I’m considered a leftist by American conservatives on this board.
However, yojimbo considers me somewhat right-wing (certainly economically).
It’s all relative.
I am a Green and a Yippie!
Why did the revolution not work in the 60’s? I dunno.
Will it happen again? Hope so…
Why?
Because!
I’m a liberal and proud of it. I’m rather significantly to the left of Clinton, Gephardt, Gore, et al; however, I do think that the progressive establishment (and isn’t that a contradiction in terms) has got it wrong on the single biggest issue of our time, globalization. Yes, it sucks that children have to work terrible hours in Nike factories in the Third World, but the alternative is not a happy normal soccer-playing childhood; the alternative is starvation. We should use the process to export freedom, labor controls, and anti-discrimination (and as a government, we should force U.S. based companies to do so abroad), but in my experience, the vast majority of people protesting globalization haven’t thought very hard about it. (And this is certainly the case with pretty much all of the protesters you hear interviewed whenever they close down the streets around here.)
–Cliffy
Revolutionary marxist checking in.
Radical social changes are necessary; capitalism has become an obstacle to further economic development and should be abolished by the working class. Anti-war, pro-union, um… guess that about covers it as far as surface issues are concerned 
I’m an anarchist.
As diverse critics ranging from the John Birch Society to Sonia Johnson of radical feminist fame have pointed out, the political notion of a continuum ranging from far left through middle and on to far right is a misrepresentation, and this supposed “line” must be a circle, as the extremes on either end look indistinguishably like absolute totalitarianism.
That circle is superimposed on the REAL political line, which would extend from totalitarianism (where the extreme “left” and the extreme “right” meet), THROUGH the middle (various flavors of constitutional semi-representative semi-democracies and other participatory-yet- unequal hierarchical systems), and onwards out beyond the conventional political circle to the other extreme of anarchy.
(You are, of course, welcome to bring up the old canard about anarchy not being a possible political system. I would say that an absolute totalitarianism is not a possible political system. Neither statement, true or false, has any bearing on the validity and central importance of the line, though. The most important concept in politics is the extent to which a given system imposes order by force on its subjects)
I’m certainly a liberal of some variety, and am currently a registered Democrat with some Socialist tendencies.
I don’t know whether overthrowing capitalism would work—communist/socialist countries haven’t necessarily proven to be the most stable form of government. However, I feel that capitalism doesn’t really benefit anyone except the well-to-do.
Call me confused and constantly searching…
Liberal leftist semi-socialist bleeding heart do-gooder here.
To me, it’s all about fairness. I don’t like to see people suffer. I think we need of course, moderation-I don’t advocate communism or Marxism at ALL.
At the same, time, however, there has to be recognized that under the laissez faire, free market is god system, there is just so much abuse and too much exploitation going on.
I mean, just look at how many people are out there suffering, and nobody even cares. It just makes me so upset and I really wish there was some way to avoid that.
I’m a communist (hence the sig, and from that my screenname). By communism I don’t mean Leninism nor any of its descendants (including Trotskyism, Stalinism, Maoism, Kimism, Castroism, etc.), nor “reformist socialism”. As far as I know, no parties resemble my beliefs well, but this group has beliefs that are quite similar to mine.
Okay. If anyone was curious as to what I am, I’m also a Leftist.
Where on the Left? I’m left to Liberal, but don’t consider myself much of a socialist either.
I want poverty to be abolished.
I want human exploitation and slavery to be abolished.
I want globalism NOT globalization. The former is for exporting human rights, labor controls, anti-discrimination laws. The latter is paying someone just enough to prevent people from starving to death while continuing to live in poverty so that the corporations can reap great profits by selling the products to wealthier countries.
“I believe in strong unions, state provided health and education, good safety nets for people who are unemployed, liberalisation of drugs laws. A fair taxation system that will pay for it. If the services are there I have no problem paying for it out of my wages.”
My thoughts exactly.
And RTfirefly? Very well said!
Moderate-to-liberal here, registered Democrat, and former card-carrying member of the ACLU (I dropped out because the dues were getting expensive – damn George W. Bush recession!).
Actually, I once heard a term called “Atari Democrats,” which was used to describe a liberal-minded person who embraces technological solutions for problems. I identify with that on a lot of levels, though I haven’t seen the term used since.
And despite appearances, I have nothing against conservatives or Republicans; unfortunately, I do have something against stupid people, and conservatives and Republicans seem to take up a disproportionately large chunk of that group… 
I used to consider myself pretty much in the middle, but the middle has moved to my right sometime in the last few years so I guess one could consider me a leftist - at least until the pendulum swings back (I have some doubts whether it ever will, however).
The right has some excellent fear and hate mongers and nothing keeps the old right wing ball rolling like fear and hate.
Y’all do know that there is probably someone taking notes, don’t you? 
Who? The CIA?
If I told you, I’d have to kill you! :rolleyes:
Count me as a liberal and Democrat. However, I think since the collapse of Marxism, our concept of where things lie on the right-to-left political spectrum is in an unstable state of flux.
I’m a socialist, with my ideas on personal freedom fairly liberal and a firm belief in strict government regulation of corporations to the benefit of individuals and society. Doesn’t mean I don’t like the idea of profit, it’s just that I think capitalism needs a bridle held by a strong central government. However, because of fairly militaristic views and a few out-of-place rightist opinions, led some friends to dub me “the Radical Moderate.”
Fully fledged communist reporting to duty.
Not every human is born equal, but we must strive to make them so.
I’m with TV Time. I’ve always thought of myself as a Centrist, but with the swing toward the Right, I’m firmly on the side of the Left.
Besides, the Lefties have better sex! 
I’m surprised to find a few people here. But it’s good to be with one’s comrades.
I knew you’d say that! ehehe
First things first:
“Not every human is born equal, but we must strive to make them so.”
Dude… you are my new hero. You rock!
Anyway I am anti-Democracy. Not because I believe that there is anything wrong with the system per se (as many have noted it is the least bad system of government that we have) but because currently I can’t find a single Democratic politician who I think is worthy of my vote. I mean the US is supposed to be the great Democaracy and the lst election was a joke. LIke Zapiro said:
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States of America I regret to inform you that the 3rd world has been unable to declare the American election ‘Free and Fair.’” I am just disenchanted.
I am also anti-capitalism. I mean what has it given us? A world where 10% (roughly… ok VERY roughly) of one COUNTRY controls 80% of all the wealth of the PLANET. Secondly capitalism has no answer for how the starving masses are EVER going to get fed. The only break that they get is from generous, wealthy individuals who give of their time and cash in a very un-capitalistic fashion.
Secondly (and I don’t know if this is true and I would appreciate it if someone could tell me) I was under the impression that capitalism can only function in a constantly expanding consumer market. If this is true then sooner or later either the Earth is going to be horribly overpopulated or Capitalism is going to collapse. Bit iffy I know but worth thinking about.
Finally… just THINK about it guys: an economic system where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Come on! That CANT be right.
So yeah I guess I am a ‘leftist’ whatever the heck that means.