UserWiki:BeryAb

Average liberal democracy enjoyer.

This page is work in progress, I suppose. I'm the guy who likes fixing typos on this Wiki.

Sometimes active on Reddit and Discord. Sometimes busy.

Economy
The way I see it, planned economies are bound to fail. We've seen it in the past. Countries with centrally-planned economies either just stayed far behind till their collapse, or slowly moved towards economic liberalisation regardless. There are way too many mutual relations between prices and products in the economy for central planners to effectively keep track of.

The natural process of a market- and price-oriented economy has always shown to be the more efficient way of allocating goods.

[[File:Orlib.png]]Best type of market economy?[[File:Soccap.png]]
In an ideal system, I believe we should maximize civil and economic liberty through reform while staying within the boundaries of the German-style social market economy. I oppose bureaucracy and overregulation, as I think it gets in the way of progress and growth.

It is incredibly important that we have regulations to keep the competition fair, most notably in regards to worker's rights; workplace safety, a sufficient amount of annual leave/vacation for employees, and a suitable minimum wage (though one that is not too high). We must also make sure that suppliers of goods don't just put in their products whatever they want, they ought to make sure their orange juice makes no one die of dysentery.

[[File:Neoliberal-icon.png]]Free Trade[[File:Neoliberal-icon.png]]
Free trade is preferable to protectionism. The only exception I'd put would be for products from dubious places in general.

CETA, albeit not perfect, was no mistake. We had to respond to Orange Man's protectionist approaches in one way or another.

[[File:Socdem.png]]Healthcare[[File:Socdem.png]]
The healthcare sector must remain public at all costs. A system such as in the US would be truly nightmarish. I consider the right-libertarian argument for privatised healthcare referencing "long waiting times" to be unsensible.

[[File:Regulationism.png]]Taxation[[File:Regulationism.png]]
Taxation sure as hell ain't theft (cope, ancaps, ecks dee), because who's gonna finance that medicare, those social programs, and those roads? Having to pay tolls every other minute, crossing from one dude's privately owned McRoad to the other's, that's not it. That's basically advocating for a far worse version of taxation, for a service that is practically essential. Now, I'm against the government wasting taxpayers' money for stupid projects no one asked for, but that's rather easy to say.

Income taxation is to be mildly progressive, and especially low for working-class and middle-class folks. It is rather beneficial to keep taxes lower for the populace and moderately high for big corps.

We must introduce a carbon tax for CO2-emitters.

[[File:Welf.png]]Social Welfare[[File:Welf.png]]
Welfare is usually a better mean of helping out the disadvantaged than private charity is. That, however, doesn't mean I want the welfare state to be expanded. It's better if we slowly weaken (but not fully eradicate) the welfare state and promote self-reliance instead, as well as make sure freeloaders don't get the welfare.

[[File:Envi.png]] Environment vs. Economy [[File:Cap.png]]
Although I don't self-identify as an environmentalist, the economy is of slightly less importance than the environment is, since damage to the environment is near-irreversable, as opposed to economic crises.

However, I don't want a purely restriction-oriented environmental policy, it's better to make use of market instruments to combat climate change, such as emissions trading and introducing aforementioned carbon taxes. Technological progress is one of our greatest allies in fighting climate change, so is nuclear power.

[[File:Regulationism.png]]Price Controls[[File:Regulationism.png]]
Price controls tend to be a bad idea. Politicians, especially populists, like making lots of promises that they're going to cap the prices of a service or a product, when it's just a short-term and unsustainable solution. Rising prices are not always a sign of a corporation's "greed", but rather of changes in supply and demand.

And when politicians want to lower the "costs" of certain services or programs in order to make it "more accessible", what they really mean is that they are going to lower the prices. The supplier's costs (material, workers/employees, time) remain the same, and only make it so that the price controls effectively end up in the employees getting underpaid.

The same applies to rent control for the most part, although landlords can be arses.

Society and Culture
I am culturally liberal for the most part, favouring equal rights and opportunities for people regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or anything else. I support the legalisation of cannabis, though I'm a bit more skeptical of harder drugs.

