Preferred Parties- Worldwide

[merseysider]

FitzGerald was somewhat a champion of the Liberal left (well, a little) you seem to hate so much.

I'm not against the liberal-left per se, more its current incarnation, where it seems to exist for the sole purpose of simpering about the human rights of suspected al-Qaida terrorists.

I actually read the Guardian. I am an atheist and I believe in a plural, tolerant, and open society. I support gay marriage. I believe immigration can enrich our society both socially and culturally.

My beef with the liberal-left is that they have become so obsessed with their hatred of America / George W Bush / Tony Blair / 'the West' that they are prepared to join hands with people whose values and objectives are the polar opposite of their own.

That's why I hate the Spanish Socialists so much; effectively they were al-Qaida's choice as government of Spain. One minute the PP were in power and heading for an election win; then al-Qaida blows up hundreds of Madrid commuters and the PSOE are in power, sticking up two fingers to America and pulling their forces out of Iraq. Now they are doing the same by pandering to ETA, without demanding that they make the kinds of changes and concessions that Sinn Fein made in Northern Ireland.

[Verily]

FP and Greens are fairly different parties, so may I ask why you would choose between them? (it isn't totally stupid or anything, I actually a know person who choose between them in teh last election, but it'd be itneresting to hear if there is some reasoning behind it)

Honestly, I have my problems with both. For example, I'd be supportive of EU membership, which the Greens oppose, but the FP seems occasionally to be too interventionist in international policy for my liking. Overall, I'm an advocate of social liberalism, which both the FP and the Greens are strong proponents of. I'm less concerned with economics and think that Sweden could do with some loosening of government say in the economy, an FP position (though obviously the Greens approve of left-wing policies). Taking into account that FP coalitions with more conservative parties, however, I might be more inclined to support the Greens.

Does that help?

[Gustaf]

FP and Greens are fairly different parties, so may I ask why you would choose between them? (it isn't totally stupid or anything, I actually a know person who choose between them in teh last election, but it'd be itneresting to hear if there is some reasoning behind it)

Honestly, I have my problems with both. For example, I'd be supportive of EU membership, which the Greens oppose, but the FP seems occasionally to be too interventionist in international policy for my liking. Overall, I'm an advocate of social liberalism, which both the FP and the Greens are strong proponents of. I'm less concerned with economics and think that Sweden could do with some loosening of government say in the economy, an FP position (though obviously the Greens approve of left-wing policies). Taking into account that FP coalitions with more conservative parties, however, I might be more inclined to support the Greens.

Does that help?

Well...what about the Centre Party which favours EU-membership, opposes interventionist foreign policies and is also socially liberal? Social issues aren't really discussed in Sweden anyway. And the FP is very pro-interventionist. They wanted Sweden to take part in the Iraq war and are generally the most pro-Israel/US party in Sweden. The Greens, while fairly leftist, are actually not too bad on economics...they tend to want to favour small businesses and promote free choice in education and health care (they helped over-turn some of the more ridiculous labour laws in Sweden).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Since 2003 we have had a new Film Censor and films are rarely banned here anymore - I think only "Spun" was banned out of the films released to the censor since his appointment.

You shouldn't have a Film Censor at all though.

[Verily]

FP and Greens are fairly different parties, so may I ask why you would choose between them? (it isn't totally stupid or anything, I actually a know person who choose between them in teh last election, but it'd be itneresting to hear if there is some reasoning behind it)

Honestly, I have my problems with both. For example, I'd be supportive of EU membership, which the Greens oppose, but the FP seems occasionally to be too interventionist in international policy for my liking. Overall, I'm an advocate of social liberalism, which both the FP and the Greens are strong proponents of. I'm less concerned with economics and think that Sweden could do with some loosening of government say in the economy, an FP position (though obviously the Greens approve of left-wing policies). Taking into account that FP coalitions with more conservative parties, however, I might be more inclined to support the Greens.

Does that help?

Well...what about the Centre Party which favours EU-membership, opposes interventionist foreign policies and is also socially liberal? Social issues aren't really discussed in Sweden anyway. And the FP is very pro-interventionist. They wanted Sweden to take part in the Iraq war and are generally the most pro-Israel/US party in Sweden. The Greens, while fairly leftist, are actually not too bad on economics...they tend to want to favour small businesses and promote free choice in education and health care (they helped over-turn some of the more ridiculous labour laws in Sweden).

I suppose I was a bit turned off by the Centre Party's advocacy of the localization of politics, which in my opinion should not be a central plank of any political party. (Localization is sometimes a good thing, but not usually.) Also, the Centre Party is opposed to nuclear power and focuses overmuch on agriculture (which, if my home were in Sweden, wouldn't affect me). Still, reading more on the Centre Party, I suppose it fits well also.

[Јas]

Since 2003 we have had a new Film Censor and films are rarely banned here anymore - I think only "Spun" was banned out of the films released to the censor since his appointment.

You shouldn't have a Film Censor at all though.

The title of Film Cencor is increasingly a misnomer insofar as the job really entails the certification of films much more than the censoring thereof which is a very rare and increasingly pointless activity (this is the age of the internet after all).

Though, I also think that for all you can try and slam Ireland in this area, it's not as if the U.S. doesn't have it's own issues in this regard. TPTB's attitudes (in the U.S.) to swearing and to things like whats-her-name's 'wardrobe malfunction' at the Superbowl a few years back come to mind.

