Sharia and Oz – When in Rome…

“Unenlightened self-interest” has always been a vote-winner in the UK. 😎

I must confess to holding a similar position myself, I am very much in favor of free trade and limited regulation for the economy. My social liberalism is the reason for my very strong belief in the right to free speech and my disdain for religion. The notion that people should be oppressed for their sex or sexual orientation or subjected to barbaric punishments (especially for only minor crimes) sickens me to my very core.

Certainly true, but I have started to notice a bit of consistency in the younger generations, both in the UK and the US. People tend to be social liberals and economic conservatives and I would suggest that part of the reason for New Labours success is a reasonable embrace of that position.

“Unenlightened self-interest” has always been a vote-winner in the UK. 😎

Exactly the point I was making.

That’s one of the major problems with UK (and, I daresay, US) politics today. Everything has to be presented as “black/white”, “either/or”, “for/against”, whereas reality inconveniently deals in infinitely varying shades of grey.

Certainly true, but I have started to notice a bit of consistency in the younger generations, both in the UK and the US. People tend to be social liberals and economic conservatives and I would suggest that part of the reason for New Labours success is a reasonable embrace of that position.

There are far more exceptions than you may imagine, the economic conservatives (by which I mean Thatcherites) have a very difficult relationship with the social conservatives.

Exactly the point I was making.

That’s one of the major problems with UK (and, I daresay, US) politics today. Everything has to be presented as “black/white”, “either/or”, “for/against”, whereas reality inconveniently deals in infinitely varying shades of grey.

It was, indeed, a good win.

Shame about the rest of your posting, though.

ahh sure if we didnt have a laugh……… we would end up crying for the state of a world where diplomacy & a balanced viewpoint is a dirty word!;) 😀

I think the confusion here arises in part from the difference between “socio-political” liberals and “economic” liberals.

Economic liberals are usually socio-political conservatives, although there are always exceptions.

There are far more exceptions than you may imagine, the economic conservatives (by which I mean Thatcherites) have a very difficult relationship with the social conservatives.

Exactly the same thing is present in the Democrat party, the Social liberals there also tend to be economic conservatives (by principle in International trade) which puts them at odds with a major part of the party base who are economic liberals. This is why you see Democrat presidential candidates flirting with protectionism whilst George Bush pursues it as hard as he can. Yet the social-liberals (the part of that category that attended Live8) is very much pro free trade, Its all a bit of a mess, which is why the parties go through regular masochistic sessions. The key to success is to keep your partys mix better balanced than the other guys. George Bush failed this miserably (as well as overseeing the Iraq collapse) so he fell from grace. For me at least this is what makes McCain so interesting, the reason he is getting such a bashing from certain quarters in the Republican party is becouse they are so used to getting there way. In reality McCain is far more of the Reagen streak that bought so much success in the eighties.

No, sealordlawrence is actually quite right in this instance.

There have always been conservative Democrats, just as there are liberal Republicans. The US political landscape is nowhere near as simple and clear cut as the soundbite news and spin doctors would have you believe.

Will take it on advisement just havent seen too many liberal Republicans lately!….though the last sentance certainly rings true!

…..Good win yesterday wasnt it? :diablo:

It was, indeed, a good win.

Shame about the rest of your posting, though.

This is not up for discussion. Please show more respect for other members in the future.

Then all will be well. 🙂

GA

(EDIT: Sarky comments about another member removed by moderator)

Good win yesterday wasnt it? :diablo:

Then you must be at odds with your friends at Foxnews ! Anyone who they consider “liberal” seems to be a leftie ..and after they are what do they call themselves ” fair & balanced “?

DUCK..there goes the low flying pinko elephant :diablo: !

No, sealordlawrence is actually quite right in this instance.

There have always been conservative Democrats, just as there are liberal Republicans. The US political landscape is nowhere near as simple and clear cut as the soundbite news and spin doctors would have you believe.

Completely incorrect. US politics is full of such contradictions. There are very few actual pure liberals or pure conservatives. Most people and politicians are a combination of the different positions based on their personal, social, economic and security beliefs. Your statement was absolutely wrong.

Then you must be at odds with your friends at Foxnews ! Anyone who they consider “liberal” seems to be a leftie ..and after they are what do they call themselves ” fair & balanced “?

DUCK..there goes the low flying pinko elephant :diablo: !

Completely incorrect. US politics is full of such contradictions. There are very few actual pure liberals or pure conservatives. Most people and politicians are a combination of the different positions based on their personal, social, economic and security beliefs. Your statement was absolutely wrong.

I think the confusion here arises in part from the difference between “socio-political” liberals and “economic” liberals.

Economic liberals are usually socio-political conservatives, although there are always exceptions.

bit of a contradiction in terms dont you think? Right wing & Liberal…enough to get you unelected in the States!

Completely incorrect. US politics is full of such contradictions. There are very few actual pure liberals or pure conservatives. Most people and politicians are a combination of the different positions based on their personal, social, economic and security beliefs. Your statement was absolutely wrong.

Moderator Message

I was not even aware there was an insult in there? There was a highly detailed and informative post to correct an incorrect broadly sweeping statement but certainly no insult.

This is not up for discussion. Please show more respect for other members in the future.

Stop insulting and patronising other members whose view of the world is not identical to your own, sealordlawrence.

Last warning, fella! 😡

GA

I was not even aware there was an insult in there? There was a highly detailed and informative post to correct an incorrect broadly sweeping statement but certainly no insult.

Moderator Message

Stop insulting and patronising other members whose view of the world is not identical to your own, sealordlawrence.

Last warning, fella! 😡

GA

So when is John Howard going to live like an Abo? Oh, sorry, that wave of immigration swamping indigenous culture doesn’t count in his argument…..:rolleyes:

bit of a contradiction in terms dont you think? Right wing & Liberal…enough to get you unelected in the States!

I dont know about US but in here, liberals are classed as rigth-wingers…neo-liberalism the current dogma of imperialism is IMO all what rigth-wing is supposed to be like.

‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,
‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’

“Now b*gger off and don’t let the door skelp yer a*se on the way out !” (as my old grannie would have said during her time as a Glasgow pub manageress ! 😀

It’s the only time in my life i’ve ever agreed with the right wing Liberal twerp

bit of a contradiction in terms dont you think? Right wing & Liberal…enough to get you unelected in the States!