Real liberal politics: The Social Liberalist Party

[wenger1972]

ISnt it about time we updated this video with the updated policies on the SLP website?

[hamish1964]

I would like to ask those who support socialism one question; can they name a country anywhere in the world that is a socialist country and a success?

I have asked many so called socialists this question and I have yet to get an answer.

[onlineliberalism]

err we're not socialist.

We're liberal.

Social does NOT mean socialist.

You can be both socially and economically liberal.

[kraftyknight]

What's the Social Liberalists policy on abortion?

[onlineliberalism]

We're a liberal party, so support liberal policy concerning abortion.

If the issue were to be raised, I would encourage a free vote on it, but I personally think the current time limits are fine, and are already very liberal.

[CountUladrac]

Nice first video, but not enough to persuade me to leave the Libertarian Party in favour of the Social Liberalists. Taxing land and savings? That doesn't make much sense that I can see - better to replace income tax with a sales tax on non-essential goods, that way no-one ends up being taxed beyond their means.

[onlineliberalism]

glad you like it.

Unfortunately the video is now very outdated.

Policy has changed since then slightly - it's no longer "entirely based on the internet" and there's no longer a proposed tax on holding money.

Taxing land values however still remains one of our main policies. I'd check out the manifesto via our website to get the best idea of it - and why it's good.

The luxury tax you propose punishes you for working hard - also, who else but gov to decide what's non-essential?

[CountUladrac]

Who else but the government would decide what the value of your land is? LVT is like Council Tax in that it's completely unrelated to ability to pay. A sales tax on non-essential goods at least has a bit of a voluntary element, and doesn't hit the poor as badly as other forms of taxation. Of course making taxation more fair (or less unfair) is only half the problem. The other half is reducing the overall burden of taxation by getting government spending as low as possible.

[onlineliberalism]

Ah - you haven't read how we in particular would calculate LVT did you - it's actually very objective as it only takes into account *relative* property prices (naturally, determined by the free market) in order to find the rate charged per square metre per annum. The only gov decision then is the amount raised by the LVT.

Whereas with a luxury tax gov still gets to go "ooh social engineering time - i'm gonna tax jaffa cakes out of exitence!" ...to be continued- darn comment boxes aren't big nuf!

[onlineliberalism]

LVT still does have an element of being voluntary though - you can always choose to move house - and part of the point is to get the housing market efficient again.

In terms of ability to pay though, yes, that is the one major downside - we're looking now at ways to solve the "old widow" problem - forms of compensation, etc.

Then again, you say "poor", but people in property paying a lot of LVT are v, v wealthy! e.g. kensington and chelsea has much, much higher rates than deprived city centres.

[ourearthhome]

Taxing land values while untaxing labor and capital. What a great idea.

[MarxBakuninMe]

More reformist nonsense. Bring the system down through revolution, violent or non-violent.

[onlineliberalism]

errrm no

sorry

Whoever said a system was being brought down?!

[MarxBakuninMe]

Right, well it needs to be brought down as it is thoroughly rotten. Global capitalism fails us now.

[onlineliberalism]

Not really.

Capitalism has its flaws but it is still better than pretty much anything else.

Granted, Capitalism needs reforming, but that's happening anyway. Yes, it is reformist.

That's the way we are.

[RisingSunOfTheEast]

Speaking as a part liberalist, it's an interesting proposal, certainly. Would be nice if you could eventually replace the Liberal Democrats, so the third party could be Liberal again, rather than some SDP-infused hybrid.

[0lord0kinbote0]

will there be any more in your manifesto? It looks interesting.

Here in the USA there is no social libertarian party or movement, only a right-wing extremist corporate welfare PR front that calls itself the libertarian party.

It would be interesting to see something like this here where populism is forced out of discussion by propaganda and religious authority worship.

[radiosinhell]

two words: "SHIT SANDWICH"

[onlineliberalism]

It is not 'revolutionary' no, we have no desire to start a revolution!

And we are not socialist in any way shape or form, social liberalism is NOT liberal socialism, we shall adress this in a later video.

[KenCat1337]

I finished watching the video, I like it a bit more. Do you accept Anarchy as a form of Socialism?

[KenCat1337]

Not revolutionary, it's a great idea but it'll never work.

Look up Libertarian Socialism.

[onlineliberalism]

If you liked this video and like what we're trying to do, please tell your friends about us. Word of mouth is the best way to spread!

[ukburger]

I wish you all the best for your party!

[onlineliberalism]

Hi youtube,

Comments and criticisms welcome, subscribers and new members even more welcome!