Over the last few decades the right has managed to demonize “liberal” one of the most beautiful words in the language. “Left” has fared a little better but it too is suffering from: 1) It’s association with failed socialist experiments of the past and 2) The constant harping of the lunatic right on what it percieves to be “the mindless left” and “leftist media bias” etc.
It’s perhaps time for a new term, one that is not so easily manipuplated and one that is in fact more descriptive of the beliefs and values of the vast majority of reasonable people. “Progressive capitalism” has been suggested and it seems a good choice as, containing the word "capitalism, it could less easily be uttered with a dismissive sneer.
Many of the people who are disparagingly labelled leftist today and who, for lack of a better term, might refer to themselves this way are frequently people who have a tremendous amount of respect for the capitalist model and it’s power, essentially, to motivate. They recognize that capitalism provides man with the best opportunity to fulfill his natural urge to seek out his own advantage and are eager that it be continued be allowed to do so, within reason.
The “leftists” of today are not opposed to capiltalism but to the abuse of capitalism and the elevation of capitalist ethics to a status somewhere above the democratic principle. Perhaps we can clarify and legitimize our position, beginning with the choice of the new label “progressive capitalist.”
You are a proggressive capitalist if:
(naturally nobody will agree or disagree to all of the following, this is just to get a general idea)
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You reject the idea of one dollar one vote and are therefore in favor of radical campaign reform.
This is the big ticket item. -
You don’t advocate class warfare, you admit that it is happening globally and that the poor are losing.
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You believe that corporate welfare is a major problem.
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You believe in equality of health care and education.
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You believe in fair wages.
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You don’t believe that corporations, or individuals, should be allowed to pollute the environment for free. The price of oil and gas for example should include the cost of treating the health problems associated with their use.
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You pay for your own lunch, dinner, night of karokee etc rather than claiming it as a business expense thus avoiding taxation on that amount.
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You think that money spent on the military could be better spent elsewhere. This is particularly true in the US.
note: this is a work in progress, if you have a suggestion let me know, maybe I’ll add it to the list