of hate speech is banned or aka a crime. You're free to call some nigger or any other derogatory word but you can't spout violence unto others. It's not nice to say it and advised against but it still falls inside free speech category. As the saying goes, sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

" words will never hurt me."

Oh I dunno , Hitler's pot stirring killed 6m jews , and 75m other people.

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

"It's not nice to say it and advised against but it still falls inside free speech category."
true.
You'd still be an asshole though, even though you hadnt broken any laws.
Seems we've got the balance about right as it is legally.

[–] brucewayne (319) 4 years ago

some of what you say sounds reasonable, some seems well intentioned but would in practice be punishment for the poor and a free for all for the rich.

mostly the part of "That instead of prison for minor offenses people should receive a hefty fine as a deterrent."

good in practice to not imprison more people. in reality just means another tax for the poor while the rich can do whatever they want

[–] moviechatterer (15643) 4 years ago

Most civilised countries *do* fine instead of prison for minor offences, I think its just 'murica that's real big on prison

[–] samoanjoes (56743) 4 years ago

That everyone should have the option of free housing and food. Nothing extravagant. Something equivalent to prison accommodation, but you're free to come and go as you please and don't have to share space with other people. Basically, just tiny rooms that only have a bed in them. Public showers and toilets, kitchens and so on.

I've been saying this for years. No one will take advantage of this because it's not an ideal situation. It's great to have the option for people who just can't afford it. I find the thought of people being homeless for not being able to afford housing for any reason is inhumane.

[–] Rorikon (17872) 4 years ago

You... YOU COMMIE!!! YOU SUPPORT LENIN/STALIN/MAO WITH DAT SPEECH!! HERESY!!!!!!

[–] Bloodworth79 (5687) 4 years ago

I don't think you understand how expensive it is to maintain a country.

Sounds like you need a lot of money for this idea and you want low taxes?

The problem with America is the proportions...in America you have a huge gap between tax payers and non tax payers.

Healthcare for all sounds good, but when you have less people contributing and more people using things start to go in the red

Because there are more people who use heath care then there are those who contribute to it.
There are more people who will never contribute one dime or care one second about their health then those willing to pay.

Infrastructure, in the u.s there are more people who use roads , bridges and parks then there are those who contribute to its maintenance.
This is why we see poor infrastructure across the u.s.

Schools, in a NYC classroom you will find about 7 kids out of 28 have parents who contribute to school tax.

The U.s is on the edge in many different sectors. Barely getting by.

They have a lot of people who will never contribute anything, but want a lot. Fix that formula.