[Gustaf]

FP and Greens are fairly different parties, so may I ask why you would choose between them? (it isn't totally stupid or anything, I actually a know person who choose between them in teh last election, but it'd be itneresting to hear if there is some reasoning behind it)

Honestly, I have my problems with both. For example, I'd be supportive of EU membership, which the Greens oppose, but the FP seems occasionally to be too interventionist in international policy for my liking. Overall, I'm an advocate of social liberalism, which both the FP and the Greens are strong proponents of. I'm less concerned with economics and think that Sweden could do with some loosening of government say in the economy, an FP position (though obviously the Greens approve of left-wing policies). Taking into account that FP coalitions with more conservative parties, however, I might be more inclined to support the Greens.

Does that help?

Well...what about the Centre Party which favours EU-membership, opposes interventionist foreign policies and is also socially liberal? Social issues aren't really discussed in Sweden anyway. And the FP is very pro-interventionist. They wanted Sweden to take part in the Iraq war and are generally the most pro-Israel/US party in Sweden. The Greens, while fairly leftist, are actually not too bad on economics...they tend to want to favour small businesses and promote free choice in education and health care (they helped over-turn some of the more ridiculous labour laws in Sweden).

I suppose I was a bit turned off by the Centre Party's advocacy of the localization of politics, which in my opinion should not be a central plank of any political party. (Localization is sometimes a good thing, but not usually.) Also, the Centre Party is opposed to nuclear power and focuses overmuch on agriculture (which, if my home were in Sweden, wouldn't affect me). Still, reading more on the Centre Party, I suppose it fits well also.

The Centre Party has never cared much about decentralization (in fact I think they're the only party advocating a federal European Union). They have also given up on most of the agriculutural stuff and on nuclear power in order to appear more modern (that's what brought them to the position as third biggest party again, for the first time since 1994).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Since 2003 we have had a new Film Censor and films are rarely banned here anymore - I think only "Spun" was banned out of the films released to the censor since his appointment.

You shouldn't have a Film Censor at all though.

The title of Film Cencor is increasingly a misnomer insofar as the job really entails the certification of films much more than the censoring thereof which is a very rare and increasingly pointless activity (this is the age of the internet after all).

Though, I also think that for all you can try and slam Ireland in this area, it's not as if the U.S. doesn't have it's own issues in this regard. TPTB's attitudes (in the U.S.) to swearing and to things like whats-her-name's 'wardrobe malfunction' at the Superbowl a few years back come to mind.

Swearing? No one cares about swearing. They show the South Park movie on TV unedited all the time.

The Super Bowl thing, well that was pretty idiotic, but it also happened on a largely watched prime time TV show, not a movie. Moral outrage against movies doesn't happen anymore.

[Colin]

Since 2003 we have had a new Film Censor and films are rarely banned here anymore - I think only "Spun" was banned out of the films released to the censor since his appointment.

You shouldn't have a Film Censor at all though.

The title of Film Cencor is increasingly a misnomer insofar as the job really entails the certification of films much more than the censoring thereof which is a very rare and increasingly pointless activity (this is the age of the internet after all).

Though, I also think that for all you can try and slam Ireland in this area, it's not as if the U.S. doesn't have it's own issues in this regard. TPTB's attitudes (in the U.S.) to swearing and to things like whats-her-name's 'wardrobe malfunction' at the Superbowl a few years back come to mind.

Swearing? No one cares about swearing. They show the South Park movie on TV unedited all the time.

Yes at one in the morning on basic cable which is hardly what I would consider primetime.

[Јas]

Swearing? No one cares about swearing. They show the South Park movie on TV unedited all the time.

The Super Bowl thing, well that was pretty idiotic, but it also happened on a largely watched prime time TV show, not a movie. Moral outrage against movies doesn't happen anymore.

I believe the most fundamental point that myself (and others) have made to you on Ireland is that your image of the country is one of times gone by. When this point is made to you you shrug it off as irrelevant - however when a similar point is made about modern American social norms and mores - you claim the view is outdated and thus irrelevant.

Surely there's a clear and significant inconsistency in your attitudes here (insofar as Ireland's past is what you judge the country by, but you dismiss America's pass with apparant ease)?

[Gustaf]

Swearing? No one cares about swearing. They show the South Park movie on TV unedited all the time.

The Super Bowl thing, well that was pretty idiotic, but it also happened on a largely watched prime time TV show, not a movie. Moral outrage against movies doesn't happen anymore.

I believe the most fundamental point that myself (and others) have made to you on Ireland is that your image of the country is one of times gone by. When this point is made to you you shrug it off as irrelevant - however when a similar point is made about modern American social norms and mores - you claim the view is outdated and thus irrelevant.

Surely there's a clear and significant inconsistency in your attitudes here (insofar as Ireland's past is what you judge the country by, but you dismiss America's pass with apparant ease)?

You're charging BRTD with inconsistency? Lol.

[Јas]

Swearing? No one cares about swearing. They show the South Park movie on TV unedited all the time.

The Super Bowl thing, well that was pretty idiotic, but it also happened on a largely watched prime time TV show, not a movie. Moral outrage against movies doesn't happen anymore.

I believe the most fundamental point that myself (and others) have made to you on Ireland is that your image of the country is one of times gone by. When this point is made to you you shrug it off as irrelevant - however when a similar point is made about modern American social norms and mores - you claim the view is outdated and thus irrelevant.

Surely there's a clear and significant inconsistency in your attitudes here (insofar as Ireland's past is what you judge the country by, but you dismiss America's pass with apparant ease)?

You're charging BRTD with inconsistency? Lol.

Inconcistency, hypocrisy, applying double standards...take your pick...