What does this mean to you?

[V.I. Lenin]

You know, I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but since these are political viewpoints, I figured this was right.

All I ask is what you think of when you hear these words. Feel free to throw about "your wrong"s and "no no no!"s. I'm curious

Capitalism

Communism

Socialism

Democracy

Republic

Libertarianism

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican

Democrat

:flame:

 

[ban.the.electoral.college]

You know, I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but since these are political viewpoints, I figured this was right.

All I ask is what you think of when you hear these words. Feel free to throw about "your wrong"s and "no no no!"s. I'm curious

Capitalism Reduces the populace to conspicuous consumers, and material worshipers. Ideology, promoting want over need, and short term gain over long term benefit.

Communism An economic philosophy that was tried in russia, but failed.

Socialism Government intervention to promote the welfare of the needy.

Democracy A system that represents the citizens interests, because issues are voted on by the people. Not to be confused with "Republic", where combined with capitalism, politicians serve the interests of corporate lobbys with deep pockets.

Republic A government construct that is supposed to have representatives that answer to it's people. See Above.

Libertarianism Supports people's power to choose what's best rather than the government. The opposite of socialism.

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican A person who affiliates with an elitist, oppressive, often hipocritical political party. Most likely because it is the only known party to them, besides the Democratic Party.

Democrat A person who affiliates with an elitist, socialist, large-government loving, party. Democrats tend to get the vote from the more liberal end of the spectrum. I can only guess this is because, most people have very little information about the other party's available to address their needs.

 

[MiamiFlorida]

You know, I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but since these are political viewpoints, I figured this was right.

All I ask is what you think of when you hear these words. Feel free to throw about "your wrong"s and "no no no!"s. I'm curious

Capitalism

Communism

Socialism

Democracy

Republic

Libertarianism

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican

Democrat

:flame:

Capitalism: A social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights. Intellectual and political freedom cannot exist without capitalism.

Communism: Abolition of private property....confiscation of property rights....government control of labor and education...government control of media, transportation, agriculture, manufacturing and distribution. In other words, a parasitic society feeding on itself.

Socialism: Hopefully, a happy medium between the previous two.

Democracy: Majority rule.

Republic: There are many definitions of Republic. In the US somehow it has come to represent a system whereas a President is elected by an Electoral College, but in reality "Res publica", its Latin origin means "a public thing".

Libertarianism: Less government control.

Republicans and Democrats: You got me there.

 

[rudy0908]

You know, I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but since these are political viewpoints, I figured this was right.

All I ask is what you think of when you hear these words. Feel free to throw about "your wrong"s and "no no no!"s. I'm curious

Capitalism

Communism

Socialism

Democracy

Republic

Libertarianism

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican

Democrat

:flame:

Capitalism: Free trade with little government intervention based on ideas of Adam Smith.

Communism: Oppressive socialistic government focusing on bettering the whole but very much misused so far.

Socialism: Government restrictions in order to spread evenly the wealth among the people.

Democracy: Government based loosely on will of the people and granting many freedoms to the people.

Republic: nation (i have no idea really)

Libertarianism: Against national id cards and for legal pot (?)

Republican: Party focused on wealth, small government, religion.

Democrat: Party focused on freedoms, welfare, personal rights.

 

[quietrage]

Capitalism-It is an economic system that allows the market to self regulate itself. Good idea but easly corrupted by greedy people focused only on money and profit.
Communism-It is a good idea but should have been left at that. Flawed because it does not account for basic human nature. All humans do things for insentive, thus the state has to use force.
Socialism-Mix between first two provides the best of both ideas, state controlled and privite controlled, but taxes are high.
Democracy-People vote derectly on laws of the state but not able tobe adapted to a large country because of lagistics.
Republic-People vote for others to speak for them, but it is easly corrupted because the state does not have to listen to the people.
LibertarianismNot enough information


Republican/DemocratInterested in helping there parties at the expense of America and the American people. This leads to pointless fighting preventing anything to get done.

 

[Schweddy]

Capitalism A system that allows for individual as well as corporate economic growth. Free enterprise!

Communism A form of government that does not allow individual contribution. This includes no voting and no free enterprise.

Socialism A system that attempts to put everyone on the same level economically.

Democracy A form of government that allows for individual voting and individual representation.