[[File:Dem.png]]Democracy[[File:Dem.png]]
I absolutely stand by democracy, agreeing with it being the "least worst system". As opposed to an absolute monarchy or a fascist dictatorship, you won't be ruled by one idiot for eternity, but instead get to replace your currently ruling idiot with a slightly more suitable idiot every once in a while.

I favour representative democracy over direct democracy, but it wouldn't be so silly to adopt a Swiss-like model for approval of certain policies. *sigh*, I guess they have a point in this regard.

[[File:Nation.png]]Nationalism and Patriotism[[File:Modnat.png]]
I endorse patriotism, as it is not only natural, but also for the sake of national cohesion. But I reject the ideology of nationalism, it usually ranges from a populistic pest to straight up chauvinism.

Multiculturalism... I'm not quite sure. It conflicts with my idea of a cohesive nation with a shared civic and cultural identity. But on the other side, I support everyone's right to do as they please. That includes freedom of religion, for example.

[[File:Civlibert.png]]Freedom of Speech[[File:Civlibert.png]]
Freedom of speech must be guaranteed by the government, and hate speech largely falls under free speech, though I disdain it on a personal basis. The only restrictions I'd put on free speech would be:

1. Holocaust denial,

2. Organising, or actively calling for violence.

Although they deserve free speech like all other people, it deeply annoys me how some are so deeply hypocritical about free speech, as in going off and ranting about how their "free speech" is being taken away, but then continuing to praise  regimes that valued said right the very least.

[[File:Fem.png]]Affirmative Action[[File:Fem.png]]
I'm no advocate for affirmative action. As I have mentioned, I want equal rights and opportunities for people regardless of gender or background, and I absolutely do not want anyone have their positions denied based on these factors, but top-down  enforcing "equality" through projects such as women's quotas hurts our meritocracy, and might as well just be reverse discrimination.

[[File:Gay.png]]LGBT rights[[File:Trans.png]]
Discrimination, never got behind it. Why waste all of your time and energy being angry at someone for merely existing? It's kind of repulsive this is such a political issue, do what you want, but don't pretend like denying a group of people basic rights is an opinion equivalent to liking a different flavour of ice cream, or wanting slightly lower taxes.

Homosexual individuals should be allowed to marry and reap the benefits that civil unions wouldn't grant them, they should also be able to adopt children in most circumstances, but ideally not when there is a heterosexual couple already ready to adopt as well (because I still believe that mothers and fathers play separate roles in raising children).

Trans people, live your lives like you want to live them, don't bother anyone, and don't let anyone bother you.

[[File:Sec.png]]Death Penalty[[File:Sec.png]]
As someone who supports rehabilitative justice, I vehemently oppose the death penalty.

People who committed irredeemable crimes (e. g. raping a minor) should be sentenced to labour for life, where they would help build things like houses, monuments and bridges, and thus could still contribute to society while getting what they deserve.

[[File:Libertarian.png]]Gun rights[[File:Libertarian.png]]
Never was, and likely never will be an important issue to me, or my country. Advocating for gun rights over here is basically political suicide. I've heard good arguments from both sides, though.

Foreign Policy
I am a non-interventionist, I loathe war. But in regards to diplomacy and geopolitics, I view the West  as the lesser of the two evils when compared with its     opposition.

In my honest opinion, a fully anti-militarist foreign policy as seen with Die Linke would have devastating results. If the West just decides to immediately leave all the places they're currently present in, who's gonna fill that power vacuum? And how are we going to defend ourselves from outside threats? Such a foreign policy would be nice to strive towards, as I am a pacifist, but not immediate and unconditional demilitarisation. There are far bigger threats to world peace out there other than ourselves.

[[File:World.png]]Alliances[[File:World.png]]
I strongly support the European Union, Schengen agreement, Eurozone and, to a slightly lesser extent,  NATO.

Ain't into European Federalism. I find it unfeasible for similar reasons as World Federalism, you can't represent the desires of all nations, let alone individuals, on such a large scale, without an ungodly amount of bureaucracy. Pan-Africanism is bad for similar reasons, although it's fine as a lifestyle I guess (respecting all of your fellow Africans, likewise with Europeans and Pan-Europeanism).

