Convergence
17th June 2009, 00:39
So... hi! Revleft is a website I've seen kicked around by a few of my fellow students for a while now, though I'm not sure if they are registered members or not, and due to my paranoia about these things, I'm loathe to post many more details.
Suffice to say, I've heard this is a website with a lot to say about the state of the world today, from various viewpoints not precisely well represented in the mainstream media.
I myself am studying politics, and in the process I have found that my original ideological standpoint (democratic capitalism) has proven somewhat insufficient when applied to the real world. I'm british, by the way, so I apologize in advance if any of my terminology is confusing or similar- I've encountered this elsewhere in the past :blushing:
I was just a little intimidated by the terms and conditions, however. I mean. I'm not entirely sure where I sit on the political spectrum at the moment. Mostly, I just feel confused. I believe that people should generally be trusted to run their own lives as much as possible, but that some level of commitment to the community is necessary in order for basic standards of living to be met. I believe that these basic standards have to include the potential for education, healthcare, policing, and provision of a basic safety net.
But I also feel that people tend to perform best when they are placed in competition, and that failure can be as helpful as success in making people grow. I feel that people should be allowed to express any opinions they want in open public debate, but that they do not have the right to expect people to accept those views uncontested. I believe that everything should be examined and questioned as much as possible, because only by questioning and reasoning can people come to meaningful conclusions (Because the search for meaningful conclusions is working out for me so well so far :lol:)
I feel that people tend to get wrapped up in the left/right dichotomy far too much, and there is a tendency for people to subscribe to issues they may not believe in simply in the name of furthering an ideological end. I believe that practical issues should trump theoretical issues, because theory has a disconcerting tendency to be perfect, wheras in practice, a compromise is often the only real possibility.
I feel that people have a right to go about their business without any major organization intruding into their personal lives. I despise the mentality which states that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear, because often the people who are in a position to do so, are more than capable of falsifying something that you should have been hiding. I wish the media would, collectively, return to the early days of news as a dry list of facts, rather than bombarding people with emotional responses and incorporating them into events.
I hate the first-past-the-post system used in British elections, for ensuring that no matter which way I, personally, vote, the stalwart diehards of the conservative party in my area will ensure that my voice is not heard.
I hate the systems of proportional representation that are offered, which seem to offer far too much in the way of power in practical terms to minority groups, and still winds up imposing a system which does little to encourage politicians to actually listen to the people.
I no longer know where I sit on the political spectrum. I don't know where I stand ideologically, or even if that matters. I do know, however, that life has become far more interesting since I decided to try and find the answer to these questions, rather than accepting the majority view of those around me.
So. From the above; am I the kind of person who may find a community like this welcoming? I've no doubt that my own views could only benefit from the input of 'left wing' proponents. But, am I going to be considered an undesireable element if I attempt to find the answers to these questions on this site?
I suppose the question I am asking is- am I going to be restricted to this forum on the basis of the lack-of-views I find myself burdened with?
And also; hi. :)
Suffice to say, I've heard this is a website with a lot to say about the state of the world today, from various viewpoints not precisely well represented in the mainstream media.
I myself am studying politics, and in the process I have found that my original ideological standpoint (democratic capitalism) has proven somewhat insufficient when applied to the real world. I'm british, by the way, so I apologize in advance if any of my terminology is confusing or similar- I've encountered this elsewhere in the past :blushing:
I was just a little intimidated by the terms and conditions, however. I mean. I'm not entirely sure where I sit on the political spectrum at the moment. Mostly, I just feel confused. I believe that people should generally be trusted to run their own lives as much as possible, but that some level of commitment to the community is necessary in order for basic standards of living to be met. I believe that these basic standards have to include the potential for education, healthcare, policing, and provision of a basic safety net.
But I also feel that people tend to perform best when they are placed in competition, and that failure can be as helpful as success in making people grow. I feel that people should be allowed to express any opinions they want in open public debate, but that they do not have the right to expect people to accept those views uncontested. I believe that everything should be examined and questioned as much as possible, because only by questioning and reasoning can people come to meaningful conclusions (Because the search for meaningful conclusions is working out for me so well so far :lol:)
I feel that people tend to get wrapped up in the left/right dichotomy far too much, and there is a tendency for people to subscribe to issues they may not believe in simply in the name of furthering an ideological end. I believe that practical issues should trump theoretical issues, because theory has a disconcerting tendency to be perfect, wheras in practice, a compromise is often the only real possibility.
I feel that people have a right to go about their business without any major organization intruding into their personal lives. I despise the mentality which states that if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear, because often the people who are in a position to do so, are more than capable of falsifying something that you should have been hiding. I wish the media would, collectively, return to the early days of news as a dry list of facts, rather than bombarding people with emotional responses and incorporating them into events.
I hate the first-past-the-post system used in British elections, for ensuring that no matter which way I, personally, vote, the stalwart diehards of the conservative party in my area will ensure that my voice is not heard.
I hate the systems of proportional representation that are offered, which seem to offer far too much in the way of power in practical terms to minority groups, and still winds up imposing a system which does little to encourage politicians to actually listen to the people.
I no longer know where I sit on the political spectrum. I don't know where I stand ideologically, or even if that matters. I do know, however, that life has become far more interesting since I decided to try and find the answer to these questions, rather than accepting the majority view of those around me.
So. From the above; am I the kind of person who may find a community like this welcoming? I've no doubt that my own views could only benefit from the input of 'left wing' proponents. But, am I going to be considered an undesireable element if I attempt to find the answers to these questions on this site?
I suppose the question I am asking is- am I going to be restricted to this forum on the basis of the lack-of-views I find myself burdened with?
And also; hi. :)