Where do you sit on the Political Compass? (3 Viewers)

[nevery]

Economic Left/Right: -5.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -0.51


http://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx307/nevery29/pcgraphpng.png

 

[TacoTerrorist]

Yes, but i would prefer relative poverty to poverty. As different to Taco who wishes the poor to live in absolute poverty (i.e. can't afford shelter, water, food, clothing) as long as the rich are also reasonably poor.

This isn't true. It is possible for a society to be without the absurdly wealthy but also ensure a good standard of living for everybody.

Taco, i challenge you to answer this question. Imagine two people: one studied hard all through school and then university, foregoing short term enjoyment (parties, alcohol, drugs, etc.) for long term enjoyment (i.e. he studied to have a better future for himself) and then worked unpaid overtime to get a raise. The second person dropped out of school in year 10 because he couldn't be stuffed doing the work, perhaps tried an apprenticeship but refused to do the work and/or work under someone, and today lines up at centrelink once a month. Our current society robs the former of his hard earned money and hands it to the latter. Do you believe that is fair?

The challenge... is accepted. No, given the parameters you gave, this is not fair. However, you haven't included some external factors. Is the second person from a broken home? Is he a minority, from a poor family, does he have mental health issues etcetera? I'll presume that both people are twins from the same family, for maximum fairness (although such a disparity in life choices from two people from the exact same background is highly unlikely). But in this case, no, it isn't fair. I don't think your sentence I put in bold is accurate. It could be argued that it is in the best interests of the first person to provide for the second to some extent (to help ensure he doesn't turn to crime). No society is flawless, but the best way to reduce situations like the one you provided is to give equal opportunity.

 

[_Duck_]

Hmmm, i concede that i will never change your opinion on this but surely our education system gives everyone equal oportunity. Also, for the record, i do not want to abolish welfare i want it reduced through stricter means testing and all taxes lowered. Obviously the mentally ill deserve welfare.

 

[TacoTerrorist]

^ I am a preservice teacher and have been to quite a few schools. The funding public schools receive is quite a lot less than private schools, and therefore not everyone receives the same education. Welfare is already barely just enough to survive on. I think that large corporations should be taxed more (without all those bullshit loopholes) and the funds used to improve public schooling and social services. Ultimately, we will never have equal opportunity within state capitalism, but we can at least try and level the playing field a bit.

 

[absorber]

Hmmm, i concede that i will never change your opinion on this but surely our education system gives everyone equal oportunity. Also, for the record, i do not want to abolish welfare i want it reduced through stricter means testing and all taxes lowered. Obviously the mentally ill deserve welfare.

No. Just, no.

Are you unemployed and receiving centrelink payments? If not, I doubt you're qualified to judge the fairness of the payments.

And the education system. MY GOD. In NO way is it equal. Seriously, where did you go to school?

 

[jennyfromdabloc]

^ I am a preservice teacher and have been to quite a few schools. The funding public schools receive is quite a lot less than private schools, and therefore not everyone receives the same education. Welfare is already barely just enough to survive on. I think that large corporations should be taxed more (without all those bullshit loopholes) and the funds used to improve public schooling and social services. Ultimately, we will never have equal opportunity within state capitalism, but we can at least try and level the playing field a bit.

Oh you're a teacher. I though you might be a troll, but that would explain why you're such a socialist criminal.

 

[_Duck_]

Whether or not the education system is equal some public school students do very well and hence everyone has the opportunity to. On the topic of education i went to a public school for two years and the private for the other 5 years of my senior education (public for primary but that hardly counts for anything.) Yes, the teachers were better and more enthused at the private school but if you want to know why private schools do better i will tell you very simply that it is because they study harder. The school encourages the students to study harder but the majority of the drive comes from home. Students who study harder deserve to get better grades and be more successful than those who don't. That said, students at public schools have every opportunity to be successful it's just that most simply don't study as much as those at private schools.

Do not stereotype all private schoolers because i met as many parents mortgaging their house twice to send their kids through school as i did spoilt brats given free reign over daddy's credit card.

With the company tax thing Taco; yes it would be great if that worked but it simply doesn't. If companies are taxed into oblivion the economy is ruined and don't forget that those evil corporations employ thousands of Australians.

 

[Lentern]

Oh you're a teacher. I though you might be a troll, but that would explain why you're such a socialist criminal.

Don't be crass.

 

[absorber]

Whether or not the education system is equal some public school students do very well and hence everyone has the opportunity to. On the topic of education i went to a public school for two years and the private for the other 5 years of my senior education (public for primary but that hardly counts for anything.) Yes, the teachers were better and more enthused at the private school but if you want to know why private schools do better i will tell you very simply that it is because they study harder. The school encourages the students to study harder but the majority of the drive comes from home. Students who study harder deserve to get better grades and be more successful than those who don't. That said, students at public schools have every opportunity to be successful it's just that most simply don't study as much as those at private schools.

Do not stereotype all private schoolers because i met as many parents mortgaging their house twice to send their kids through school as i did spoilt brats given free reign over daddy's credit card.

With the company tax thing Taco; yes it would be great if that worked but it simply doesn't. If companies are taxed into oblivion the economy is ruined and don't forget that those evil corporations employ thousands of Australians.

= better opportunities in private schools =/= equal opportunity.

 

[jennyfromdabloc]

Don't be crass.

Or what, you'll put me on detention?

 

[absorber]

Or what, you'll put me on detention?

Or everyone will realise your idiocy

 

[Slidey]

Oh you're a teacher. I though you might be a troll, but that would explain why you're such a socialist criminal.

One of the stupider posts you've made on BoS.

 

[Lentern]

Or what, you'll put me on detention?

I'll vote for the Christian Democrats. say goodbye to your precious liberty then!

 

[Optimus Prime]

yeah fucking love freedom, multinationals ftw etc.

 

[Optimus Prime]

What even is this bullshit about public vs private schools? Last I checked the top 5 schools in the state each year are always public schools, my teachers were overall pretty good. Some more enthusiastic than others but none that I would describe as just plain bad.

 

[Finest]

ironic; 'libertarian' backing public schools

 

[_Duck_]

Optimus it's a matter of whiners not studying hard enough then looking for excuses and someone to blame. With public schools being the best in the state those are almost always selective schools (Melbourne high and macrob in Melbourne) so that skews the data.

 

[Optimus Prime]

What? I have no problem with private schools, I'm just saying they aren't necessarily better. I don't think they should get any public funding though. I'm in NSW though not Victoria. The schools that do the best have the best students, that's all there is to it.

 

[_Duck_]

I was agreeing with you.

 

[Optimus Prime]

I was replying to that "Finest" dude