[[File:Anat.png]]Open Borders[[File:Anat.png]]
Maybe? I guess the Schengen Zone already exists where I live. Though it's better for a nation to open up its borders after reducing the welfare state's size, for people who are just genuine freeloaders and who refuse to work.

Positive impressions

 * [[File:Avelicius.png]] Joogotakensaad - Probably my best pal on this Wiki, plus a fellow FDP enjoyer and German. We chat from time to time.
 * [[File:Vizantion-Storm.png]] TheHellenicStorm - Ahh, Storm. We could not be more different from one another, yet we still get along extremely well. We've known each other for a good while now.
 * [[File:Christianright.png]] SomeCrusader1224 - Not a fan of conservatism, but nothing to disdain. Anti-communism and anti-racism, doubleplusgood.
 * [[File:NSL.png]] Pirate Tails - Based fellow liberal, with a wack nationalist spin. Just be a civic nationalist and you're good.
 * [[File:Bhl.png]] Vonali - The most based user with an anime profile picture that the internet has seen so far. He's me, but more extreme. Love ya, no homo.
 * [[File:YellingLiber.png]] YellingYowie - He called me based, and for that, he shall be called based in return. But... interventionism? Really? Don't be an online warmonger.
 * [[File:Mebrouk.png]] Mebrouk - Another fellow enjoyer of liberalism, progress, market economy and secularism. He... is just a little succdem-y.
 * [[File:ChiroPro_icon.png]] ChiroPro - Another social democrat, but progressivism is based. He is too friendly with socialism, but tolerable.
 * [[File:Liberal-icon.png]] Liberal - Incredibly based name, and funky-looking icon. Get a page, my guy!
 * [[File:Enaysikey.png]] Enaysikey - Another social libertarian? Well, would you look at that! I'm running out of things to say, but based. My first friend here.
 * [[File:Ninjack.png]] Ninjack-Aus - Probably one of the best, if not the best userpage on this Wiki, it's genuinely a good read. Agreeable 80 to 90 percent of the time.
 * [[File:TDRH.png]] ThatDudeRightHere - Pretty alright fella. Liberal conservatism is the most tolerable form of conservatism, though a bit boring.
 * [[File:Admiralism_Icon.png]] SussyNuoh - Left-wing nationalism is very cringe. But he's friendly. Good page, too.
 * [[File:Kirblyism-Icon.png]] Kirbly - Sometimes too based, love it when he messes with socialists and conservatives.
 * [[File:Sweatingcup.png]] SweatingCup2632 - The European Union is very based indeed, and so is Social Capitalism. Don't see the point of authoritarianism though, nor of intervention.
 * [[File:MATTball.png]] Matteel - I like his progressivism, liberalism and antagonistic attitude towards discrimination, and towards fascism in particular. His social democratic schtick can be a little cringe at times though, but at the end of the day, he's a liberal.
 * [[File:Libcon.png]] afunhumaninter - I don't even like his ideology that much, but he seems cool. I remember him from Reddit as well.
 * [[File:RolandsSilvers.png]] RolandsSilvers - Cool guy. I'm not into anarchism at all, yet still, he's fine. Too bad he's gone.
 * [[File:Natlib.png]] Baconsalad123 - Free markets? Based. Civil liberties? Based. Nationalism? Not so based... nor is laissez-faire, to be honest. But he's a cool dude, so he lands here.
 * [[File:USASolidarity.png]] Grumithink - Well, what can I say? Based markets enjoyer, cringe conservative, but chill user. Jeez, that's some hefty conservatism, though.
 * [[File:USLibertarians.png]] NotADopeMan - We're quite similar, but also have some disagreements, most notably how the healthcare sector should be handled.
 * [[File:Smelegem.png]] Smelegem - We (almost) couldn't be more different from each other, but I've chatted with her. Unsurprisingly a really chill person.
 * [[File:Neoliberal-icon.png]] ANewDude - Pshhht, I'm actually one of the few people who like you :D
 * [[File:Skyrum536.png]] Skyrum536 - Hmm... he's alright. And fairly moderate. His heart is in the right place, just less socialism, m'kay?
 * [[File:Venizelos.png]] ArGyro - Pretty agreeable all around. Some wack takes. Also, why irredentism?

