Quote:
Originally Posted by Pearl Trade
Centrist in the big picture. If you add all of his policies up and what his take is on issues, he is a centrist. Of course if you break it down to any specific issue, you'll find he is either one or the other, more liberal or more conservative.
I think that's what Baraka was saying.
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More or less. Liberalism occupies that space between socialism and conservatism. It came about as a surge towards bettering the life of the common citizen on the backdrop of exploitation and injustices meted out by the ruling elite.
It came to a point in the 19th century, when the public began pressuring government for changes to the way businesses operated (i.e. treated their employees). You had economies made up of robber barons who were, ironically, protected by the government via tariffs and other protective "nanny state" policies established for the benefit of businesses. Through the establishment of labour rights and laws, the workers, too, eventually received protection.
I think this is what drives Beck mad. This idea of a mixed economy. I think he would rather a pure capitalist or free-market economy, which is just as viable as a pure communist economy. Of course he'd want that. I'm sure he's pretty wealthy.