Two questions

[RealDems]

I'm doing some research for a thesis I'm working on, and I'm trying to get answers to a couple of questions from people on progressive message boards. If you have a minute, I'd really appreciate your responses. Thanks!

1. If a sliding scale exists between majority rule and individual liberties - with support of majority rule being a 1 and support for individual liberties being a 100 - where on that scale would you place yourself?

2. In 10 words or less, how would you describe your ideology?

Thanks again to anyone who responds!

[Warpy]

1. An economy should be a mix of socialism and capitalism.

10 words.

On edit, put me squarely into the ACLU. The Bill of Rights is what keeps the majority from oppressing the minority.

[Ohio Joe]

2. Well, it depends

For number 1. If your talking about something like gay marriage, I would say 100, the rights of minorities must be protected. On the other hand for something like electing an official, I would be at a 1.

For number 2 - I am too complex to fit into ten words :)

[RealDems]

3. I should've known

it would be tough to get simple answers from a bunch of liberals.... always that gray area.

Just kidding. :)

Thanks for the response!

[rrneck]

5. Sounds like you're offering a choice between ananchy and demorcacy.

[RealDems]

7. Well... I did allow for a sliding scale for a reason...

I know that any ideology that offers a complete either/or is 1) dangerous; and 2) falls apart as circumstances change. That was never my point.

My intention is not to put anyone into a box, just to look at historical trends on the Left. The Left in the U.S. was once clearly geared toward majoritarian thought (I'm not just talking about founding principles of the Dem or other left-leaning parties, but even early 20th century stuff).

It isn't much of a stretch - nor would it be all that original on my part - to suggest that there has been a shift in the past few decades toward emphasizing individual liberties. This would include everything from the cultural (i.e. same sex marriage, abortion rights, etc) to the constitutional (Patriot Act, wiretapping...)

I get that both majoritarianism/democracy and individual rights/liberties are important and that both need to be considered. I'm just trying to figure out which of the two values takes precedent among the modern "Left."

[rrneck]

8. Ah, I think I see. Kinda like trying to herd cats, ain't it. In answer to your question then,

I am a 1...

in a one man minority Scots-Irish Joe Bageant kinda way.

A lot of interesting stuff to think about - thanks. When you publish the thesis let me know.

[bemildred]

4. Well, the question is liberty to do what?

Individual liberty to do things that harm others leads to social instability, among other things. It's bad. This is particularly pertinent where economic issues are being discussed. Individual liberty to run ones own life as one chooses, having little effect on anyone else, by definition has little effect on anyone else. That's sort of where I draw the line. It's telling that here in the USA, we consider that matter in exactly the opposite way, lot's of meddling with personal morality, but obliviousness to economic turpitude, which explains a lot of the trouble we are in.

[TahitiNut]

6. Henry Steele Commager wrote "Majority Rule and Minority Rights" in 1943 ...

... based on a series of lectures on the subject. I regard it as the seminal work on the subject. Human rights are non-negotiable ... not subject to infringement by any majority. While an individual's liberty to exercise their rights may be proscribed by "due process" for a criminal act, the mere attribute of BEING (a minority) cannot itself be criminalized.

[SmileyRose]

9. I'd love to help

but I'm too stupid to even understand the question.