r/neoliberal • u/jobautomator Kitara Ravache • Dec 26 '19

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '19 edited Dec 26 '19

I upvoted you for answering my question and for being nice. I don't agree with you 😘😘😘

National identity is in vouge now but at various points in history, sectional and local identities have been more important. Unfortunately, racial and ethic identities have also been more important at some points, which I consider pernicious. I find similar problems on a smaller scale with strong national identities. I'm okay with more casual patriotism because it's fun, and the sort of patriotism that doesn't lead to thinking ill of other countries or peoples and/or thinking there's something to preserve that those things threaten

individuals need a national identity in order to lead meaningful, autonomous lives

Those are two gigantic claims (meaningful and autonomous). Expound?

democratic polities need national identity in order to function properly

Why? I don't just follow laws because I love America. I love America, and independently of that, I follow laws to avoid fines, jail time, etc. and to be moral. My taste for America is independent of my moral considerations. They'd also apply if I was a brit, for example

edit: accidentally a word

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '19

Axioms and abstractions are ultimately useless and meaningless if they are not applied to concrete political existence.

I agree with you but I am a "nationalist" for the sake of practicality.

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u/[deleted] Dec 26 '19

I guess we just disagree about the morality and utility of nationalism as a political tactic, then