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Hello everyone, I've been wondering for a while about everyone's political views so I decided to make a thread about it. I'd like to know about your overall ideas and ideology, what your views and opinions on currently important issues are, and on issues that are important to you but maybe not everyone else. Please be careful as I do not intend this to be a discussion or debate topic but as a reaction topic where everyone more or less minds their own post. Considering the topic we're dealing with I'd like to formalize the meanings behind some oft-used terms to try and end up with as little misunderstandings as we can. conservatism is broad a term that refers to a desire to keep things the way they are, both socially and politically, e.g. traditional values, ideologies and institutions. Conservatives want to preserve the things that they think are good A subgroup of this is so-called reactionary, which aims to turn things back into "the way they were". progressivism is a broad term that refers to the idea that change in science, politics, economy and social organization can improve the human condition. The central idea is that societies should develop and implement 'better' policies when it can to progress humanity to a better state. socialism in it's current West-European context stands for a political ideology that a state should care for its citizenry and try to maintain at least a certain level of quality of life for all, as well as improve living standards in general. The reason for this can be because it is considered 'good' or because empiric evidence says it improves living conditions (and that is considered good). All welfare states are to a degree socialist. Socialistic policy often uses financial law to try and curb the excesses of free market economy for more stability. liberalism is a philosophy based on liberty and equality. Liberalism in it's current-day West-European context stands for individualism (the right to stand out from a crowd and not be negatively affected by it) and laissez-faire economical and social policy. Liberalism assumes liberty and equality bring up the best in human nature, and the philosophy may find it necessary in practice to use state policy to safeguard the liberty and equality of all citizenry. libertarianism is a series of political philosophies that value liberty above all else. Libertarianism seeks to maximize autonomy, personal choice and primacy of personal judgment. So write away! I'll write up my own ideas at a later time.