In the aftermath of the Republican meltdown this week, I was even more sure that I’m a political mutt, but I think that I’ve found a category that suits me better: Christian Democracy. The wikipedia article outlines the “typical” Chrisian Democrat viewpoints:

* In common with liberalism, an emphasis on human rights and individual initiative.
* In contrast to liberalism, a rejection of secularism, and an emphasis on the fact that the individual is part of a community and has duties towards it.
* In common with conservatism, conservative moral values (i.e. on issues such as marriage, divorce, abortion etc.), a view of the evolutionary development of society, an emphasis on law and order, and a rejection of communism.
* In contrast to conservatism, open to change (e.g. in the structure of society) and not necessarily supportive of the social status quo.
* In common with socialism, a strong emphasis on social solidarity (i.e. the welfare state, prioritising alleviation of poverty, high taxes on the wealthy, etc.) and a willingness to restrain market forces.
* In contrast to socialism, supports capitalism and a market economy, does not advocate class struggle, and unlike revolutionary socialism, rejects violence as a means to achieve social change.

That would be me, with the exception that I have less in common with socialism, I oppose the “welfare state” because non-profit and faith-based organizations do a way better job of taking care of needy people with the money they are given, and I tend to think that restraining market forces is a last resort.

Related posts:

1. Atheism considered harmful Dinesh D'Souza has an article in the Christian Science Monitor...

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