NationStates Jolt Archive

Would you still consider yourself to be conservative or would you be liberal? Discuss. :)

100 years ago I'd probably have been a revolutionary socialist :p

If I had the same views that I do now, I would have been executed for vocally disapproving of the monarchy and both major political parties. I would have been considered a radical leftie.

Now, I centre left

Probably burned at the stake.

Probably burned at the stake.

...by conservatives? :D

I can't imagine how they would treat me.

I don't know, but considering how much further left the whole world keeps heading, 50 years from now Stalin will probably be considered a "far-rightwing extremist."

I can't imagine how they would treat me.

Since you're a peaceful anarchist, they probably wouldn't do anything.

I can't imagine how they would treat me.
There is/was a stereotype out there that libertarians are anarchists (yeah, right) - so it looks like you and I might both have fallen fighting the same enemy (prolly in Spain against Franco)

200+ years ago people probably would think I'm satan. So I probably would be Pope.

I don't know, but considering how much further left the whole world keeps heading, 50 years from now Stalin will probably be considered a "far-rightwing extremist."

Hell, even today some people consider Howard Zinn- an ultra-leftist, radical whose extremism borders on fanaticism- 'moderate,' 'unbiased,' 'slightly left-leaning,' etc.

I can't imagine how they would treat me.

poorly if you were caught. but there were lots of places for you to be. 50 years ago you could have been stirring up revolution in hungary (ok, that's 48 years ago), assassinating franco, etc. around 100 years ago you could have been running around with makhno during the 1905 russian revolution or (a bit later) with ricardo flores magón in the mexican one. it probably wouldn't have been too terribly fun to be in the usa right after the assassination of mckinley though

Hell, even today some people consider Howard Zinn- an ultra-leftist, radical whose extremism borders on fanaticism- 'moderate,' 'unbiased,' 'slightly left-leaning,' etc.

What I don't get is how Europeans think that Lindon "I want to take all your wages and give them away in welfare" Johnson, was somehow center tight. :confused:

I don't know, but considering how much further left the whole world keeps heading, 50 years from now Stalin will probably be considered a "far-rightwing extremist."
Hmph. Europe and Canada yes. America...America seems to be shifting to the right.

In any case, Stalin's policies were not "left", he was economically to the left, but completely authoritarian.

200+ years ago I would be fighting on the battleplains of civil war wracked Japan.

50 years ago my country was very conservative Catholic, so I would probably be so liberal that they would consider me to be evil.

100 years ago, I probably would have been for Irish home rule, but unwilling to go through violent war of independence.

200 years ago, I would still be raging about the termination of the Irish home rule parliament.

I don't know, but considering how much further left the whole world keeps heading, 50 years from now Stalin will probably be considered a "far-rightwing extremist."
How is the world moving to the left? Neoliberal (i.e. right-wing) globalisation is becoming ever more pervasive.

Hmph. Europe and Canada yes. America...America seems to be shifting to the right.

In any case, Stalin's policies were not "left", he was economically to the left, but completely authoritarian.

Look at this way, though. 100 years ago America didn't have Social Security, or minimum wage, or Medicare, Medicaid, federally-funded education, etc. America now is a horrid combination of socialism and protectionism.

50 years ago my country was very conservative Catholic, so I would probably be so liberal that they would consider me to be evil.

100 years ago, I probably would have been for Irish home rule, but unwilling to go through violent war of independence.

200 years ago, I would still be raging about the termination of the Irish home rule parliament.


How is the world moving to the left? Neoliberal (i.e. right-wing) globalisation is becoming ever more pervasive.

Compare the world's nation's now to 200 or even 100 years ago. Now, nearly all European countries are socialist, and the U.S. is rapidly heading in that direction as well.

Hell, even today some people consider Howard Zinn- an ultra-leftist, radical whose extremism borders on fanaticism- 'moderate,' 'unbiased,' 'slightly left-leaning,' etc.

And others like yourself consider Rush Limbaugh, the fat fuck who believes the enviorments in best shape it's ever been, a god.

Yes let's praise the all knowing, pill popping, serial marrying, draft dodging, fat piece of shit.

Look at this way, though. 100 years ago America didn't have Social Security, or minimum wage, or Medicare, Medicaid, federally-funded education, etc. America now is a horrid combination of socialism and protectionism.
Economically we have definately moved to the left, something I see no problem with.

Socially though, I think we may have slowed down in the past few years. The Religious Right seems more powerful than it has ever been, or maybe I'm overreacting. Am I justified in worrying that Roe v. Wade will be overturned soon?

You should have made this a poll.

And others like yourself consider Rush Limbaugh, the fat fuck who believes the enviorments in best shape it's ever been, a god.

Yes let's praise the all knowing, pill popping, serial marrying, draft dodging, fat piece of shit.

