[jks]

There have been quite a few discussions on politics on this forum, with both left-wing and right-wing arguments put forward.
Everyone who lives in Toronto knows that this city is mostly left-leaning, as proven by having all seats Liberal and NDP.
I wanted to see what people here on UT feel.
Where are you on the political spectrum?

 

[Brian69]

I figured this kind of poll would come out eventually. When pressed to make a choice I'll go for the right-wing slot before the left wing slot but generally I'm all over the map--it depends upon the issue rather than the ideology. I find sitting on one side of the spectrum carries with it the expectation of following all the rules and often inconsistent beliefs that are a part of the ideology in question. It pains me to say it but even the NDP has some reasonable ideas...from time to time.

 

[kEiThZ]

I wonder what the goal is here when you have an open poll? Is your goal to get a snapshot of UT members or to let them self-identify? Should a poll like this not mimic the real ballot and keep our identities hidden?

 

[kEiThZ]

I figured this kind of poll would come out eventually. When pressed to make a choice I'll go for the right-wing slot before the left wing slot but generally I'm all over the map--it depends upon the issue rather than the ideology. I find sitting on one side of the spectrum carries with it the expectation of following all the rules and often inconsistent beliefs that are a part of the ideology in question. It pains me to say it but even the NDP has some reasonable ideas...from time to time.

I am along the same line....I lean right on many an occasion but then again I find it very hard to actually vote conservative at the ballot box. I have only ever done it a handful of times. Generally I vote Liberal....but never NDP. I guess that would make me a centrist.....

 

[jks]

I wonder what the goal is here when you have an open poll? Is your goal to get a snapshot of UT members or to let them self-identify? Should a poll like this not mimic the real ballot and keep our identities hidden?

Well, I wasn't trying to make a mock election here, although I did contemplate what you suggest. Having the open poll is just because it's pretty obvious this discussion is not timed. And after all, the number of UT members is constantly increasing, so everyone should get a chance to state their opinion. This is not about political parties directly, but rather people's ideologies, so that shouldn't majorly change over time (that's why I didn't go with snapshot).
As for hidden identities, a hidden poll might just end up without any discussion. I am hoping people would give legit arguments, and not simply an "Ok, so who won in the end" scenario.

 

[Brian69]

I am along the same line....I lean right on many an occasion but then again I find it very hard to actually vote conservative at the ballot box. I have only ever done it a handful of times. Generally I vote Liberal....but never NDP. I guess that would make me a centrist.....

I was tempted to vote for the centrist choice but would more likely be centre-right if I look back on how I lean on issues overall. I go a little to the left on certain big issues (e.g., abortion rights, corporate taxes) but to the right on a number of others. I always go between Liberal and Conservative come voting time but the conservatives both provincially and federally haven't really fielded anyone of substance lately--well, except John Tory and he stepped in it with his school funding screw-up.

 

[kEiThZ]

^ Agreed. I voted for John Tory because I saw a man of substance who deserved to get a chance....and because the implementation of the health premium (a regressive tax) pissed me off. I don't mind paying higher taxes but I'd like them to be progressive to go towards what they say they are going towards. And of course, the nanny-state laws....at the rate he's piling them up I might vote for Randy Hillier! I don't mind McGuinty that much (good change from the Harris years!) but this stuff is starting to piss me off.

Federally though, Harper has been a disappointment and I won't be supporting him any time soon. I couldn't bring myself to say Prime Minister Dion but with Iggy, I see a man ready to govern coming with a fresh vision. Unless Harper snuffs some hallucinogens which give him a national vision soon, I think it'd be hard for most centrists to support him.

 

[urbandreamer]

If I'm reading the National Post and/or discussing National Post editorials with rightwing nuts, I tend to go radically leftwing. The Toronto Star's editorials are 99% hogwash, so I'm not suburban leftwing like the Star. Basically, whenever I see someone going to one extreme, I like to play devil's advocate and restore some fairness. I view life/politics/business cycles like a rubber band: pull too far to one side and it'll either break or snap back to the centre.

Some issues I feel very Social Cred, others Libertarian, but for the most part, Canadian Liberals and PC's piss me off, while the NDP just seems quaint.

 

[kEiThZ]

^ That's an interesting sentiment....I feel like a total right wing nutjob on UT sometimes which is far from my real self. But then again, when I am with some friends and family (particularly my American relatives) I feel like I am preaching communism. This stuff is all relative I suppose.

 

[kEiThZ]

How does one have 'mixed' views? Isn't that essentially a centrist?

 

[Brian69]

Heh--I like doing the devil's advocate thing too sometimes because some people who are too entrenched on either side of the left/right spectrum seem to take any opposition to their ideas very personally. Believing in something is important but I think a little mental flexibility (as opposed to mental gymnastics) is critical.

 

[afransen]

I am along the same line....I lean right on many an occasion but then again I find it very hard to actually vote conservative at the ballot box. I have only ever done it a handful of times. Generally I vote Liberal....but never NDP. I guess that would make me a centrist.....

I'm a social democrat that buys economic theory for the most part and believes in the efficiency of the market as a mechanism. The reason why the NDP are so appalling is that they fundamentally reject economic theory--they propose a bunch of policies that don't get the incentives right and thus would not work. Then of course they have an infuriating tendency to defend upper-middle class trade unionists, arguably some of the most indulged members of our society.

I think the main difference between you and I is that you are more of a libertarian.

As far as the health premium--it's a dumb tax. However, it's worth noting that just about every other tax is similarly dumped into general revenues. The only notable exception is the CPP, and that isn't even truly part of the federal government.

 

[kEiThZ]

^ The sad part is that there's no party to cater to people in my boat. I basically want a fiscally conservative, socially progressive party with a good libertarian streak. It always seems that the best I can do is get 2 out of 3 on that score card.

 

[toraerach]

I'm a pretty left-wing guy. At my core, I guess you could say I'm very fond of the ideas put forth by early 20th Century European socialists especially those following in a Rosa Luxemburg tradition. However, I'm not a party ideologue by any means and I am willing (and, with our current political options, forced) to compromise a lot at the ballot box. While the NDP is a default option, I don't find them particularly representing my views most of the time. I have no problem voting for a left-leaning Liberal, Green, or independent over an incompetant or unfulfilling NDP option. I will avoid voting for anyone who brings nothing to the table but the party platform. I appreciate dissent, and the ability of any prospective MP to disagree with their party in order to represent me and my fellow constituents.

 

[adma]

I'm a pretty left-wing guy. At my core, I guess you could say I'm very fond of the ideas put forth by early 20th Century European socialists especially those following in a Rosa Luxemburg tradition.

I just discovered how easily the name "Rosa Luxemburg" can accidentally register as "Rush Limbaugh"