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There's a substantial difference between a socialist and a libertarian despite them both being "leftists". Stallman is clearly the latter. Socialist: harmoniou
by pphysch 3y ago
There's a substantial difference between a socialist and a libertarian despite them both being "leftists". Stallman is clearly the latter.
Socialist: harmonious society is the highest value
Libertarian: personal liberty is the highest value
These frequently come into conflict. For example, a socialist would support policies that benefit the collective (e.g. new rules), while the libertarian will frequently oppose them because they incur a cost to individual liberty.
- oscillonoscope 3y agoLeft-libertarianism is a subset of socialism. Socialism is a wide umbrella term for multiple economic systems that put the people doing the work in charge of the workplace. It has nothing directly to do with a 'harmonious society'
- pphysch 3y agoArbitrary labels aside, my point stands that it is ridiculous to conflate "socialist" and someone who opposes social programs and a robust society by opposing the public governments that are necessary to implement such things on a large scale, because "privacy" is the highest virtue. What exactly is "socialist" about Stallman, aside from him not being a US Republican and disliking Big Tech? For example, a radically socialist policy would be that "social ownership" should extend to some amount of personal information, to increase accountability, cohesion, trust, etc. But Stallman would vehemently oppose this.