I would classify myself as probably a mixed up centrist when it comes to fiscal and social policies. I would be fairly to the right when it comes to some tax issues (inheritance tax I find crappy, and I am not the greatest fan of council tax.) I believe in getting good value for tax payers money, efficiently run public services for instance. I am a huge fan of socialised medicine though (I do work for the NHS), but I see healthcare as a basic human right which should be covered by the state, I do not see how introducing competition works or benefits something like healthcare, I believe it should be better run but I don't believe that goes hand in hand with introducing more market ethics to it.
The way we spend so much on the military in the west, on new ways of killing people...I just don't get it, we only ever seem to bother with the weak powers in our democracy expeditions...it's macho posturing and a way of justifying programmes like Trident here in the UK on new nuclear submarines which just aren't needed when cuts are being made every where else.
The absolute moral faith in 'markets' is something I can never wrap my head around, and the idea that I keep hearing in the UK at least that we should become more like China 'less lazy, work longer blah blah blah' is one of the most absurd arguments I've ever heard, as it implies we should basically disregard human rights.
I've found myself angrier that i've ever felt at how badly states are run for the interests of the few. I don't want to destroy capitalism, I want it to benefit more people. The market is not God, it is not inherently a force of good or bad, but may have either affect, it's how we currently employ it that is so messed up at disenfranchising many good people. A revolution of sorts may be needed, as it is hard to imagine any of our current lot of politicians having the nerve or will to make some much needed changes.
I fear i'm rambling. I feel passionately about much of this especially in regards to healthcare issues and what not. I kinda support the Occupy movement but like many of them I struggle with what should be done other than a sort of revolutionary political movement. I know one of the main things would be to end the power of lobbying and campaign finance, but it would take a huge change in some politicians stances around the worlds. Apologies just back from a busy late shift at the hospital, mind a bit frazzled.