I’ve always heard that Democrats in America would be considered a “right leaning” party in Europe, however I’ve wondered about someone who considers themselves progressive, where they would line up on the spectrum in Europe.
For example I want:
- Universal Healthcare
- UBI
- Taxation of the rich
- Marriage and general equality for LGBTQ+ persons
- Better public transport and corresponding social services for all people
Is there something I’m missing in my views, or is that generally what left leaning progressives are looking for in Europe?
I don’t want UBI, as that perpetuates money and capitalism, I want universal distribution of resources.
You should check out the last chapter of Bullshit Jobs. The author makes a good case for UBI as a liberating force for people whose lives are tied to demeaning work. His idea is that UBI would free people from being dependent on an economic master in order to have access to basic human needs like shelter, food, water, healthcare, etc. but also less concrete needs such as sociability, leisure, and play. It would have to go hand in hand with some regulation on prices.
He’s an anarchist so he ostensibly has your same aversion (completely warranted) to the perpetuation of money and capitalism.
I question whether that can occur in a good way. I don’t see human greed going away, better to cage it under heavy control and not get complacent.