Based on my Political Compass Quiz, I am a Libertarian Centrist. This means that on economic matters I am pretty much in the middle of the traditional left-right line. When it comes to social matters, I am much more towards the Libertarian side as opposed to the authoritarian side.
My thoughts regarding what the wealthy should sacrifice are consistent with my results from the Political Compass Quiz. I do not think that wealthy people should want to sacrifice a percentage of their wealth in order to benefit the less fortunate. The healthcare and legal systems in the US are set up so that those who can afford to pay for services have the option to get significantly better care than those who can't. Thus, from the viewpoint of the wealthy, sacrificing wealth for others care is detrimental to their own care. However, the government should require the wealthy to sacrifice a part of their wealth to help the less fortunate. The wealthy are wealthy because they have benefited much more form the way society is set up than those who have less. In other words, the wealthy are not simply wealthy because they have worked much harder than the rest of us, yet they have been more fortunate and reaped the rewards of a society that is set up for them.
The three values that every American citizen should have are the right to vote, the right to speak freely, and the right to pursue the American Dream. Every citizen needs the right to vote in order to uphold the American democracy. As soon as some people cannot vote, the democracy is ruined for everybody. Thus what is happening in Georgia and has happened in other states is a threat to the American style of democracy. Everyone should have the right to speak freely because without hearing all opinions and viewpoints, it would be impossible to make decisions about how to make progress. It would be like assembling a team of philosophers, listening to just one of them, and then basing your life values off of that single opinion. In real life, President Trump impedes this right when he talks to the media. Calling certain sources (most sources) fake news undermines the free speech rights of the news source. Furthermore, each individual should have the right to pursue the American Dream. The American Dream means something different to each person. For some the goal is to never have to work, for others it is to find a steady job. Yet for others it is simply getting into the country in order to better their lives by any means necessary. President Trump violates this rights through his immigration policies.
I very much agree that the economic and healthcare systems in the US benefit the wealthy and don't allow the poor any opportunity to change their situation. The only way to mandate this is through government regulation, because relying on the kindness of the wealthy will have no effect. For the three rights every citizen deserves, I said the same of voting and the right to freedom of speech. However, I said that the third right should be that of a livelihood. But after reading your post, I agree that citizens should have the right to the American dream. I liked your line, "The American Dream means something different to each person." It may mean pursuing money, or supporting your family, or something else, but the underlying theme is the opportunity to get out what you put in. If you are willing to work hard to achieve a goal, your country should support your willingness to do so.
ReplyDelete-Tommy Barbato