The Politics Test - which party suits you?

[Rietie]

Ummm... I don't think Denmark and Sweden have tyrants ruling over their countries with the countries' populations being oppressed. Socialism changes to communism when a dictator comes into play. Or where there is one party. You can see that in North Korea and China, etc....

[Collin Li]

Is taxation not a form of coercion? Also, strong market regulations in the labour market and other sectors are paternalistic, and assume that the individual is too inept to make a sound decision for him/herself, and hence restrict their choices to the "good" ones. Here there is an opinion being imposed on the individual, that is oppression.

[brendan]

Ummm... I don't think Denmark and Sweden have tyrants ruling over their countries with the countries' populations being oppressed. Socialism changes to communism when a dictator comes into play. Or where there is one party. You can see that in North Korea and China, etc....

I think you are confusing things. Do you know the definition of socialism?

[Rietie]

I have studied politics and therefore, I do know what socialism is.

[brendan]

I have studied politics and therefore, I do know what socialism is.

Alright what is it?

[Rietie]

Wow.... we've gone way off topic.

Anyway, I'm tired as I've had 6 hours sleep and my lower back muscles have been cramping up all day so I'm grumpy, so I decided to do a shortcut and look in my old politics notes (that were for my exam) for a definition... and realised it totally and utterly sucked. Here it is:
Socialism: similar to communism, however is more mid-left wing on the political spectrum. It is more gradual than communism, and its goals are realised by winning elections and passing socialist laws as opposed to violence and bloodshed. Socialism believes in the government playing a significant role in providing for its citizens. Some of the key beliefs include public health care, public education, public control of utilities and a strong welfare system. Example – countries in Scandinavia and Venezuela.

I'm off to find a better one and then to construct my own.

[brendan]

Socialism believes in the government playing a significant role in providing for its citizens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism
"Socialism refers to a broad array of ideologies and political movements with the goal of a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community...an economic system characterized by state ownership of the means of production and distribution"

[Rietie]

Hmmm...... I think I would prefer maybe socialism with a hint of capitalism. Although I still believe in way more taxation, especially of the upper and middle classes and cars, to pay for health, better education (make tertiary education free!), better public transport and funding research for finding more renewable and sustainable energy sources.

Apart from that, I'm admitting defeat. I feel like I'm arguing with my brother, i.e. I always lose.

[Collin Li]

What makes you think the upper class will exist (or will not run away) with such high taxes?

What are your brother's political views?

[Rietie]

Umm.... he's the same as me in political views. We argue about other crap and he wins, of course.

In answer to the upper class question, I've seen it with my own eyes, that there is a tiny upper class when the population of a country is taxed quite heavily. The lower class is also minimized by this. The only really rich people I saw when I saw all this (this sentence sounds strange), were all the diplomats... whose children I coincidentally hung out with.... um... yeh. Couldn't help who my parents were.

[brendan]

Umm.... he's the same as me in political views. We argue about other crap and he wins, of course.

In answer to the upper class question, I've seen it with my own eyes, that there is a tiny upper class when the population of a country is taxed quite heavily. The lower class is also minimized by this. The only really rich people I saw when I saw all this (this sentence sounds strange), were all the diplomats... whose children I coincidentally hung out with.... um... yeh. Couldn't help who my parents were.

what makes you think that this "upper class" would stay in your country? unless of course you want to build a wall around your country and shoot them if they try to leave like in east Germany and north korea.

[Collin Li]

Brendan, here is the response (look 1 post above):

Umm.... he's the same as me in political views. We argue about other crap and he wins, of course.

In answer to the upper class question, I've seen it with my own eyes, that there is a tiny upper class when the population of a country is taxed quite heavily. The lower class is also minimized by this. The only really rich people I saw when I saw all this (this sentence sounds strange), were all the diplomats... whose children I coincidentally hung out with.... um... yeh. Couldn't help who my parents were.

I'm off to have a shower, I'm feeling sticky from today's heat, but I may come back to add my own comments.

[Rietie]

This 'upper class' could leave the (my) country if they wished, but if they stayed, they wouldn't exist due to taxes lowering their incomes significantly to make them the lower-upper class/upper-middle class.... or have I already answered your question or have you already interpreted something to answer that question? meh. I somehow doubt I would ever be in a place of such political power to bring lots of change.

Instead of you both putting me in the hot seat, here's a question to both of you:
If you were ever the Prime Minister or President (if we ever became a republic - that would be damn nice) of Australia, what changes would you bring about? Or is everything perfect the way it is or was it perfect under Howard?

[Collin Li]

I would abolish a lot of bureaucracy and regulation. Gradually of course.

[brendan]

Abolish all tariffs, quotas, subsidies. Try to implement my education reforms