As you ask, I also traded for a while after I was retrenched during the GFC. Did quite well, although I decided that was due to rising markets post GFC rather than any skill on my behalf so I went back to work. In cash at the moment due to market view. Very rarely post on stocks now as not looking to buy.
As to my politics, some of us believe in social justice, equality and humanity. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth or the ability to succeed in a modern capitalist society. I would rather pay extra tax than have single mothers thrown out on the streets or have the unemployed starve.
