I want to join a political party but....

[AsianWithAFro]

Everyone I come across don't have views that I agree with. There are like values that I like from some parties. My bloodline is Liberal but I am not an economic liberal but more a social liberal so how do I compromise?

 

[showdownhero]

Everyone I come across don't have views that I agree with. There are like values that I like from some parties. My bloodline is Liberal but I am not an economic liberal but more a social liberal so how do I compromise?

Vote 1 Australian Sex Party

 

[DeanoT]

What do you want to achieve by joining a political party?

If you want to influence key decisions (as a party member or MP), you will need to join one of the two major parties, but you will also need to accept that broad-based parties must appeal to the masses, and therefore bend their ideology when it is politically expedient to do so.

If you want to join an ideologically consistent party, then you must resign yourself to joining one of the smaller parties, which have little influence over the political landscape.

If you are socially liberal, you might want to check out these two:

www.ldp.org.au

www.sexparty.org.au

 

[Suspense]

so how do I compromise?

join a political party.

 

[Caesar]

Why do you want to join a political party at all?

If you don't agree with any of them then unless you want a political career there's not much point.

 

[evo]

join a political party.

/ thread

 

[patsmith]

Unless you are trying to use it for a career etc, why bother? You would just end up having to shoehorn your values to match the party's.

Also, people who are members of a political party are usually completely blinded to all other opinions (and I include my mother in this assessment) and just become apologists for their party of choice. If you want to keep an open mind, don't get too attached to a party!

 

[Clay Davis]

a social liberal

MEDUSALA ALERT!

NO SUCH THING!​

sorry asian fro, you don't exist.

 

[Messenger]

Everyone I come across don't have views that I agree with. There are like values that I like from some parties. My bloodline is Liberal but I am not an economic liberal but more a social liberal so how do I compromise?

DO you mean you are a social conservative?

 

[fairdinkum]

Why do you want to join a political party at all?

If you don't agree with any of them then unless you want a political career there's not much point.

You don't think that minor political parties can influence peoples opinions on issues, even if they don't atract enough votes to shape policy?

DO you mean you are a social conservative?

Pretty sure he said he was a social liberal. So no.

 

[Caesar]

You don't think that minor political parties can influence peoples opinions on issues, even if they don't atract enough votes to shape policy?

Well yeah, but the guy said he's shopped around and can't find a party that represents his views. Why join one that doesn't? Just for the sake of being a member of one?

 

[Messenger]

Pretty sure he said he was a social liberal. So no.

Hence my question. Not too many social liberals in that party anymore.

 

[fairdinkum]

Well yeah, but the guy said he's shopped around and can't find a party that represents his views. Why join one that doesn't? Just for the sake of being a member of one?

Sorry, misunderstood your post. My bad.

 

[patsmith]

DO you mean you are a social conservative?

We should probably work out if he knows the difference between 'Liberal' and 'liberal' before anything else.

 

[Messenger]

We should probably work out if he knows the difference between 'Liberal' and 'liberal' before anything else.

Yes. The party may need a name change.

 

[RUNVS]

Yes. The party may need a name change.

I have always wondered why they are called the Liberal Party when they are actually conservative. It doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[patsmith]

Yes. The party may need a name change.

The way they're going they'll rename themselves the Australian Republicans (the twist being they don't want a republic!).

 

[Caesar]

It traces back to the economic liberalism of some of its founding parties like the Free Trade Party. The original Commonwealth Liberal Party (predecessor to the UAP) was a lot more socially liberal as well.

Social conservatism became more and more prominent as differing groups gravitated towards them as a counterbalance to the strong ALP, and Menzies' rallying of conservative forces during the war made it dominant. The socially liberal wing was further eroded as the Nationals rose to prominence, and wasn't helped by things like Don Chipp taking a fair chunk of the moderates with him when he formed the Democrats.

Even so, the party has become a lot more conservative in the last 30 years. Even the Fraser government was quite socially liberal compared to Howard's - it's just that in retrospect the flagrant socialism of Whitlam made him look positively right wing.

I hope for a bit of a backlash at some stage. One of the attractive things about the Liberal Party has always been its status as a broad church, and I would rather it didn't lose that and permanently become a pure conservative party.

 

[Messenger]

I hope for a bit of a backlash at some stage. One of the attractive things about the Liberal Party has always been its status as a broad church, and I would rather it didn't lose that and permanently become a pure conservative party.

I'd hope for something along those lines also. I'm not hopeful.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

The reason I have posed this question is because I have been asked to go down to the next Young Libs meeting. I have looked at the LDP but I think there ideas on making nearly everything privatised as well as having smaller governments unappealing to me. I share some of the views of the Greens as well as but I would not want to be as radical as them. I had a quick look at the Republican Party of Australia but there pretty small party at this stage.

 

[Caesar]

If you share some views with the Greens I doubt you will enjoy a Young Liberals meeting. If it's anything like what it was 5-10 years ago then they're basically pissups for overprivileged young Christian conservatives.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

Haha fair enough

Now I am stumped more tha ever. It's kind of weird you know when you have prominent blood in you, that it doesn't quite match.

 

[Caesar]

To be fair, the actual Liberals tend to be a lot less conservative than the YLs. Although that's changed a bit in the last decade or so with so many guys like Alex Hawke coming through into the parliamentary party.

 

[DeanoT]

The reason I have posed this question is because I have been asked to go down to the next Young Libs meeting. I have looked at the LDP but I think there ideas on making nearly everything privatised as well as having smaller governments unappealing to me. I share some of the views of the Greens as well as but I would not want to be as radical as them. I had a quick look at the Republican Party of Australia but there pretty small party at this stage.

Sounds to me like you haven't yet perfectly formed your own belief system, in which case joining a political party seems a bit premature. Best to establish exactly what you believe in first, then decide if a political party is for you, then joining if you think it is worth it.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

To be fair, the actual Liberals tend to be a lot less conservative than the YLs. Although that's changed a bit in the last decade or so with so many guys like Alex Hawke coming through into the parliamentary party.

After reading some of Hawke's comments I am well and truly scared of the Young Libs now. Meh perhaps a minor party will do but is there benefit from helping or joing one?