Hi all. Lemmy tends to be rather lefty, so I am not afraid to say that my politics lands on the left as far as US politics goes. So my uncertainty isn’t between left and right, but where I fall on the left.
Since around 2017 I have considered myself a liberal of some form. But I have to confess I did not start really doing a deep dive into politics until this current administration. And I have felt conflicted. I try to listen to different commentators. I’ve listened to Destiny, Hasan, Vaush, and various other people. All as reconnaisance - so to speak - and none of them because I necessarily subscribe to with any real confidence. I’m just trying to hear different perspectives.
If someone mentions something about some policy that was passed some time ago, or mention some political figure I’m not sure I’ve heard of, I go look in to it.
I thought this would help me settle on a solid political stance, but I think it has just caused me more confusion and uncertainty. How do you all do it?
Beware the term “liberal”. It has a political meaning that is pro-capitalist and arguably pro-“f— you, I’ve got mine”. It has picked up a secondary meaning of “left-leaning” / “progressive” that was almost certainly started by those further to the right, to whom anyone on their left is nigh-indistinguishable from a communist. (The distinction has bitten me on the behind more than once.)
My family is and has been a mix of political philosophies, so for the sake of harmony, we rarely discuss it.
I class myself as “leftish” because I have empathy for those who are worse off than myself, find that impossible to ignore, and so think that the state should support rather than punish or allow to come to harm, and I think that those who are capable of doing better should be made to provide that support. (i.e. tax the rich).