You obviously know nothing about me. Never in any of my posts have I praised Limbaugh. Quite the opposite, in fact. He is a neoconservative Republicon puppet, a fool, and the epitome of hypocrisy.

Economically we have definately moved to the left, something I see no problem with.

Socially though, I think we may have slowed down in the past few years. The Religious Right seems more powerful than it has ever been, or maybe I'm overreacting. Am I justified in worrying that Roe v. Wade will be overturned soon?

Roe v. Wade is unconstitutional. It violates the 10th Amendment. Abortion laws should be left up to the states, not dictated by the federal government.

And I doubt RvW will be overturned. Bush isn't compeltely pro-life. He tolerates abortion in some cases, such as incest, rape, etc.

Difficult to say.

50 years ago, I'm sure I would have been marching along side the Civil Rights activists.

100 years ago, I would have been marching with the Sufferagettes.

200 years ago, I would have been marching with the Abolitionists.

I imagine things wouldn't be too much different.

And others like yourself consider Rush Limbaugh, the fat fuck who believes the enviorments in best shape it's ever been, a god.

Yes let's praise the all knowing, pill popping, serial marrying, draft dodging, fat piece of shit.

And if you had ever read any of my posts, you would know that I can't stand the Republicon Party.

Am I justified in worrying that Roe v. Wade will be overturned soon?

I wouldn't sweat it. SCOTUS isn't a governing body. They won't convene under new management and look at all the past decisions and decide, willy-nilly, to overturn them.

There would have to be a new case and it would have to be worthy of SCOTUS.

Women's rights concerning their bodies aren't in any immediate danger.

What's dangerous is Bush filling his cabinet and advisory board with die-hard loyalists who would never dream of saying no to him and the sweeping changes in Congress that will ultimately end in removal of the rights of the minority.

Just how did Stalin come into power again? I forget ...

How is the world moving to the left? Neoliberal (i.e. right-wing) globalisation is becoming ever more pervasive.

How is neoliberalism right-wing?

Fifty years ago I would have joined the anti-nuclear movement protesting the atomic tests on Bikini island, worked on Adlai Stevenson's campaign in 1956, with an eye toward becoming a Freedom Rider six years later.

In 1904 I would have enthusiastically supported the presidential campaign of Eugene Debs, the Social Democratic Party candidate. I would have also joined Mark Twain and William Jennings Bryant in the Anti-Imperialist League, opposing McKinley's attempt to build an American empire (it is amazing how similar the turn of the two centuries are). I would have volunteered to work at Jane Addams' Hull House in Chicago.

Two hundred years ago I would have opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts (the Patriot Act of its day), supported Thomas Jefferson, and hitched a ride with Lewis and Clark in order to warn the Indians not to trust a single thing the white man said.

Don't ask a history teacher these kinds of questions.

Fifty years ago I would have joined the anti-nuclear movement protesting the atomic tests on Bikini island, worked on Adlai Stevenson's campaign in 1956, with an eye toward becoming a Freedom Rider six years later.

In 1904 I would have enthusiastically supported the presidential campaign of Eugene Debs, the Social Democratic Party candidate. I would have also joined Mark Twain and William Jennings Bryant in the Anti-Imperialist League, opposing McKinley's attempt to build an American empire (it is amazing how similar the turn of the two centuries are). I would have volunteered to work at Jane Addams' Hull House in Chicago.

Two hundred years ago I would have opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts (the Patriot Act of its day), supported Thomas Jefferson, and hitched a ride with Lewis and Clark in order to warn the Indians not to trust a single thing the white man said.


Add all of this to my previous answers. :D

For the bold print: You and me both, brotha (sista?)!

200 years ago, I would have been marching with the Abolitionists.

If you are an American you would have to move to England to join an abolitionist group. In 1804 Britain was on the verge of outlawing the slave trade and anti-slavery societies were being formed. In the U.S. however, there were no concerted abolition efforts for another 25-30 years (althought the Quakers - founders of the women's movement, as well - had always opposed slavery).

I'm afraid that in 1804 the U.S. was an artistic, literary, cultural, and progressive-politics wasteland. How about joining me in hitching a ride with Lewis and Clark and we will organize the Indians to fight off the coming invasion of westward settlers?

If you are an American you would have to move to England to join an abolitionist group. In 1804 Britain was on the verge of outlawing the slave trade and anti-slavery societies were being formed. In the U.S. however, there were no concerted abolitions for another 25-30 years (althought the Quakers - founders of the women's movement, as well - had always opposed slavery).

Okie ... technicalities ... damn history teachers ;)

I'm afraid that in 1804 the U.S. was an artistic, literary, cultural, and progressive-politics wasteland. How about joining me in hitching a ride with Lewis and Clark and we will organize the Indians to fight off the coming invasion of westward settlers?

