Inspired by a thread from
@SalixIncendium that I came across again today:
Is Salix an Atheist?
Based on what you know of my current views and attitudes toward discussions and debates, what label would you use to describe them?
I'm intentionally not going into details about my views in this post because I'm interested to know what impressions of them others already have. Mainly, I'm interested to know which labels, if any, others may associate with a given set of views if the person holding those views doesn't persistently specify a label for themselves.
Thanks in advance!
First, I would say that it's hard to pigeonhole people in any kind of serious or thoughtful way. I think most tend to do it as a matter of convenience, a way of determining who is on whose side in any kind of discussion or political disagreement.
It's more just a generalized marker, in my opinion, and not always that reliable. I've seen a lot of criticisms of the traditional political spectrum as outdated, and some people try to come up with new and inventive ways to categorize their political allies and opponents.
That said, as a generalized marker, I would guesstimate your position as probably somewhere on the left side. Whether it's "far left" or "center left" or somewhere in between, I'm not entirely sure. I think that many American leftists would probably agree with many of your statements about U.S. foreign policy and its impact on the world. So, you get some left-wing cred for that.
When it comes to economic issues, capitalism vs. socialism, the left tends to favor socialism, but some might have more moderate positions, which would be more "left" whereas the more radical variety might be on the "far left."
Social issues can also find their way on the spectrum, as the left tends to be more supportive of civil rights, equality, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and other issues surrounding human rights and social justice. It entails a more progressive outlook, more adaptable to change - although it can also be either moderate or radical, as with anything. The right wing tends to not support that and moves more towards traditional ideals and social mores. And they can also have their more moderate and radical versions.
So, it can get a bit mixed up sometimes, as there are people who might take a more right-wing position on capitalism and economics, yet a more left-wing position on social issues - or vice versa. Or there might be those who support liberal and progressive policies at home, while supporting an aggressive and militaristic foreign policy. That's kind of what we've had in the U.S. these past decades.
