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Focus less on what you call yourself, and more on what you think. Political labels are so dumb; what use are they? Do you proudly self-identify with a politic
by Crito 13y ago
Focus less on what you call yourself, and more on what you think. Political labels are so dumb; what use are they? Do you proudly self-identify with a political label at dinner parties? On dates? While chatting with somebody on the bus? To your boss, or in an interview?
I sure as hell don't. I talk politics plenty, but I haven't said "I am a ..." since probably highschool.
If you are already talking politics, then just tell people what you think about relevant issues. It makes for a better conversation anyway.
- netcan 13y agoThey're useful for the forming political parties, for example. I mean that in a general sense. A group of people identifying with political goals and trying to achieve them somehow, maybe by getting elected. But I agree with your main point. Unless you have a good reason to accept a label, don't. It generally leads to poorer thinking.
- lvh 13y agoIsn't that exactly what the article does? I mean, sure, he starts out with a political label in the title, but then he makes an argument about something with substance: specifically, whether or not that land, too, is a good that should be protected by property rights.
- john_b 13y agolibertarians (little "l") in general are pretty good about this due to their inherent dislike of being labeled, caricatured, and stereotyped. Having many libertarian subtypes helps too. The downside is that, as others have pointed out, focusing on individual identity and personal beliefs hampers meaningful political organization since it requires a certain ideological smoothing and compromise.