Mixed

 * [[File:KaiserKlaus.png]] KaiserKlausMouse - A good person, his love of the environment and animal rights shows that, but he stands for almost all things I politically oppose. Plus, that Pan-German stuff... pretty wack. But overall, we get along very well.
 * [[File:NazBolGANG12.png]] NazBolGANG12 - Similarly to above, his ideology is dubious, but he's a fine person, and that's what counts. Wait, he defends Pol Pot?!
 * [[File:Typicalfan2.png]] Typicalfan2 - I don't condone nationalism or conservatism. His comments are kind of irritating at times. But otherwise, he's OK.
 * [[File:NeoImmorx.png]] TheImmorxy - He called me cringe :( that is all. Cringe socialism, but he's good as a user and was one of my first additions.
 * [[File:Scarlet_Icon.png]] ScarletTheVampireQueen Democratic socialist? Cringe. Decent person? Based. He seems to understand economics better than other socialists do. And yes, fuck Pinochet.
 * [[File:RojanALT.PNG]] Rojo346 - His beliefs seem to operate within a reasonable liberal framework, which is automatically based, but he's  culturally conservative.
 * [[File:Neoairisu.png]] SumisuAirisu - I dislike left-anarchism, but she's progressive, which is based, and she made [[File:ReactionaryCentrism6.png]] him live up to his username. Hooray?
 * [[File:GenShrekf.png]] ComradeShrek - His ideology is deeply cringe, so are almost all of his takes, but otherwise he's fine. Learn basic economics
 * [[File:MedDavilanda.png]] Davilanda13 - Copied rNazor's userpage, huh. That ideology is also borderline dystopian, but whatever. He got jannied now, so there's that.
 * [[File:Councilguy.png]] Councilguy - Why be a commie, dude? I would put him in Cringe, but he's sort of fine as a person.
 * [[File:Dengf.png]] ChineseSocialist - He may be an authoritarian socialist, but I love myself some well-made pages, plus he's a friendly user too.
 * [[File:Ultroneism.png]] LordCompost86 - I'd be lying if I were to call his worldview uninteresting. That nihilistic and anti-moralist outlook is nothing for me, though. As a user, he's cool and makes a fine addition to the community.
 * [[File:ChronicFemcel-icon.png]] ChronicFemcel - She's an anarchist and a communist, which I don't like, but social progress is mostly based. She's also pretty friendly, like most users here.
 * [[File:Waspism6.png]] Wasp - I don't know much about you. Unitarism is cringe, though.
 * [[File:Kranoicon.png]] Sr Deyvid - Why art thou a conservative? Otherwise kind of tolerable, at least he isn't communist or fascist trash.
 * [[File:Bmanthought.png]] Bman - Cringe Marxism-Leninism, but appears to be pretty chill. He goes here.

Negative impressions

 * [[File:ReactionaryCentrism6.png]] Bannned - This "centrist" singlehandedly validated the existence of r/ENLIGHTENEDCENTRISM.
 * [[File:OrthReactPaleominarchist.png]] BasedRussianMikuru - He's got some nice art, though that's about it. Otherwise a theocrat LARPing as a right-libertarian. To top it all off, he's a weeb.
 * [[File:TIMUAAAism.png]] ThisIsMyUsernameAAAA - This guy likes to spam comment sections to the brim with emojis, which can be a nuisance to scroll through. Also an ancom.
 * [[File:Doomercrusader.png]] DoomerCrusader - "Anti-racist Hitler enjoyer", that's like saying "anti-socialist Marx enjoyer" or "individual liberty-loathing libertarian". OK person, but I can't seriously put a Hitlerite in any category but Cringe.
 * [[File:Ukraiana_Tiny_picture2.png]] Ukraiana - He has been added on request, but his ideology is so... inverted. Totalitarian conservative theocracy? Not even his economic liberalism can save him.
 * [[File:Nivballf.png]] Niveous Laccolith - Absolutely horrifying ideology, jeez, calm down, commie. Also, he called me a lib, which is mean yet not untrue...

