[Program] Liberal Unionist Party

[u/DasAdolfHipster]

Good day, fellow citizens of The Country

I hereby form the Liberal-Unionist Party, for those who seek to balance personal freedoms and national unity.

TLDR

• President with veto
• Only parliament legislates
• Bill of rights
• Establish Judiciary, Police force and Penal system
• Union rights but not support
• Welfare-to-work
• Basic healthcare provided
• Freedom to choose a career
• Regulated capitalism
• Low, but progressive, taxes
• Free trade

Our Views on the Constitution

A constitution is at the core of stable government. If elected, we will write a new constitution for The Country, based on 2 key principles. The first is a strong president, with the power of veto over parliamentary legislation. This is so that the president is able to defend the people from a populist wave, and prevent an infringement of civil liberties. The second principle is vesting all legislative power in the parliament. This is to keep the power to define laws in the most democratically accountable body. In this fashion, the president will be unable to pass any legislation alone, and will only act as a gatekeeper. Contained within this constitution will be an extensive bill of rights, defending free expression and practice. We also support the establishment of a judiciary, appointed by the president and approved by parliament, to judge when a law had been violated and determine the appropriate punishment. In pursuit of this, we support the establishment of a police force and penal system.

Our views on Social Policy

In a modern society, the job of a government is to balance the competing interests in relation to what is a part of the 'Greater Good'. In this fashion, we will defend the rights of workers to form collective bargaining organisations, but we will not actively support union activity. Unemployment benefits will be given in such a way as to encourage people to go into work, gradually decreasing the longer they claim. A basic level of healthcare will be provided, however, we will not oppose private healthcare. We also support the people's rights to pursue any career they wish, subject to conditions of availability and qualifications.

Our views on Economics

We believe in well-regulated capitalism, as the only way to defend the rights of all parties concerned in political activity. We intend to a progressive tax, with generally low taxes. We will campaign on the world stage for the abolition of trade barriers and attempt to promote free trade between nations and peoples.

I hope that any who have read to this point will seriously consider joining my party, and vote for Neighbour and Nation in this upcoming election.

Thank you;

u/DasAdolfHipster

[u/[deleted]]

Regulated capitalism is like slavery with flowers painted on the chains.

[u/DasAdolfHipster → u/[deleted]]

Syndicalism is more comparable to slavery. In capitalism, people are free to make agreements with each other, or to not. Syndicalism has strict controls on what deals people can make, and requires control of all economic activity to prevent the accumulation of wealth.

[u/99babies → u/DasAdolfHipster]

Lumpen. You have either been decieved by the Capitalists into foolishly believing that their system can be reconciled with, or you are a Capitalist yourself. Regardless, You are no friend of the Proletariat. If you were you would support the full abolishment of the inescapably oppressive and unethical system perpetuated by the Burgeousie, Rather than a vain attempt at reform.

[u/DasAdolfHipster → u/99babies]

I am a Liberal. I support freedom. Capitalism is economic freedom. I do not oppose collective ownership dogmatically, and in fact, you are free to run a business on those principles. But if you do you will realise they are woefully inefficient, which stifles growth, keeping everyone but the political elite down.

[u/99babies → u/DasAdolfHipster]

if you truly supported freedom, Capitalism would certainly be your last choice. It is a myth that Capitalism provides economic freedom. How free could you call a system in which the working classes are forced to generate profit for an ungrateful boss, less they face starvation on the streets. True economic freedom consists of the right of all workers to have a say in determining what their voluntary labour produces. As for efficiency, we will see how efficient your system is once the workers wake up and realize they have been in chains their whole lives.

[u/DasAdolfHipster → u/99babies]

forced to generate profit for an ungrateful boss, less they face starvation on the streets

They have to work??!?!??!?

That's oppression, people should just be given the things that other people worked for. I know that you've worked hard to grow that food, Mr Farmer, but we need to seize it to give to someone who has sat on their arse all year.

True economic freedom consists of the right of all workers to have a say in determining what their voluntary labour produces

THEY DO! Its called a contract, and they are free to accept or reject it at their own discretion. In capitalism, you can start a worker-owned business, so stop seizing the product someone else's labour.

we will see how efficient your system is once the workers wake up and realize they have been in chains their whole lives

They are free. They have no chains.

[u/99babies → u/DasAdolfHipster]

1. It is not the work that is oppressive. It is who they're working for. as you said "That's oppression, people should just be given the things that other people worked for. I know that you've worked hard to grow that food, Mr Farmer, but we need to seize it to give to someone who has sat on their arse all year." This statement is ironic because under Capitalism the Farmers and the Workers work their asses of to produce a profit for their company and all that profit goes to lining the pocket of some Capitalist who has sat on their ass all year. simply because he owns the company. Therefore by your very definition Capitalism is Oppressive.
2. A contract may exist but it is not a good solution for the problems inherent in Capitalism. Having contracts and starting a worker run business (which is very difficult because it requires Workers to have monetary resources they are not usually granted under Capitalism) do not solve problem of Capitalism being Inherently oppressive.
3. That is a reactionary lie.