Republic A form of government that allows for individual democratic voting, but has hiearchal representation.

----------------
Libertarian A group in the US that believes in individual voting, hiearchal representation, and very high level of individual freedoms.

Republican A group in the US that believes that capitolism is the best system allowing for economic growth using both individuals and corporations. Hopefully utilizing less governemental restrictions.

Democrat A group in the US that believes that corporations are bad for individial economic growth - requiring restrictions all all levels to acomplish the goal.

 

[Connecticutter]

Interesting Responses. Although there are a few key points in the definitions we can all agree on (which helps if you want to have a worthwhile debate) there are always subtle differences that need to be worked out. Here's my crack at it. I'm open to different ideas here, as I put this together quickly. I added a few:

Economic Systems:

Capitalism: All Property rights are privately owned and people are free to enter into trades and contracts regarding those property rights.

Socialism: The government controls the key property rights of industry and buisiness.

Communism: All property is held communally.

Government Systems:

Democracy: A government where leadership is decided by a vote of the people. In a pure democracy, the people must also vote on the laws themselves.

Majoritarianism: A government by which the majority of its citizens can dictate the rules. There's a reason why there aren't too many of these. Maybe I'm looking for a different word.

Republic: Governments based on the rule of law. Republics often require constitutions which lay out the ground rules by which the government is to operate.

Political Parties

Republicans: Major political party which includes constituencies such as: Middle Class and Upper-Middle Class Citizens, The Religious Right, buisiness, consitutionalists, military, conservatives.

Democrats: Major political party which includes constituencies such as:
Unions, Minorities, Secularists, left-liberals, Hollywood Aristocrats (sorry, couldn't resist)

Libertarian: Minor party that generally advocates libertarian ideas.

libertarian philosophy: the government should be limited to only a subsets of functions found in our consitution, mainly a national defense, and a justice system. We should only have laws against infringing on the life, liberty or property of others.

 

[Billo_Really]

There is one word that seems not to have made the list. A word that should be there. Especially, in this country.

Oligarchy Our current system of government.

 

[Connecticutter]

There is one word that seems not to have made the list. A word that should be there. Especially, in this country.

Oligarchy Our current system of government.

Well now, we have democratic elections.

 

[ban.the.electoral.college]

Well now, we have democratic elections.

... that's debatable.

 

[Billo_Really]

Originally Posted by Connecticutter:
Well now, we have democratic elections.

Could you please pass this message on to Diebold!

 

[ban.the.electoral.college]

Could you please pass this message on to Diebold!

Gladly. To Diebold, whoever you are, and wherever you are: If you think we live in a democracy, then I want you to know that is an argument subject to debate. I think all will agree (except for those less adept). Oligarchy? Maybe. Mediaocracy? Definitely. Democracy? Hell no! Just because we think we are free, does not necessarily mean we really are free. Now, go watch the Matrix to get your feet wet. I don't mean try to literally apply it to your life. But think of it metaphorically. Once you begin to question what is real, and you begin to have an idea of what I'm talking about, get in touch with me because, I've got some more concrete examples that will help pull you out of the "construct".

 

[Connecticutter]

... that's debatable.

There have been cases of election fraud to be sure, but we have done a fairly good job of rooting it out. I vote for my town leadership, my state leadership, my representatives in congress, and the electoral votes my state gives to president. My state voted for Kerry - I'm not going to run and cry that things are rigged. I do not believe in the Diebold conspiracy, and no one has presented convincing evidence

 

[ban.the.electoral.college]

There have been cases of election fraud to be sure, but we have done a fairly good job of rooting it out. I vote for my town leadership, my state leadership, my representatives in congress, and the electoral votes my state gives to president. My state voted for Kerry - I'm not going to run and cry that things are rigged. I do not believe in the Diebold conspiracy, and no one has presented convincing evidence

See the film, "Orwell Rolls In His Grave". If you don't find convincing evidence, then you have not watched all of the extra features.

 

[V.I. Lenin]

Eh fudge, I may as well answer my own questions.

Capitalism
A free market wherein those with ambition rise to the top. However, after the ambitious rise, others are left at the bottom,even if they are more intelligent or better qualified. Creates an uneven distribution of wealth but an overall growth in wealth far superior to communism or socialism.

Communism
A utopian idea founded by Marx wherein all would share in the production of goods. Everyone equal. Governments aspiring towards communism usually become anything but equal.

