Now you all have me a little confuzzled

[Ianofsmeg16]

I keep popping into the backroom every know and then to check up on the latest outrage or atrocity that makes up todays news, but i am a little in the dark when it comes to peoples politcal views, shameful as it is to admit, i really get confused when your talking about political stuff in detail....I was just wondering if anyone could give me a basic out line of political viewpoints and ideas, i.e. the definitions of left + right, what countries are what in political terms etc. So when i come to post here, i dont sound like completely backroom illiterate.

Thanks in advance

[Romulas]

Interesting question. In politics (and religion) there don't seem to be any set rules or definitions as they are open to personal interpretation. In the U.S. the Democrat party is said to be on the Left and the Republican party on the Right. If you look at the history of these parties and where the biggest support is, it is sometimes surprising to see where the support comes from now.

As far as the other countries, that should come from others here on the org, as we have a wide variety of "opinions" from many counties. Its very interesting to hear someones thoughts about sometimes serious subjects from 10,000 miles away.

Your views in politics will be developed in time and possibly change over the years. The only true way to learn is to jump right into the conversation. You can read all about the subject but like some things in life, to get a true "feel" for them you have to experience it.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Right is good, left is bad. The more right, the better!


()

[Reverend Joe]

The left was created for the liberation of humanity- the right is the great conspiracy of facist overlords trying to oppress us all!

If you can't laugh at your own ideological beliefs, you are screwed.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Nah, we're just going to draft your children, poison the air and water, and do whatever else is in Idaho's sig.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Well, if you want a short summary of my political views, I am:

-Monarchist
-Imperialist
-Right-leaning Moderate (yes, yes, slightly ironic, considering the above, and below)
-More populist then libertarian, but not too far "over the border" at all

[Mongoose]

In the US .the Democrats will screw while claiming that they're fighting for freedom, they have a donkey for a symbol.


The republicans are very different, they'll also screw you while claiming that they're fighting for freedom, but they have an elephant for their party symbol.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

Far Rightwing NeoConservative with Xenophobic views that boarder (and sometimes cross the boarder with) totalitarianism.

[Quietus]

I keep popping into the backroom every know and then to check up on the latest outrage or atrocity that makes up todays news, but i am a little in the dark when it comes to peoples politcal views, shameful as it is to admit, i really get confused when your talking about political stuff in detail....I was just wondering if anyone could give me a basic out line of political viewpoints and ideas, i.e. the definitions of left + right, what countries are what in political terms etc. So when i come to post here, i dont sound like completely backroom illiterate.

Thanks in advance

Essentially,

Conservatives believe that Humans by nature are flawed (hence the need for more controls, and stricter laws).

Liberals believe that Humans are relatively faultless (hence requiring only little control, less possible laws).

[Sasaki Kojiro]

"The Democrats seem to be basically nicer people, but they have demonstrated time and again that they have the management skills of celery. They're the kind of people who'd stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire. The Republicans, on the other hand, would know how to fix your tire, but they wouldn't bother to stop because they'd want to be on time for Ugly Pants Night at the country club." Dave Barry

[JAG]

If we are to be crass and totally stereotypical about things...

Those which are 'left wing' - which include communists, socialists and what you would term liberals - generally want greater government intervention in society to aide those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged. This tends to make them also have a bigger government which tends to own public institutions rather than have the private sector run them, this also tends to make them want higher taxes. Policies like a minimum wage and most importantly redistribution of wealth are especially at the heart of every socialist / communist, as well as full employment and strong trade unions.... You could go on and on, but I am sure you get the drift. Tax the rich more to help the poor, have a government which actively gets involved in society and tries to create equality rather than selfish individualism.

Those on the right pretty much oppose most of what I just said, they are far more interested in individual rights and freedoms which includes freedom from a high burden of tax and government intervention in things such as business, etc.

I am very proud to be a socialist and a socially liberal one at that too, in the UK our socialist party has won 3 elections in a row and has been in government going on 9 years now, Tony Blair is the leader but it will be Gordon Brown soon.

