This is difficult. I could just list my positions on a number of things, and it could take a long time.
I’ll try to list just a few…
- I am for income-redistribution in a massive way to shrink income inequality.
– I believe that healthcare is a right, and therefore support taxpayer-funded healthcare. In general, I want to maximize freedom of the individual, while balancing it with concerns about societal health. In other words, I support full legalization of all drugs, unrestrained freedom of speech, and freedom of religion (or irreligion). But I support laws that restrict an individual’s right to pollute – including noise and air pollution.
– I support a woman’s right to full control over her body, including the right to terminate a pregnancy and full access to birth control.
– I believe it is important to protect the minority from the majority, and so I generally distrust direct-democracy style voting (ballot measures).
– While freedom is the goal here, I tend to side on supporting government when it comes to government vs. private power. At least the government is theoretically democratic.
– I support federal vs. state rights. State rights movements allow corporations more power by allowing states to compete in a race to the bottom. If it’s important enough to legislate, it should apply to everyone in the country.
– Corporations are not people.
– The environment is to be protected at almost all costs.
– I believe that prisons should not be run for profit.
– I believe that prisons should be used to keep dangerous individuals from the general population. They are not to be used for retribution or be filled with drug users.
– I am not a pacifist, and I admittedly struggle concerning foreign policy. While I believe the U.S. has a nightmarish foreign policy record, I am not completely opposed to the use of military force to help end suffering where necessary.
– I believe that all of my positions are subject to change, based on evidence. I don’t believe in the inerrancy of the US Constitution or the “founding fathers”. It’s clear that progress is possible and desirable. We should expect to look back at the state of things in 2014 with the same embarrassment as we do at our support of segregated schools or pre-women’s suffrage.
In general, it seems clear that much of privilege and need are subject to luck (genes, upbringing, etc) and do not feel that people can take credit (in the deepest sense) for their success or take blame for their most lack of success. Therefore, I think it’s vital that we strive towards equality of outcome rather than “opportunity”.
Ok. Sorry for the ramble. Hope I didn’t use any labels above or misspeak.