NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay... only social issues are being described here. Typical Conservatives/Republicans need not apply.

I want a few sources for my arsenal concerning civil liberties being outstandingly, exclusively being fought for on a liberal front.

I'm talking organizations and political efforts on the least popular political platforms:

Driugs

Prostitution

Gambling.

Within the LIBERAL viewpoint, please show some hardcore effort to affect change in these unpopular arenas.

RULES: American viewpoint (sorry international friends, but you'll confuse the topic. :fluffle: ). ;)

May help if you define "liberal." It has a vast range of definitions.

The English dictionary in my house (Oxford English Dictionary) defines liberal as "favouring individual liberty, free trade, and moderate reform.".

Another flaw in your request is that you ask for an attempts by liberals to "affect change in these unpopular arenas." Different people consider different changes good, Eichen. Some people think gambling should be legalized, others that it should be illegal. Are you asking for examples of liberals doing what you believe is morally acceptable or for examples of liberals doing what they think is morally acceptable?

We're sources?

May help if you define "liberal." It has a vast range of definitions.
American Democrats/Libertarians. (Socially liberal, one moderate, one more "extreme".)

Not being affiliated with any liberal organizations whose platforms i'm familiar with or endorse sight unseen, my opinions are:

Driugs - Help drug addicts, decriminalize relatively harmless drugs (for the purpose of saving public money and increasing the public treasury through taxing them)

Prostitution - allow local governments the ability to decide on that one.

Gambling. - local issue, leave to local popular government.

Another flaw in your request is that you ask for an attempts by liberals to "affect change in these unpopular arenas." Different people consider different changes good, Eichen. Some people think gambling should be legalized, others that it should be illegal. Are you asking for examples of liberals doing what you believe is morally acceptable or for examples of liberals doing what they think is morally acceptable?
I have no response to that. :confused:

American Democrats/Libertarians. (Socially liberal, one moderate, one more "extreme".)

Assuming that you mean members of the Democratic Party in USA, then I would not understand this opinion. On the dictionary defintion of liberal, there are many liberals in the USA's other main political party, the Republican party as well. In fact, there are very few major differences between either of these parties from my viewpoint.

Drugs
It's best left up to state governments, however I would like the federal government to end its War on Drugs (costing too much money, ineffective). I'd prefer rehabilitation clinics to be run by private citizens rather than the government . . . the legal age would be the same as for purchasing cigarettes.

Prostitution
Also best left to states

Gambling
Best left to local community.

I would like to note that if these are deciminalized, I don't want the government subsidizing any of these.

Assuming that you mean members of the Democratic Party in USA, then I would not understand this opinion. On the dictionary defintion of liberal, there are many liberals in the USA's other main political party, the Republican party as well. In fact, there are very few major differences between either of these parties from my viewpoint.


Have to agree with you here, except one party buys votes with other peoples money and the other takes other peoples money and buys votes. Wait, ugh...

Have to agree with you here, except one party buys votes with other peoples money and the other takes other peoples money and buys votes. Wait, ugh...
Exactly why I'm libertarian

Exactly why I'm libertarian

The libs in my state almost passed a ballot initiative to repeal the state income tax.

They're on the level of anarchists in my opinion.

is links to websites (i.e., sources of information) on these topics from a liberal, Democrat, progressive, or libertarian view.

My guess would be that Eichen means sources of information re:
pro-legalization/decriminationalization of drugs

pro-legalization/decriminationalization of prostitution

pro-legalization/decriminationalization of gambling.

Liberals, Democrats, progressives, and libertarians may disagree with any of these viewpoints, but that is not what I think Eichen is concerned about. Eichen is merely looking for good sources of information (or ammunition).

Am I right, Eichen? If I'm wrong, I'll delete this post.

(no good sources for you, but maybe this clarification will help)

In my country there is no conservative party or liberal party.
There is just me and my ruthless rule!
Don't like it?
Then stay the hell out of my country silly human!

I want a few sources for my arsenal concerning civil liberties being outstandingly, exclusively being fought for on a liberal front.

I'm talking organizations and political efforts on the least popular political platforms:

Driugs

Prostitution

Gambling.

Will the Libertarian Party's website be useful to you as a source?

http://www.lp.org

Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union's website might also prove useful:

http://www.aclu.org

Um... guys, I think he's actually asking for sources from the AMERICAN LEFT, not Classical or dictionary Liberals, or Libertarians, but the Dean supporter types, the Michael Moore Fanclub types.

drugs - drug abuse rates were lower when nothing was illegal, which is why liberals believe in legalization (to varying degrees)

gambling - there really is no solid liberal opinion on this.

prostitution - varies, but i personally believe it should be legalized. this would give the government the ability to enforce mandatory medical checkups on prostitutes as well as ensure abuse doesn't happen. the pervs who need prostitutes in the first place would much rather have a guarantee of not contracting an S.T.D than their current deal, switching business to the regulated brothels, thereby forcing any whore houses that want to make any money to go legit.

drugs - drug abuse rates were lower when nothing was illegal, which is why liberals believe in legalization (to varying degrees)

gambling - there really is no solid liberal opinion on this.

prostitution - varies, but i personally believe it should be legalized. this would give the government the ability to enforce mandatory medical checkups on prostitutes as well as ensure abuse doesn't happen. the pervs who need prostitutes in the first place would much rather have a guarantee of not contracting an S.T.D than their current deal, switching business to the regulated brothels, thereby forcing any whore houses that want to make any money to go legit.

Few Liberals I know are in favour of Legalization, esp. of the "Hard Drugs" like Heroin, cocaine, Methamphetemine, etc. but most Libertarians and Libertarian-inclined American Leftists agree that the "War on Drugs" is a war on personal freedom, and a losing war at that. (some of us even agree that it's as futile as the War on Poverty, War on Crime, and War on Terrorism...)

Libertarians (which, by the modern political Lexicon, aren't 'Liberals') tend to have no objections to letting some jerkoff gamble his savings away, as long as we don't have to make it up for him.

Prostitution: Libertarians tend to agree with decriminalization/legalization. Where the Libertarian splits with the Liberal is that the Libertarian sees no reason to regulate it, and little reason to tax it. If a person is willing to fork the money over to have his ashes hauled, so be it-none of the State's business. Likewise, if you go and catch a disease, under the Libertarian model, you'd better have your own health insurance, because the Libertarian won't pay for your Clinic. The American Leftist, otoh, wants the public to pay for the treatment, and for regulating the hookers-essentially bringing the state into the boudoir or Brothel.

the term "Liberal" and "Progressive" have both been corrupted beyond their original meanings, this is almost by joint agreement between the extremists on the left, and the right.

the current misdefined "Liberals" in America are actually "Statist/Socialists", two hundered years ago, they would be "Royalists".

Prostitution

Within the LIBERAL viewpoint, please show some hardcore effort to affect change in these unpopular arenas.

RULES: American viewpoint (sorry international friends, but you'll confuse the topic. :fluffle: ). ;)

There is a load of data available fro the International Union of Sex Workers for prostitution

IUSW Linky (no porno there OK mods) (http://www.iusw.org/links/index.html)