Liberal Democratic Action (Sober Thought)

Liberal Democratic Action a political party in Sober Thought. It is a small tent ideological party which self-identifies with the goals of crushing robber barons, controlling clerics and crypto-racists who are everywhere keeping the humble and honourable worker down. In practice, it favours civil rights for everybody except believers in capitalism, religion and personal responsibility.

In policy, the LDA most closely resembles the Socialist Party, the only other party openly proposing limits to the excesses of capitalism. Liberal Democrats, however, dismiss Socialsts as lukewarm believers in the cause of the workers. In internal outlook, the LDA most closely resembles the Free Enterprise Party, its polar opposite on the conventional political spectrum. Naturally, the Liberal Democrats dismiss Libertarians as agents of the corporate machine.

The non-"party" Liberal Democratic party routinely captures around ten per cent of the popular vote, but its support base and internal cohesion is not stable. Firstly, supporters tend to be angry youth whose indignation is greater than their focus. Also, its goals are inherently contradictory: civil rights include the freedom to hoard private property, worship graven images and make foolish choices which cause one to fail. As anger gives way to understanding and moderation, young Activists tend to become Socialists. This process merely confirms the remaining Activists' assessment of their more moderate and consequentally more successful counterparts as sellouts.

The only concession Activists make to political reality is their occasional participation in coalitions led or dominated by Socialists. Such a clash of idealism and realism usually produces an acrimonious split among the membership of the LDA, with realists and moderates leaving to join the SP only to be replaced by the newest crop of young radicals.

In summary, Socialists encourage unwilling Activists to join coalitions the latter can't tolerate and the former can't make otherwise. Through poor negotiation experience and attitudes, Activists rarely get to become full ministers, usually becoming heads of the social services vice ministries of the Ministry of Community Wellbeing.