Political Circle
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"Active public services guarantee dignity, alongside robust free speech and privacy protections"
At 8 o'clock, you see fairness and basic security as shared responsibilities, whilst keeping a close eye on civil liberties. You favour public provision and redistribution to expand real freedoms. Rules should serve people, not control them. You want strong public services to guarantee dignity, with robust protections for free speech and privacy.
You believe equality and liberty reinforce each other. Economic security creates the foundation for genuine freedom, and civil liberties protect people from state overreach. You're suspicious of both market fundamentalism and authoritarian control. A good society provides for its members whilst respecting their autonomy.
Your position at 8 o'clock tells us your direction, but how far you are from the centre tells us the strength of your convictions. The Political Circle recognises three levels:
"Strong public services with respect for freedoms"
Close to centre, you favour substantial public provision but remain pragmatic. You want universal healthcare, strong education, generous welfare—but you'll accept some market involvement and private provision where it works. You value civil liberties and oppose heavy-handed state control. You seek balance between collective security and individual freedom.
Historical example: Nordic social democracies—strong welfare states with robust civil liberties and pragmatic mixed economies.
"Public ownership and real democracy—economic and political"
At medium distance, you have clear convictions about economic democracy and civil liberties. You want major industries publicly owned or worker-controlled, wealth redistributed substantially, strong unions—combined with fierce protection of free speech, privacy and dissent. Capitalism concentrates power; democracy should extend to economics. Freedom requires both material security and political rights.
Historical example: Clement Attlee—nationalised major industries whilst protecting civil liberties and democratic norms.
"Dismantle capitalism—build genuine equality"
Far from centre, capitalism must be abolished, not reformed. Private ownership of production is theft; workers must control their labour. You want radical wealth redistribution, collective ownership, participatory democracy. Economic equality is prerequisite for real freedom. Revolution—whether rapid or gradual—is necessary. Reformism preserves injustice; only fundamental transformation delivers justice.
Historical example: Rosa Luxemburg—revolutionary socialism with fierce commitment to democracy and freedom.
UK Prime Minister (1945–1951)
Attlee built the post-war welfare state: founded the NHS, expanded social security, created council housing and nationalised key utilities. He combined socialist economics with liberal democracy and civil liberties, creating the 8 o'clock synthesis of solidarity and freedom that shaped modern Britain.
Writer and democratic socialist
Orwell championed socialism whilst warning against totalitarianism in "1984" and "Animal Farm." He believed in economic equality and collective provision but remained fiercely committed to truth, freedom and resistance to authoritarianism. His democratic socialism embodies 8 o'clock principles.
First Lady, diplomat and human rights advocate
Roosevelt championed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, combining social and economic rights with civil and political liberties. Her advocacy for workers, the poor and marginalised alongside defence of freedom and dignity defines the 8 o'clock commitment to comprehensive human rights.
Father of Canadian medicare
Douglas built Canada's universal healthcare system and championed social democracy — public provision alongside civil liberties and democratic governance. His blend of economic progressivism and personal freedom shaped modern social democracy at 8 o'clock.
UK Labour Party leader and writer
Foot combined left-wing economics with passionate defence of civil liberties and nuclear disarmament. He fought for workers' rights and public ownership whilst championing free speech and parliamentary democracy. His principled democratic socialism exemplifies 8 o'clock values.
The new book, 'Beyond Left and Right: Understanding the Political Circle' is now available on Amazon.
Containing a wealth of information, the book explores all of the 12 philosophical positions with detailed analysis on each of the three levels.