Authoritarians to the left of me, authoritarians to the right, stuck in the middle (with you?)

[icehorse]

As a left-leaning centrist, I think it's important to acknowledge authoritarian ideas cropping up across all political parties. Some examples from the U.S., perhaps other could add to the list from other parts of the world:

- trump saying that flag burning should be punished with imprisonment
- trump hoping to "find votes" in 2020
- Walz saying that "hate speech" is not covered by the 1st amendment
- John Kerry saying that the 1st amendment is a block to fighting disinformation.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, anyone got more examples.

(And I anxiously await hearing how "your" party is never authoritarian )

 

[Viker]

I'm all for scrapping political parties myself. I just seem to be stuck using desperate measures during desperate times. It sucks, really.

 

[Estro Felino]

I think that Americans and Europeans are totally different both culturally and ideologically......I see that we don't agree on what liberal means.

In the US, where both parties advocate for economic liberalism, liberal means sexual freedom.

In Europe, where there is total sexual freedom, which is almost taken for granted, liberal means economic liberalism.

Example: I am for total sexual freedom. People can do whatever they want sexually, both in private and in public. There are no limits.
But as for economy, I am 100% authoritarian. There needs to be a State that controls any aspect of economy and punishes those who act against the common good.

 

[Heyo]

As a left-leaning centrist, I think it's important to acknowledge authoritarian ideas cropping up across all political parties. Some examples from the U.S., perhaps other could add to the list from other parts of the world:

- trump saying that flag burning should be punished with imprisonment
- trump hoping to "find votes" in 2020
- Walz saying that "hate speech" is not covered by the 1st amendment
- John Kerry saying that the 1st amendment is a block to fighting disinformation.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, anyone got more examples.

(And I anxiously await hearing how "your" party is never authoritarian )

Usually, the left is a bit more liberal than the right, and they are authoritarian in another way and for other reasons.
E.g. the left likes to pressure the people to live healthy. Iirc, New York (under a left government) has banned big cup sizes for sugary beverages, the left is (a little bit) more for gun control, they are anti pollution, etc.