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I have recently had an influx of new followers. Thank you - I’m honoured (you must all be VERY bored to follow me).
Many seem to be radical feminists and politically left wing. I value that people who I may not agree with on some, or even many points, follow me.
Many seem to be radical feminists and politically left wing. I value that people who I may not agree with on some, or even many points, follow me.
I follow many who I disagree with, and/or as someone on the political liberal right, I truly value my real world friends on the left - who I find challenging and thought provoking. And lovely. Even you @KarlTurnerMP
I dislike echo chambers. Polarisation is unhelpful.
I dislike echo chambers. Polarisation is unhelpful.
I’m a “whiggish” (ie “liberal”) Tory, very influenced by the thinking of Burke: moderate, evidence based, and believe in society and inter-generational social contracts. I’m sceptical about (but not opposed “in principle” to) radical acts. I’m more “evolution” than “revolution”
I am a rationalist and fan of the enlightenment. I believe in wealth creation - but do not feel wealth and opportunity are presently sufficiently shared and accessible.
I am a big fan of “Rhine Capitalism” (the German social-market approach to economic planning).
I am a big fan of “Rhine Capitalism” (the German social-market approach to economic planning).
I’m committed to internationalism, international law and human rights. I believe humans are wonderful things but capable of real evil, and that unless we are all free, freedom itself is not truly achieved. Most of all, I see the importance of nuance in human relations.
I’m opposed to the death penalty, support a viable Palestinian state living in peace alongside Israel (which has a right to defend its citizens from terrorism), dislike Chinese autocracy, Russian Mafia-statism, and US stupidity!
Best US Presidents - Lincoln (for reconstruction), FDR (for New Deal), Reagan (for being himself and ending the Cold War) and Obama (for being a true statesman). Best U.K. PMs, Churchill, Wilson, Thatcher and Blair. Major had many strengths. I’m not a Boris fan.
I’m a fan of introspection and Jungian psychoanalysis - by which I mean I do not believe that world needs me to save it, the world needs us each to save our own self - to be a better human being, for the benefit of whole the human race.
This starts with each person understanding their own shadow side - the unconscious part of our existence which we unknowingly allow to dominate our lives to our detriment.
I’m a fan of international development and wish we spent more, not less, on it. I dislike “injustice” and value fairness - but I believe economic equality is an unwise yardstick, economic fairness being much better. I am concerned about disparity in wealth, power and opportunity
I was sceptical about U.K. membership of the EU and voted to leave, thinking we would remain inside the EEA. I think the U.K. should rejoin EFTA and maintain a voice in the European economy, but remain free from its politcs (and it free from us restraining necessary integration)
I think a Marxist analysis of society has interesting and valuable observations, but its solutions are flawed and dangerous. I fear human instincts which lead to authoritarianism and dictatorial governance. I dislike “scapegoating” (which is merely group or national projection).
I am desperately sad we have “alt-right” versus “woke left” as both are dangerous ideologies devoid of any holistic competence or coherence. But progressive liberalism is also in a difficult place because it’s failed to deal with the economic disparities that it creates.
This is why the paradox of poor white people blaming poor black people for their woes bemuses me. Our social contracts need to be renegotiated: opportunity needs to be both created and taken advantage of. Capitalism needs to work for all, not be scrapped. The alternative is worse
I think most people fall into the definition of “moderate” - somewhere between perhaps soft-conservatism and soft social democracy/Fabianism. But that this can be a lazy place to be - which is why we need radical thinking to shake-up the ideas we discuss.
But as an approach to politcs and society, I am against throwing babies out with the bath water. Sometimes reform, even major reform is essential and healthy. But we should not change for change’s sake - and “radical” is often an inherently risky approach.
I don’t believe in gender theory - we are biological creatures and defined by our biology.
By all means, present and live in peace as the opposite sex, but demanding others, especially women, give-up their rights to accommodate your need for affirmation, is illiberal and wrong.
By all means, present and live in peace as the opposite sex, but demanding others, especially women, give-up their rights to accommodate your need for affirmation, is illiberal and wrong.
