I've had an epiphany

[k-onmmunist]

I know I've been very critical of the left and of socialism altogether in the past, but I now realise that even with their faults, they are still better than unfettered capitalism. I've thought about this at the back of my mind for a few weeks now, and the fact is, anarcho-capitalism would simply result in monopolies taking hold, and that would lead to the point of a free market becoming moot. I still support anarchism, but I now believe it is best achieved through gradualism and through gradually creating a sense of voluntary-cooperation.

What's more, we had the best years of growth in the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a mixed economy, stimulated by government spending during downturns. The only reason it came to such a nasty end was due the demand for oil and the lack of alternative energy, which led to a decade of stagflation. Blame the unions all you want, but the fact is, they have been vital in creating the middle class over the last century.

So yeah. This isn't a joke, much as Obamaisdabest's conversion probably is. I genuinely see the error of my beliefs.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I wonder if anyone will bite this time.

[k-onmmunist]

     I wonder if anyone will bite this time.

I'm being 100% honest.

[Boris]

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I wonder if anyone will bite this time.

I'm being 100% honest.

     As am I.

[k-onmmunist]

     I wonder if anyone will bite this time.

I'm being 100% honest.

     As am I.

I wouldn't be surprised if no-one believed me. I simply believe that there are more arguments for a mixed economy than a free market. And when both have been attempted before, it's clear judicious intervention and consumer protections have overall been better policy.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Maybe I am a gullible idiot, but I believe you are sincere. I also hope that you will reconsider, as it would be a great loss to the forum to lose one of our greatest FFs (in this case, literally fighters for freedom).

What it comes down to, of course, is do you believe that one human being ever has the right to inflict unprovoked aggression upon another?

[Scam of God]

You see, I've been saying the same thing for some time now. I remain a devoted libertarian, but too many people on both sides of the spectrum interpret that as being simply "rah rah big businesses", when, in point of fact, nothing is father from the truth.

I do and always have considered myself as being a man of the Left, but in its historical form - that is, I want to see the equitable distribution of physical economic power into the broader hands of the lower classes. What I object to is the way those still rooted in the ideologies of the 20th century social-democratic movement have gone about it: quite frankly, welfare-statism is a pretty watered down version of the old Leftist programme, and accomplishes little save driving most of the established classes deeper into reactionism.

As I've said, I want to see a much lower level of investment in the State mechanisms by Leftists in the future. Why bother, when the technology to directly by-pass this hierarchical and inefficient route exists today? And if, as in the old Leftist analysis, the State is the bulwark of the owning class, does it not make sense to work around - and even against - it? If opportunity can be expanded to place the means of production into the hands of workers by applying what have hitherto been libertarian principles, can we not then use this opportunity to accomplish what state-socialism in the last century failed to do?

And so I consider myself far more a part of the old anarchist movements of Europe than I do an American right-libertarian. My entire career here I've been trying to reach out to Leftists and libertarians - who, scouts honor, share ideological roots in the first great democratic revolutions - and have tried to show them that their means and ends can meet.

[Hash]

rofl?

[President Mitt]

Personal experience has also forced myself to become much more pragmatic than I used to me.

[Hash]

Reality and seeing conservatism in practice in France and Canada has made me abandon my old steadfast conservatism. I supported Harper in 2006 because to me he represented change and clean government. I thought the experience of power and minority governing would moderate his more conservative views. No, he has governed as a far-right corrupt disaster.

I agreed with most of Sarkozy's ideas in 2007, and still kind of do, but he has failed in most regards and "il sert ses petits amis, du Texas a Neuilly". Realism has made me move away from ideological stuff, since it's all philosophical stuff to me now; and more towards pratical stuff. I've grown to dislike all pols in some way, and distrust government.

[Joe Republic]

This would have been slightly convincing if not for the concurrent switch to a Green Party avatar.

[Sam Spade]

LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!

[RIP Robert H Bork]

I know I've been very critical of the left and of socialism altogether in the past, but I now realise that even with their faults, they are still better than unfettered capitalism. I've thought about this at the back of my mind for a few weeks now, and the fact is, anarcho-capitalism would simply result in monopolies taking hold, and that would lead to the point of a free market becoming moot. I still support anarchism, but I now believe it is best achieved through gradualism and through gradually creating a sense of voluntary-cooperation.

What's more, we had the best years of growth in the 1950s and 1960s, when there was a mixed economy, stimulated by government spending during downturns. The only reason it came to such a nasty end was due the demand for oil and the lack of alternative energy, which led to a decade of stagflation. Blame the unions all you want, but the fact is, they have been vital in creating the middle class over the last century.

So yeah. This isn't a joke, much as Obamaisdabest's conversion probably is. I genuinely see the error of my beliefs.

I thought you opposed anti monopoly legislation?

And no, I do not believe you.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

LOL

[paul718]

LOL

[Torie]

LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!

Why is it that lawyers seem to be congenitally unable to have epiphanies, Sam?  I feel so left out.

[Phony Moderate]

I'm confused by the Green avatar. Does this mean you are now an Al Gore fan?

[Joe Republic]

I thought I'd let somebody else point out the obvious this time:

LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!

[k-onmmunist]

I thought I'd let somebody else point out the obvious this time:

LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!

Go away.

[Marokai Backbeat]

LOL

[Robespierre's Jaw]

James Joyce would certainly be proud.

[Хahar 🤔]