These days, many democratic socialists are culturally authoritarian.
That is to say, they’re for leftist identity politics and political correctness.
It wasn’t always like that.
A couple of decades ago, democratic socialists tended to be culturally libertarian, or at least arguably more culturally libertarian than neolibs and neocons tended to be.
Still there are some democratic socialists who are either against, ambivalent or apathetic about identity politics and political correctness.
Some of these democratic socialists identity as socially libertarian.
However, many of these same democratic socialists, who reject or are indifferent to identity politics and political correctness, are in favor of some scientific or, I don’t know what to call it, safety and security authoritarianism?
For example, they’re in favor of lockdowns, mandatory masks, social distancing, quarantining and vaccines, gun control, mandatory helmets on bikes, seatbelts in cars and prohibiting indoor smoking.
Some are in favor of banning fossil fuels and meat for the earth.
My question to them is, how can you be favor of all that, and still identify as a social libertarian?
If there is a pandemic, wouldn’t the more libertarian thing to do be for the state to strongly encourage and recommend social distancing and so on, rather than enforce it?
For the state to help vulnerable population groups voluntarily isolate?
These are the kinds of measures democratic socialist Sweden is taking, instead of forcing people to wear masks and so forth.
My other question is, how far would you take your scientific, health and safety authoritarianism?
Should alcohol be prohibited because people who drink tend to be more abusive?
Or because they might drive, or kids might get a hold of their booze?
Should those who abuse their bodies be last in line to receive treatment because they did it to themselves?
When self-driving cars become available and more safe, should we ban human-driving?
Should we ban conspiracy theories, religion and superstition?
Is mass surveillance a good idea?
Mandatory RFID chips?
Pre-crime?
If so, why?
If not, why not?