You can call yourself a fluffy, pink bunny; that doesn't make you a fluffy, pink bunny. The term "Progressive" has a meaning and it is not possible to be a Libertarian (believing that the government is useless at best and evil at worst) and a Progressive (believing that the government has a major part to play in ensuring positive outcomes and fighting inequality/poverty). It's just not possible.
That is a misunderstanding of the term "left". Do you think that people on the right don't think government has a role? even if they say it doesn't, do they act that way?
I just want to ensure positive outcomes and fight inequality/poverty. I just think those things would be better done with incentives, markets and personal motivations than with legislation and regulation.
You're grasping at straws. "Progressive" and "left" are distinct labels. I'll admit I'm as guilty as anyone of combining the two at times but we're talking about "Progressive" and not "left/liberal". There are socially liberal Libertarians, those who don't think the government should involve itself in social issues like abortion and homosexuality. There are not Progressive Libertarians though since "Progressive" includes economic liberal ideas that would be abhorrent to any real Libertarian.
I never said that people on the right didn't think the government had any role, just that they don't think it has the same role Progressives think it does. Right-wingers think the government's job is to run the military and make life difficult for uppity women and gays (Libertarians think the governments role is just to run the military). Progressives think the governments role is to provide for the common good, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, and regulate commerce, among other things.
Those things are just "Libertarian", you don't need the "Progressive" qualifier just because you think it makes you feel cooler. It's like "Compassionate Conservatism", it's just adding an adjective that doesn't belong to confuse people.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-12-18 10:26 am (UTC)And yes, I see both as sometimes foolish. Ideology is poor model for reality.
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Date: 2011-12-18 08:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-18 11:07 pm (UTC)I just want to ensure positive outcomes and fight inequality/poverty. I just think those things would be better done with incentives, markets and personal motivations than with legislation and regulation.
Progressive Libertarian.
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Date: 2011-12-19 02:11 am (UTC)I never said that people on the right didn't think the government had any role, just that they don't think it has the same role Progressives think it does. Right-wingers think the government's job is to run the military and make life difficult for uppity women and gays (Libertarians think the governments role is just to run the military). Progressives think the governments role is to provide for the common good, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, and regulate commerce, among other things.
Those things are just "Libertarian", you don't need the "Progressive" qualifier just because you think it makes you feel cooler. It's like "Compassionate Conservatism", it's just adding an adjective that doesn't belong to confuse people.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 04:25 am (UTC)