Love them labels arnd here, don't you, folks? "Liberal", "leftist", "Keynesian", "conservative", "libertarian", etc... Have you considered the possibility that I am none of these things or, more likely, a bit of everything? I generally try to formulate my view independently, without resorting to a platform...
Makes me sad, tbh... Hard to have a discussion, if the most commonly used argument is "you're wrong because you're a [insert label here]". This doesn't happen w/you most of the time, btw. At any rate, like you say, such is life in the P&R forum.
I must have missed the place where anyone in this thread said you were wrong, because you're a ...whatever". Could you kindly link to that spot? We define ourselves with labels here, and others, so we can identify each other outside of a simple pseudonym. For instance, I am a Libertarian on the political front, and follow a more Austrian approach to economics. I lean left on social issues, and right on fiscal ones. I don't mind any of these labels. I am unsure how you lean politically, since you do not engage often in those topics. But based on limited discussions I've had and seen with you in them, you would appear to be Keynesian in your economic philosophies, and harbor a deep support for the Federal Reserve. This is neither "wrong" nor "right". It just is. But I get why you'd be offended. I'd be offended if someone called me a Keynesian too!
Well, not necessarily in this thread and not necessarily explicitly... Just a feeling I get sometimes. Yes, I understand the reasoning for the labels, but I was referring to labels that are sort of applied in a blanket fashion to a poster. I see a lot of that going on and I think it's not very helpful. Like, in your case, just because you "lean" right on the fiscal issues, people shouldn't necessarily label you a reactionary right-winger who is completely against progress. I vote Tory here in the UK and I don't like Obama (for a whole variety of reasons). Hopefully, that answers the question about my political leanings. I am moderately libertarian in some things as well. And yes, I am somewhat Keynesian, but moderately so (I like to think). There's a lot of nuances in that view and I see sense in some of the things that Austrian economists say. Some other things, however, don't make sense. And yes, I do strongly support the Fed, as the best, albeit very imperfect, provider of crucial services to the economy. The alternatives, in my view, would be a LOT worse.
Martinghoul, You're absolutley right that there's way too much mindless name-calling here. Labelling substitutes for reasoned argument. Both sides bear some responsibility. Sadly, it's reflective of our politics as a whole, where division and demonization have replaced policy debate. The national media, far from elevating the tone, actually manage to lower it.
Yep, it's a unique feature of American politics. And yes, I think the media are definitely in on it in a big way, but, to paraphrase, people get the media they deserve.