Socialism
The safe middle between communism and capitalism. The rich can still be rich, but the poor will be given a leg up so they have an equal chance at becoming rich. A social gap still exists, but is lessened significantly.

Democracy
A society where all people, poor and rich, uneducated and intellectual can vote on all issues. Great for small societies, hell for large ones. Decisons are usually not made quickly.

Republic
A society were the poor, the rich, the uneducated and the intellectuals all have representatives. Often corrupted, these leaders rarely hold true to their chosen groups beliefs for long.

Libertarianism
A "free" society where everything goes. Anarchy with police.

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican
The right wing. Often more concerned with wealth, religion, and less government involvement. Or at least they were. Now are trying to distance themselves as far from Democrats as possible, no matter the consequence.

Democrat
The left wing. Concerned with enviromentalist issues, social issues, and more government involvment. They were. Now are trying to distance themselves from Republicans and are bribed just as easily.

 

[TJS0110]

Libertarianism: the only one that matters

 

[Trajan Octavian Titus]

Capitalism- success story

Communism- failed experiment

Socialism- damn maple syrup swilling Canadians waiting in line for months to recieve their inadequate and inferior nationalized medical care.

Democracy- good only when affirmed by a good constitution.

Republic- best form of democracy

Libertarianism- should be the party of the next president.

Republican- atleast they're better than democrats

Democrat- need to wake up, have lost their way, see em in 06

 

[Martyr_Machine]

Capitalism
----------

A requirement for a free society. A system where one succeeds or fails based on ones ability.

Communism
-----------

A tyrannical form of government that sacrifices individual liberty and responsibility and requires that all work towards the benefit of the state at gunpoint.

Socialism
---------

A system in which government cripples small business through regulation, ensuring that the poor remain poor.

Democracy
-----------

A system where the rights of the minority or held at the mercy of the wishes of the majority. A system almost as tyrannical as communism, and one that will inevitably collapse into totalitarianism.

Republic
--------

A system in which the rights of the minority is protected from the will of the majority.

Libertarianism
-------------

An ideology based on individual liberal and responsibility. Generally has an inneffective foreign policy.

Republican
-----------

A system founded on the support of marxism, and has changed little since.

Democrats
-----------

Socialists who support a strong centralized government and the extreme supression of dissent. Generally advocate extremely politically correct laws designed to put a minority group (currently blacks, women and gays) on a pedestal while sacrificing the rights of a percieved enemy (current whites, Christians, and republicans)

 

[Comrade Brian]

Capitalism: An exploitive system based upon inequality and corporate ownership. A lot more complicated than this though. The Bourgeois supress the proletariat. Deserves to be overtrown.

Communism: A stateless, classless, moneyless society. Best system. Not to be confused with Stalinism, which is nearly the opposite.

Socialism: A midway between capitalism and communism, a transition to commusm. The Proletariat supresses the Bourgeois. It's OK.

Democracy: Often thought to be capitalist, but can really only exist in communism. Holds that society as a whole decides things.

Republic: Holds that people elect representitives to decide for them. Can be corrupted many times.

Libertarianism: Wants as little laws as possible, but still having basic ones, such as outlawing murder usually. Many want marijuana legalized.

Republicans: Conservative, like to attack liberals, like to call any leftist 'communist', Often times they are crazy, and are many times idiots.

Democrats: Liberals, central-left, but thats changing. A little better than conservatives.

Like to criticize enough systems Martyr Machine.

 

[cnredd]

Capitalism- Psst...Wanna buy some cheese?

Communism- Line for the cheese forms here...

Socialism- Cheese that you paid for goes to everyone's house...

Democracy- Everyone debates equally on chesse..It goes stale and becomes unedible due to length of debate...

Republic- Elect someone who will decide where the cheese goes....

Libertarianism - My cheese!...get your own!

...and for some nice flame-tastic fun...

Republican - Sells cheese and buys a gun...

Democrat - Accuses the "crackers" of stealing all of the cheese...

 

[Comrade Brian]

:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

 

[TJS0110]

MY CHEESE!haha thats great, but serously i like the basic libretarian beliefs and im registered on this site as libretarian ,but they go realy far some times. Kind of extreme o well no parties perfect, better than democrats and republicans, there to busy fighting to do anything.