MorPolitics

What do you think neoliberalism is?

My government job does the same humbug (it sucks).

What's top of mind is Alexis de Tocqueville's comparisons between the USA and France mentioned in Democracy in America. So I suppose a decent example, with caveats I'd probably have to mention if you were in a super debate-ty mood, would be an older version of the USA, prior to the Federal Reserve. The book is in the public domain btw - https://librivox.org/democracy-in-america-vol-i-by-alexis-de-tocqueville/

I’m under the assumption that the cost of living would decrease if there were a denationalization of money, or at least an asset-backed currency. If I’m wrong about that, then I’m probably wrong about much of my other ideological beliefs. I’m also assuming that a high cost of living, and secularism (which again I know isn’t a popular opinion on Lemmy, since you all tend to love atheism), are barriers to participation in voluntary associations. However, y'all could probably admit that churches make it easy to volunteer. Reliance on government programs also has a crowding-out effect on voluntary associations, which I would equate to fixating on the Eye of Sauron, or on evil itself, instead of trying to work within the realm of the good. Politics is a realm of toxicity that I think we should minimize, & voluntary associations are where we can do the most good & find the most agreement.

P.S. I'm a Christian, but I don't claim to speak for my religion since I'm a stupid, flawed human with biases, deficiencies, & so on, like we all are.

I do think that relying on government programs instead of voluntary associations will increase poverty over time. Going further into debt, or needing to borrow from the state budget just to stay afloat a little longer, is like taking out one credit card to pay off another. I think that's a bad idea.

So, to me, choosing not to step up and help solve a problem yourself (for example, through voluntary associations), while instead asking the government to use force to solve it on your behalf (by voting for government programs funded through taxation), is both a bad idea and immoral.

P.S. I know this is not a very Lemmy-friendly opinion, I know you guys tend to love democratic socialism. I think you're well-intentioned people, but you would cause poverty and stagnation if you got your way, though. Ideally, you wouldn't rage at me for thinking differently from you. (Take note that I hold no political power & admit I very well could be wrong, or propagandized, or whatever.)