4 ms·

Doesn't the political compass usually use the label "authoritarian" and "libertarian" for both the left and right? There's nothing about being libertarian that

Doesn't the political compass usually use the label "authoritarian" and "libertarian" for both the left and right? There's nothing about being libertarian that is inherently right-wing (in particular if you generalise the logic of "big government bad" to "any large powerful organisation including governments, corporations, and individuals bad" then you end up with a very much left-wing position).

robertlagrant 5y ago
I've never heard government bad being described as left wing. Which left wing organisation would say that?
- nicoburns 5y ago
  Any anarchist one for starters. But looking towards more mainstream positions, anyone who is advocating for a Universal Basic Income. While UBI involves high levels of taxation, it does not lead to a big government because the government isn't actually spending that money.
  - robertlagrant 5y ago
    UBI may not create big government (although it probably does) the sort of politics that likes big government also likes UBI.
    - nicoburns 5y ago
      > although it probably does What makes you think that? > the sort of politics that likes big government also likes UBI. I don't think you can really generalise like that. Certainly the reverse doesn't seem to be true, in that UBI seems to have appeal to many of those who are opposed to big government. It certainly seems to avoid a lot of the bureaucracy that comes with more traditional welfare systems.
      - emteycz 5y ago
        The incredible machinery required to collect the current amount of taxes suggests so. Each percentage point requires increasingly more complex tax administration, and with each point more people will try hard to evade it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve
usrn 5y ago
Yes, the liberals are the libertarian left.
- nicoburns 5y ago
  Perhaps it's a US/UK terminology difference, but most of the left-libertarians I know would not take kindly to being described as liberals.

robertlagrant 5y ago

I've never heard government bad being described as left wing. Which left wing organisation would say that?

nicoburns 5y ago
Any anarchist one for starters. But looking towards more mainstream positions, anyone who is advocating for a Universal Basic Income. While UBI involves high levels of taxation, it does not lead to a big government because the government isn't actually spending that money.
- robertlagrant 5y ago
  UBI may not create big government (although it probably does) the sort of politics that likes big government also likes UBI.
  - nicoburns 5y ago
    > although it probably does What makes you think that? > the sort of politics that likes big government also likes UBI. I don't think you can really generalise like that. Certainly the reverse doesn't seem to be true, in that UBI seems to have appeal to many of those who are opposed to big government. It certainly seems to avoid a lot of the bureaucracy that comes with more traditional welfare systems.
    - emteycz 5y ago
      The incredible machinery required to collect the current amount of taxes suggests so. Each percentage point requires increasingly more complex tax administration, and with each point more people will try hard to evade it. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve

usrn 5y ago

Yes, the liberals are the libertarian left.

nicoburns 5y ago
Perhaps it's a US/UK terminology difference, but most of the left-libertarians I know would not take kindly to being described as liberals.