Here's my quick takes...
Poll #1 - South-You are a Southerner-an egalitarian-which means that you advocate an increased role for the government in the economic realm. You are more or less pleased the government's role in the personal realm.
Poll #2 - Left-Liberal (80% Personal Issues, 0% Economic Issues)
Left-Liberals generally embrace freedom of choice in personal matters, but support central decision-making in economics. They want the government to help the disadvantaged in the name of fairness. Liberals tend to tolerate social diversity, but work for what they might describe as "economic equality."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issues
Employment:
The government has a role in job creation and contrary to what others have said, they can and do have a role in creating jobs, both directly and indirectly. Think New Deal after the Depression in the US for instance.
Education:
Should be a European-type model where it is free for anyone who completes their post-secondary education.
You complete your four years, the government hands you a cheque so that you can enter the workforce starting from 0 rather than from -$30 000 or $50 000 like so many students are forced to do these days. The more educated a nation is, the stronger it is in all areas is my personal belief.
Drugs:
Legalize, regulate and tax soft drugs (marijuana, hash). Keep hard drugs illegal.
Health and Public Safety:
Similar to what they're doing now but possibly more could be done. A "fat tax" is an interesting idea to me for instance.
Health Care:
Move towards a preventative system (ie. encouraging healthy lifestyles via programs, taxes, etc.) and also team-based health care when you are ill - ie. a clinic should have a doctor but also a nurse, a chiropractor, a dietician, a pharmacist, etc. Use less-expensive nurse practitioners in the gap between what doctors can do and what regular nurses can do (ie. do you need a highly paid doctor to check your cough or issue a prescription refill?)
Lifestyle Choices:
Little to none. If you want to “marry” a box turtle, go ahead. The only regulations should be when someone doesn't have an equal say in the union/marriage or will be harmed by it (ie. if three people want to "marry" each other, that's their business and fine by me. If a polygamist wants to "marry" a 13 year old girl, that shouldn't be allowed - unless the age of consent is 13 and the girl (and her parents depending on the law) agree to it.)
Social Assistance:
People should be guaranteed a certain level of income just by virtue of being citizens of the country whether they work or not – maybe $10-12 000/year which is what current minimum wage will pay you for a full-time job. A higher minimum wage (~$8/hr for up to 18 years old, ~$10/hr for adults) would propel the economy, not harm it.
Support of Business:
Continue to regulate business but in many cases, do so in a stronger fashion. Government should implement laws and taxes and/or credits that promote triple-bottom line economics that look at not only economics but social and environmental costs in the long-term rather than the current “financial bottom line, quarterly profits model.”
Freedom of Speech:
I’m fairly happy with our current laws which are a good balance between allowing people to say what they want but preventing hateful or other problematic speech.
Taxation:
Progressive taxation - when you as an individual or business benefit more from the opportunities of living in a country, you owe it to that country to pay more of the share of everything you benefit from.
Immigration:
Especially in Canada, an open, accepting immigration policy is very important to bring in skilled people and also just to maintain our population.
Foreign Policy:
Assist developing nations. Peacekeeping. Staying out of bogus wars.
Military:
Voluntary. The US is so dominant do we even need a military with offensive/defensive capabilities? Or should we let the US handle that role and have a different role for our military (peacekeeping and internal actions – ie. natural disasters, etc.)
Scientific Research:
Government funding. It wasn’t a topic but I also believe in government support for the arts as well.
Bottom Line
I have a personal theory that in general, “right wing” people are that way because they tend to think of themselves first whereas “left wing” people are that way because they tend to put the whole of society first. Some of the comments in this thread reinforce that – someone said how they never liked their taxes going to something they didn’t need until they had a child who had daycare (and will have education) needs. Then, suddenly, the thought of cheap or free daycare/schooling is probably more appealing than paying the shot yourself. For the right-wingers, they’ll still say “yeah, but if I have kids, I have a responsibility to pay for those things I use – and only those things I use – myself.” I disagree. If you are part of this society, you have an equal duty to your fellow citizens to make the country the best you can by paying your taxes and supporting the infrastructure and development of our country. Another example that was given was in regards to charity – someone said that government shouldn’t be in the business of charity and private giving should fill this role. I don’t know how we can reconcile that all of the people who complain about paying *any* taxes are going to be convinced to give to charity! Plus, it’s a fact that if this were the case, only the “trendy, popular” charities would get funding. And charities would suddenly have to start spending money on marketing instead of on the core reasons they exist (this is already the case somewhat.)
|