left-right politics

[hermanntrude]

It's been a bug bear of mine for some time, that although I have asked the question many a time, no-one seems capable of giving a clear answer to the following question:

what the hell does it mean when you say someone is a "lefty" or "right-wing"? and how exactly can u pin down someone's political stance on a one-dimensional scale?

OKOK i know that was two questions. sorry

 

[karrie]

It's been a bug bear of mine for some time, that although I have asked the question many a time, no-one seems capable of giving a clear answer to the following question:

what the hell does it mean when you say someone is a "lefty" or "right-wing"? and how exactly can u pin down someone's political stance on a one-dimensional scale?

OKOK i know that was two questions. sorry

I was always confused by that too, and in my past debate group experiences, I'd often get shut down because my opinion on one issue didn't fit what people ASSUMED I'd think, based on my opinion of another issue. For example, the 'lefties' assumed I was a righty because I attend church, and am against abortion as birth control. The 'righties' assumed I was a lefty because I think social programs are important, and don't condemn religions outside of Christianity. So, no one would listen to my views because I was 'too unpredictable' and they assumed I was simply trolling, picking the side of a debate that I felt would get the largest rise out of people.

Oh, I forgot to say... Gilbert had posted some links that plot your political views according to your social AND your economic views... much more accurate than just saying left or right.

 

[L Gilbert]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...eft-wing&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=define:+right-wing&btnG=Search
Basically left-wing means socialist ideals and right-wing means capitalist ideals.

 

[hermanntrude]

it's still a one-dimensional scale. people's political beliefs cannot be defined so simply. I think the use of such a simplistic scale should be avoided.

but thanks for the links and descriptions

 

[darkbeaver]

It's been a bug bear of mine for some time, that although I have asked the question many a time, no-one seems capable of giving a clear answer to the following question:

what the hell does it mean when you say someone is a "lefty" or "right-wing"? and how exactly can u pin down someone's political stance on a one-dimensional scale?

OKOK i know that was two questions. sorry

Certainly willing to give you my perspective, but it's from the left.

lefty=collective, cooperative, all for one and one for all, scocial, public or state oriented
Right-wing= competative,ambitious,greedy,lying,satanic, evil, lazy, rotten, all for one and nothing for the rest, most often includes elements of the following anti-scocial cults, capitalist, religious fundys,criminals, CEO,s, CFMs, DDT,s, poison, often found with disease decay and harmful molds.
midlins=a group who will do exactly as the other two order.



PS: I forgot to add, that most of the worlds problems can be attributed to Right-wing neoconcon ****heads who have already sold thier grannies.

:laughing7::laughing7:

 

[eh1eh]

I always thought lefties were lazy and just wanted the "govenment " to pay there way. <devils advocate> lol

 

[hermanntrude]

and i've always thought that anyone who tries to define people by a single sliding scale in one dimension are being simple-mided (furthering the cause of devils advocate.... devils advocate's advocate)

 

[Tonington]

I've always found the terms to be pretty stupid. I've been called both, but I think on a scale of one to ten, with 1 being pure liberal and 10 pure conservative, I'd probably end up somewhere around 4.

 

[hermanntrude]

can i add a poll to this? it'd be interesting to see a graph of where people place themselves on that scale

 

[eh1eh]

and i've always thought that anyone who tries to define people by a single sliding scale in one dimension are being simple-mided (furthering the cause of devils advocate.... devils advocate's advocate)

You got it. Things are far more complicated than 'left' and 'right'.
I am right wing in some ways but don't touch my health care or I'll f#&% you up real good. It's a good thing these politicos take so long to do things like rename programmes etc. Gives them less time to do us over.

 

[Gonzo]

In my opinion, someone who is left wing believes in bigger government, social programs, and a safety net for the poor, ect.
Right wing believes in smaller government, capitalism, and tax breaks.
Of course there are more extreme beliefs in both ideas. The Conservatives of old used to want to distance Canada from ties to the States. It was Mulroney’s Conservative government that brought the two countries closer together. The Liberals wanted to do that a long time ago, under Laurier I believe, and then fought Mulroney on free trade under Turners Liberals. Its strange how parties can flip flop.
The environment shouldn't be a left wing, right wing issue. The green party seems to have some right wing ideas. Their past leader used to be a member of the PC party. Their environmental plan is allot like the NDP, a left wing party.

 

[eh1eh]

can i add a poll to this? it'd be interesting to see a graph of where people place themselves on that scale

Write a question and start a poll thread dude.

 

[karrie]

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

quizzes like this one place your political leanings on more than just the one dimensional sliding scale. Someone (I had thought it was Gilbert..) posted a few of these a whilbe back. There was a better one. Someone else feel free to take the time to dig it up.

 

[darkbeaver]

I always thought lefties were lazy and just wanted the "govenment " to pay there way. <devils advocate> lol

No we're lazy and we want the government to extract the money from the rich. The basis of democracy is rule by majority, most of us are not rich therefore extracting the money from the rich through public offices that we have already paid for by the way, would be a true exercise in grass roots democracy and a very cost effective policy. It would also solve our currency circulation problem.:laughing7:

 

[hermanntrude]

I know the Lib Dem's in the Uk were proposing a 50% maximum income tax rate. I agreed with that I think

 

[eh1eh]

No we're lazy and we want the government to extract the money from the rich. The basis of democracy is rule by majority, most of us are not rich therefore extracting the money from the rich through public offices that we have already paid for by the way, would be a true exercise in grass roots democracy and a very cost effective policy. It would also solve our currency circulation problem.:laughing7:

Hmmm.

 

[PsyOp]

No we're lazy and we want the government to extract the money from the rich. The basis of democracy is rule by majority, most of us are not rich therefore extracting the money from the rich through public offices that we have already paid for by the way, would be a true exercise in grass roots democracy and a very cost effective policy. It would also solve our currency circulation problem.:laughing7:

That's stealing money from somebody. This is illigal.

 

[PsyOp]

Certainly willing to give you my perspective, but it's from the left.

lefty=collective, cooperative, all for one and one for all, scocial, public or state oriented
Right-wing= competative,ambitious,greedy,lying,satanic, evil, lazy, rotten, all for one and nothing for the rest, most often includes elements of the following anti-scocial cults, capitalist, religious fundys,criminals, CEO,s, CFMs, DDT,s, poison, often found with disease decay and harmful molds.
midlins=a group who will do exactly as the other two order.

I think you forget to say that the left also have the same ,lying,evil,rotten,criminals.

A lot of people's at the right believe in FREEDOM. Like ME.
I also believe that being too much at the left will lead us to a totalitarian regime.

The centre is the best.