[–] Proeliator 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I have a lot of respect for him and his consistency. He seems to be a very rare politician, one who actually has a principled ideology. I just disagree with a huge part of that ideology. I'll agree with him on some corporate law reform, but he voted for the bailouts in '09 and he's pretty much the stereotype of a tax and spend liberal.
[–] Melbourne43 [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Well I suppose I would be classified as a socialist these days although I always thought I was a little right of centre. I got a degree without having to pay for tuition, I was even given enough money to cover my rent while I studied for three years. I've enjoyed free public health etc. my whole life too. I've had great working conditions, several weeks holiday each year etc. These things seem to me to be the basics of civilised life.
This guy seems to be espousing the same idea. I suppose at his age, he should have enough runs on the board to determine if he's an effective administrator or not. In the video I'm listening to, he's Mayor of Burlington, I'd be interested to see what he achieved and how he left the accounts when he finished the role plus whatever else he's done in the interim.
[–] Proeliator 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Being right of centre and a socialist may not be mutually exclusive depending on the political climate. I think the overton window is probably further to the left in Australia than the US.
You got a college degree, three years of rent, and life long medical coverage for free. That's great for you, but it isn't really free. Your government had to take money from other people to be able to give you those services. That's the issue that I have with socialism. When a government provides services it does it using money that it took from people by force, and it doesn't do it as efficiently as a free market, because there is no profit incentive, because it can take money by force.