tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298019694665414457.post3915419901145320594..comments2023-02-20T13:32:30.372+00:00Comments on From pain to peace, to sunshine from rain: Lost, with a Political CompassMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16204564862931095574noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298019694665414457.post-87326589044125616212012-11-14T18:34:15.972+00:002012-11-14T18:34:15.972+00:00I took the test, and this is what I got. It's ...I took the test, and this is what I got. It's certainly an interesting way of looking at political beliefs/standing. I'm not sure what we can do with it except perhaps say, "Oh, that explains it!" :)<br /><br />Economic Left/Right: -5.38<br />Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.26Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04880509595317100208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6298019694665414457.post-82656454426572652652012-09-30T22:56:48.906+01:002012-09-30T22:56:48.906+01:00Well I looked at the test but decided not to take ...Well I looked at the test but decided not to take it. However, an interesting article nonetheless. You cover a lot of topics there so it is difficult to know where to start.<br /><br />First, I agree there is no real democracy in Britain right now and that is probably the same for many other countries. Part of the problem (or is that the main problem) is that politicians are intrinsically linked with big business. This is the main reason why you feel disenfranchised because New Labour decided to adopt many of the policies of the Conservatives; so it was an extension of a similar style of government you have seen since 1979. Which is to court big business and give them lots of tax breaks, a poor and divided education system, continue with privatisation, laud private finance for public services and not build any public housing at all which in turn totally overheated the economy as house prices are sky high and wage inflation doesn't match it.<br /><br />This is why so many people took out so much credit and got into so much debt; easy credit, low interest rates and the ability to get 100% and even 110% percent mortages. This was a recipe for disaster and the disaster duly occured.<br /><br />America has the same problem as Britain of course. One thing I'm not sure I agree with is that Obama and Romney are similar. Romney has vowed to get rid of medicare? Although he introduced something similar years ago when he was governor of Massachusetts? Romney is really for big business and believes by giving the rich more tax breaks, it will trickle down and stimulate the economy, the same philososphy as George Osbourne. I do not believe Obama and the Democrats share this philosophy.<br /><br />In Spain, the electorate voted Partido Popular to punish the left, surely the electorate would have expected them to introduce loads of cuts and now they hate it and are protesting. <br /><br />I don't know the answer to all the problems we have but voter apathy is not one way to solve it. We should either have compulsory voter, or have the General election on a weekend like other western nations so more people get out and vote. Much more people voting would make politicians more accountable, not the other way round. Lauriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06739400338503439730noreply@blogger.com