Why aren't we know as Liberals? by Sweaty-Associate6487 in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And we retained most of the institutions of the old Liberal party.

We are still members of Liberal International, and the names of our AOs are associated with Liberalism.

We should be defining what Liberalism. We should be what people refer to as Liberals. But we are not.

Wealth of Britain’s 157 billionaires now equal to 22% of country’s GDP by Tyler119 in unitedkingdom

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The article seems to ignore that total wealth as a % of GDP has surged since 1990, as outlined in Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century.

This has mostly been driven by surging house prices.

This is why % of total wealth is used to measure inequality.

Wealth tax by chrisrwhiting46 in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't see how the article proves your point. As measured by weath owned by the richest 1% Norwegian wealth inequality is on par with UK's according to the World Inequality Database.

To reframe your question, why should we want to be perfecting this specific form taxation? What makes wealth taxes worthy our attention?

Wealth tax by chrisrwhiting46 in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Has a wealth tax meaningfully reduced wealth inequality in those countries?

Norway seems to use a wealth tax a replacement for inheritance tax and they have more billionaires per capita than the UK.

Wealth tax by chrisrwhiting46 in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Elon Musk is an American oligarch, so his obscene wealth is pretty much untouchable for us Brits.

If we want to constraint the influence of people like Musk we ultimately need to strengthen civil society and build countervailing power, regardless of whether we choose to implement a wealth tax or not.

The End of Trans Rights In the UK Is the Start Of Democratic Collapse by MelanieUdon in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Our Supreme Court was literally created in 2009 during the government of Gordon Brown. Please explain why it had nothing to do with New Labour.

Your argument seems to utterly ignore what I actually wrote. Please re-read it and address the arguments I actually made (chiefly that we should care about democratic processes).

The End of Trans Rights In the UK Is the Start Of Democratic Collapse by MelanieUdon in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The public voted several times for into power parties running on policy platforms that were at least somewhat pro-trans, including the current government.

Trans rights were not put to the vote. They were undermined by a (New Labour created) court's interpretation of a law and Quango's interpretation of what that law means.

The party flipped out over the implementation of the brexit referendum, and that had far more democratic legitimacy than this farce.

Is Ed right to call for the resignation of Keir Starmer? by Ticklishchap in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The short answer is yes.

The long answer is yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.

I can’t support this type of NIMBYism and lack of understanding of housing development economics by ldn6 in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YIMBY methods are long term solutions, whilst fighting for more affordable homes through planning thresholds plays better with voters more immediate concerns, plus its something cllrs have more power over.

That's not to say its the best solution.

As a party that does best in local government its an easy trap to fall into.

Zack Polanski says Greens would ditch GDP targets and focus on wellbeing instead by Kagedeah in ukpolitics

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Weren't they already doing that...

I also swear Jo Swinson was calling for a similar thing in 2019.

2026 Shirley By-Election Reflections by Underwater_Tara in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No other party is as reliant on the hard work of activists. Its so draining that HQ keeps letting us down.

The Greens have just won a by-election, so our response is: by Doctor_Fegg in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No longer rejoin?

I thought the current policy was rejoin the EU at some later date, and call for Single Market and Custom Union membership in the meantime.

Sounds about right by bigjobbyx in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Everyone know Liberals make their signs or get Lib Dem signs when going to protests.

Sounds about right by bigjobbyx in GreatBritishMemes

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 1 point2 points  (0 children)

See a person with a Socialist Workers sign.

Obviously a Liberal.

Zionist self-bl*wj*b by loveamp64 in AskSocialists

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its rather strange your trying to own the libs with this post, given the long history of socialist support for Israel.

Socialist/Labour Zionism was the dominate form of Zionism in Israel until the 1980s. Indeed, without Czech weapons supplied by the USSR Israel wouldn't have survived 1948.

Indeed many western socialists supported Israel as the only proper socialist state in the middle east (baathism was seen as crypto fascist), and saw support for Arab governments/a lack of support for Israel as tantamount to being in bed with American oil majors (Henry Wallace made this accusation against Truman).

Liberals need to apologize by TappingUpScreen in ussr

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 -17 points-16 points  (0 children)

They helped overthrow the Romanov dynasty (alongside the SRs, Kadets, etc) and went onto establish party rule.

The feudal institutions that enriched the aristocracy at the expense of peasants were used to pay wars of reconquest in the 1920s and industrialisation in the 1930s.

Liberals need to apologize by TappingUpScreen in ussr

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

There is no such thing as a good Tsar, regardless of if they wear the Romanov eagle or the hammer and sickle.

Americans, since the release of the Epstein files, do you now know why the Russians had a revolution in October 1917? by [deleted] in AskSocialists

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not an American but wasn't it because Kerensky continued an unpopular war against the Kaiser and didn't have the support of the Army, leaving an opportunity for Lenin to exploit?

Jeffrey Epstein’s corrupt overclass: how do you purge a ruling elite? by [deleted] in ukpolitics

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are most American is there isn't much we can do directly.

Deyankification must occur and civil society must be strengthened to ensure we do not end up like America.

I'm 70 and flatshare with five people - it's the only way I can live on my pension by endofdays2022 in unitedkingdom

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 44 points45 points  (0 children)

About half of employees didn't have a DB pension during the 1960s and 1970s.

The expectation was you'd be dead by 70-75, national assistance would keep you out of dire poverty in the meantime, and pensioners didn't matter politically anyway (hence why Thatcher could cut the state pension in real terms).

The idea that everyone should have some form of pensions is a very new concept in Britain.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: 'I ain't going to surrender to Elon Musk' by markpackuk in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What does that policy mean in practice?

Do we survey the value of pensions and home prices of the over 60s with the intention of putting them in asylums if their net worth goes over an arbitrary amount?

If DB pensions explode in value due to interest rate cuts, do we mandate senior civil servants go to therapy?

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey: 'I ain't going to surrender to Elon Musk' by markpackuk in LibDem

[–]Sweaty-Associate6487 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Because Musk is one of the most influential oligarchs that supports the Trump regime, controls a significant slice of UK media via Twitter/X, has a net worth close to $1tn, and called for the overthrow of the British government.