Based

 * [[File:Modnat.png]] Patriotism - Joa, Deutschland ist schon ein tolles Land, und so.
 * [[File:Fiscon.png]] Fiscal Conservatism - Yeah, I'm a conservative, a fiscal conservative 😎
 * [[File:Lib.png]] Liberalism - Freedom, dignity and equality before the law!
 * [[File:Clib.png]] Classical Liberalism - You were the first of the truly based.
 * [[File:Orlib.png]] Ordo-Liberalism - Wirtschaftswunder go brrr!
 * [[File:Liberaltarianism.png]] Liberaltarianism - Hello, based department? Is this the right number?
 * [[File:Thar.png]] Anti-Authoritarianism - Anyone who hates fascism, monarchism and communism is, at the very least, half-based in my book.
 * [[File:Prog.png]] Progressivism - Weed, gay rights and reforming obsolete systems? Based!
 * [[File:Progconf.png]] Progressive Conservatism - Slow and steady wins the race.
 * [[File:Civnat.png]] Civic Nationalism - The only based nationalist, by a wide margin.
 * [[File:Envi.png]] Environmentalism - Green politics are definitely needed these days.
 * [[File:Dem.png]] Democracy - Something something least worst system.
 * [[File:Cap.png]] Capitalism - see above.
 * [[File:Ecocap.png]] Eco-Capitalism - Exactly! Climate protection without sacrificing the economy.
 * [[File:Soccap.png]] Social Capitalism - Soziale Marktwirtschaft FTW!
 * [[File:Bhl.png]] Bleeding-Heart Libertarianism - I would prefer not to live in a right-libertarian society for reasons I will superficially mention later, but as a lifestyle, this is extremely based; do whatever you want, no matter your type of background, as long as you don't hurt others.

Eh

 * [[File:Neoliberal-icon.png]] Neoliberalism - Surprisingly, you're a rather misunderstood form of liberalism, too bad your name is solely used as a pejorative.
 * [[File:Liberalconservative.png]] Liberal Conservatism - You're OK, but nothing ever happens under your rule!
 * [[File:Nalib.png]] National Liberalism - You have reasonable ideals, but... something about you is off.
 * [[File:Socliber.png]] Social Libertarianism - A lot of your takes are very based, but UBI is a stupid idea.
 * [[File:Libertarian.png]] Libertarianism - You are, fundamentally speaking, on the right path. But... I think public roads and healthcare are good ideas.
 * [[File:Socdem.png]] Social Democracy - Don't get me wrong. You're not a bad guy. Just dump the socialist rhetoric and reduce bureaucracy.
 * [[File:Pinkcap.png]] Pink Capitalism - Too far.
 * [[File:Ultraprogressivism.png]] Revolutionary Progressivism - TOO FAR.