Well ... I am Indian ... so I guess I'd have to have been one of the ones warned ... but, then again, I'd have probably been too busy flirting with Sacajawea to notice ...

I better stay put until the abolitionists come to the States.

Definitely burned on the stake. Because I like rock music.

LOL, Neo-conservativism!

LOL, 100 years!

You were warned. Two day ban, Galliam and Roachsylvania.

Definitely burned on the stake. Because I like rock music.

Hmm, 200 years ago your love of Rock music would not have been an issue. If you traveled to the plantations of the American south you could have heard slaves singing work songs and "field hollers;" or “corn ditties,” the precursors to spirituals, all early origins of Rock music.

A century ago you might have listened to "rags" by Scott Joplin, James Scott and Joseph Lamb, some of the big names in ragtime, also a precursor to Jazz and Rock music. Country Blues and Church music also were popular in the south and two streams that flowed into the Rock river.

By 1954, of course, you would have a shot at listening to actual Rock and Roll, but they weren't burning people at the stake for it. If you lived in Cleveland you would have listened to Alan Freed, a disc jockey and early pioneer who helped popularize rock and roll. You probably would be listening to Ray Charles, Haley and the Comets, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley.

I was going to add that the last person burned at the stake in America was in 1693, in Salem, but that is wrong on two accounts: None of the accused witches in Salem were actually burned (they were either hanged or pressed to death) and there was a rash of burnings (as well as hangings and other forms of murder) between 1880 and 1930, as 2,500 blacks (and 300 whites) were lynched in the American south.

None over the issue of music, as far as I know.

50 years ago I would have been a socialist
100 years ago I wouldn't have known what those words means
200 years ago I would have been melting the last remains of the last ice age with my neighbours in a very solidarity/solidarian(?) spirit.

50 years ago I would have been a socialist
100 years ago I wouldn't have known what those words means
200 years ago I would have been melting the last remains of the last ice age with my neighbours in a very solidarity/solidarian(?) spirit.

A century ago you could have put your socialist principles into action and worked for the presidential campaign of socialist Eugene Debs.

The last expansion of polar ice took place about 18,000 years ago, so you would have to travel pretty far north to find any frozen remains.

A century ago you could have put your socialist principles into action and worked for the presidential campaign of socialist Eugene Debs.

The last expansion of polar ice took place about 18,000 years ago, so you would have to travel pretty far north to find any frozen remains.
ehem a century ago I would have lived in Russia.

50, 100, 200 years ago...
Would you still consider yourself to be conservative or would you be liberal? Discuss. :)

I was then as I am now.

However, I will grant that every thirty years or so, I seem to get better modes of transportation. Right now I have a Chrysler 300M.
It beats (hands down!) my original 1954 Chrysler 300, the Oldsmobile Runabout I had in 1904, or the buckboard wagon I had in 1804...

Believe it or not, life really hasn't changed much for the ordinary man over the past, oh, 1500 years or so. That is, until about the 1860s.
I'll grant the occasional upheaval changes *society* (and by extension) the average person.
This age, however, with it's high education and instant communication is different. I can't wait until the war in Iraq ends in 2007 and the...

Oops. I've said too much. I'll be going now.

50 years ago I would have been a socialist
100 years ago I wouldn't have known what those words means

ehem a century ago I would have lived in Russia.

Then a century ago you could have joined Trotsky and the Mensheviks, Lenin and the Bolsheviks, or a terrorist group, the Social Revolutionaries. You would have had a failed revolution coming up in 1905 and a successful one in 1917, so there were lots of opportunities for socialists.

Fifty years ago in Russia you probably would have been arrested for being a socialist. Even in the post-Stalin years the Soviet Union continued condemning millions of dissidents (socialist would have been opponents of the communist government) to prisons, labor camps, and death.

Bump - just 'cause I love history dialogue.

Then a century ago you could have joined Trotsky and the Mensheviks, Lenin and the Bolsheviks, or a terrorist group, the Social Revolutionaries. You would have had a failed revolution coming up in 1905 and a successful one in 1917, so there were lots of opportunities for socialists.

Fifty years ago in Russia you probably would have been arrested for being a socialist. Even in the post-Stalin years the Soviet Union continued condemning millions of dissidents (socialist would have been opponents of the communist government) to prisons, labor camps, and death.
I might have been planning how to kill General-Governor Bobrikov and rebel against Russian emperors but as female I would have been a second class citizen.
eh hey, wait a minute, 100 years ago, that would be 1904. Bobrikov was murdered 1904..Can't remember which month. Well I would plan another political murder.
Fifty years ago I would have lived in independent Finland as I do now. No more Russian leaders (well, as long as we nicely obey them) I would be building up our society after the wars.