Cringe

 * [[File:Trad.png]] Traditionalism - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta41xU-tkFA
 * [[File:Monarch.png]] Monarchism - Inbred mofoes ruling us for all eternity? Why though?
 * [[File:Cermon.png]] Ceremonial Monarchism - Unneeded waste of money and resources. Just remove the royals altogether.
 * [[File:StateOO.png]] State Oriental Orthodoxy - Cringe theocrat. Also, Haile Selassie was a despot who drank champagne in France for his birthdays while his people starved. Not to defend the Derg, though.
 * [[File:Fash.png]] Fascism - Totalitarian, ultranationalist and with no respect for political diversity. Nope.
 * [[File:BritFash.png]] British Fascism - Bri'ish.
 * [[File:Nazi.png]] National Socialism - Everything that's bad about fascism, but tenfold. Zero respect for individuality, mixed with racism and social darwinism, and being the cause of the bloodiest conflict in human history. Neo-Nazis are human trash.
 * [[File:Nazbol.png]] National Bolshevism - Dystopian meme ideology. Why would ANYONE support you?
 * [[File:Soc.png]] Socialism - Centrally planned economies, the source of all evil... instead of true equality, you have often just brought collective despair.
 * [[File:Consocf.png]] Conservative Socialism - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTT0880lEsU
 * [[File:Monsoc.png]] Monarcho-Socialism - MonSoc deez nuts, HA! Gottem!
 * [[File:ML.png]] Marxism-Leninism - Failed, obsolete, totalitarian. You're socialism but cranked up times three. Also, not everyone you disagree with is a liberal although I am one, to be fair...
 * [[File:Ancom.png]] Anarcho-Communism - Totally idealistic and utopian worldview.
 * [[File:Trot.png]] Trotskyism - Trotsky fucked with Stalin, which appears based, but so did Hitler. This is pretty much imperalism at its finest, an extreme neoconservative, basically, except you don't even support the right economic system.
 * [[File:Rpop-tinfoilhat.png]] Right-Wing Populism - No, that politician you dislike is not a reptiloid.
 * [[File:Altr.png]] Alt-Right & [[File:Altl.png]] Alt-Lite - "Muh SJW woke mob!!!", how about you focus on actual issues like climate change or the economy? Not just that, [[File:Altr.png]] you're racist too.
 * [[File:Ancapf.png]] Anarcho-Capitalism - I can even see Ancom's argument on you not being a true anarchist.
 * [[File:Agorismf.png]] Agorism - If we legalise a product, we can make its black markets obsolete! ...right?
 * [[File:Blacknat.png]] Black Nationalism - Makes me ashamed of my skin colour sometimes.

Flag
New-Flag-BeryAb.png

This is basically my personal flag, at least for this Wiki. It's mostly self-explanatory.

German flag - represents my home country.

Ethiopian flag - represents my ancestry.

Icon - shamelessly stolen from the liberal flag designs, represents the invisible hand of the market. Added a German-Ethiopian colour pattern.

Good experiences
Germany - duh!

Netherlands - To no one's surprise, the country is flat as hell, but nice culture and funny language, wish I had seen more than just the capital. Also, those damn cyclists everywhere... that was a culture shock.

Austria - This was a loooong time ago. But I only have positive memories from this place. The drive was long though.

England - As much as I enjoy making "Bri'ish" jokes, I've had a rather lovely time here, mostly stayed in Birmingham and in London. Some areas are a bit unpleasant, but overall, you can have a good time here.

Czech Republic - Prague is one stunning city, I must say. The drive was pleasant. Didn't see much of the country's rest though.

United States - I have been here twice. And I really, really loved it! The people are genuinely nice, the weather is better than in Germany, only the cuisine is lacking. I'm not the biggest fan of fast food to be honest.

Canada - Similar to above, but felt more European. Generally a clean country, and the Niagara falls are gorgeous.

Turkey - Nothing smells better than a Turkish bazar, that's for sure! Good food, amazing weather, nice people. Would visit again.

Short stays
Poland - Briefly visited during my trip to Czechia, the villages I saw were pretty rough, but there's probably far more to Poland.

Belgium - Just passed through it on our way to France. Where did I hear THAT before...?

Could have been better
Ethiopia - Visited four times, and I don't know if I'm going back. The first visit, barely remember it. The second one, it was OK. The third one was cool, met lots of relatives. But the fourth and final one? Oh dear. With the death of several family members, lack of proper transportation, and food poisoning from a giant donut (not making that up), I can say that Ethiopia isn't my go-to tourist destination. Bahir Dar is beautiful though, and I've had the best spaghetti of my life there.

France - This is probably not due to France being shit, which it probably isn't entirely, but because the people were a bit unfriendly, refused to speak English, and my friends also got tired quickly.

Icons created
BeryAb:

BeryAb icon BeryAb (dunce) BeryAb (sunglasses)

User icons:

Smelegem icon Joogotakensaad icon TheHellenicStorm icon Elite icon Alaricj74 icon

Miscellaneous:

Sahra Wagenknecht Sozi (SPD) Something else...

Test results