I hope that helps you a little.

[Samurai Waki]

A little bit of both I suppose you could say. Morally, I'm a liberal pot smoking hippy (though I don't actually smoke pot), Legally and Judiciously I'm pretty far to the right, less big government, and less taxes... so I suppose you could say, I either want a little bit of both, or that I'm an Anarchist...whichever you decide is fine by me.

[Fragony]

Pretty far on the right when it comes to immigration.

[BigTex]

I would have to say i would be a bit of a moderate, but on some views extremely right or left (USA should conquer the world bwuahahahaha!). I'm against the idea of redistributing wealth but pro minimum wage and such small scale measures like that. The idea that making everyone economically equal would just destroy the American way as it would leave little for one to strive for in their lives. And as for immigration I'd like a big wall, a gigantic one between us and Mexico. Let all who want in, just do it legally so it can be monitored, and the workers taxed properly. Ahhh and some law to make sure those people at Mcdonalds speak english well, I want my burger my way thank you.

[Strike For The South]

I would have to say I'd like a big wall, a gigantic between us and Mexico. Let all who want in, just do it legally so it can be monitored, and the workers taxed properly. Ahhh and some law to make sure those people at Mcdonalds speak english well, I want my burger my way thank you.

Although Im in favor of greatly curbing immagration on the whole

[A.Saturnus]

Be careful when someone uses the word "liberal". The Amercian usage of the word is entirely different from the (mainland) European. In America a liberal is left-wing. Mainly what JAG explained above. In Europe though liberal is a synonym of libertarian, which is rather right-wing.

I consider myself progressive, which means that I don't embrace the past or am satisfied with the status quo but strive to improve society in small controlled steps.

[Divinus Arma]

In the U.S., the self-perception of Right or Left and conservative or liberal, as well as the perception of your opposite ideology has a very real problem.

This:

A true Conservative views himself as this only as it applies to constituional interpretation.

A Liberal would view themselves as open to change and eager to change what they see as tradition.

This is an important distinction because each side also views the other side through their oen frame.

For example, A Conservative sees liberals as constituionally liberal. A conservative would be horrified at the broad interpretation that liberal judges apply to the constitution. Ashcroft Vc. Raich and the City of New London Supreme Court cases are good examples of Liberal judges expanding the power of government and reducing individual and state's rights because of liberal interpretation.

On the other hand, A liberal would not view a conservative through the constitutional frame, instead viewing the conservative through a social frame. A liberal would be horrified by Conservative reluctance to change certain established social structures, and consequently views conservatives as only "socially conservative". Drug laws, homosexuality, minority privelege over whites, etc.

The result is that folks incorrectly view conservatives as fascist falsely believeing that conservatives want to tell other people how to live. This is completely incorrect, but unfortunatley the religious influence on the Republican party has greatly contributed towards this becoming truth.

A true conservative believes that the Constitution of the United States is the foundation for American society and culture. Therefore, society must obey the law in order to preserve the constitution. Afer all, without the Constitution, kiss the U.S. goodbye. A liberal believes that the constituion must be made to fit the current social percpetion and that the law must bend to the people, not the people to the law.

Because of this difference in perception, both sides view the other as attempting to usurp power. The truth is only that liberal interpretation can genuinely eliminate our rights, while a conservative interpretation can protect our rights.

[ajaxfetish]

IIRC, the terms left and right came from the seating arrangement of the French congress after the first revolution. Basically the left is liberal (or as it was then called, radical) and the right is conservative. Conservatives look more to the past, relying on tradition and past experience as a guide. Liberals look to the future, looking for experiment and change.

The Democratic and Republican parties are independent of the left/right distinction, but currently Democrats are seen to fit the left mentality to a greater degree, and Republicans the right. The ideas behind the parties are support for private industry on the Republican side, meaning low taxes and less government interference in business (the idea being that if the populace is allowed to work freely they will take care of themselves), and big Government on the Democratic side, meaning more taxes used to support social programs (the idea being that it's better for the government to take care of the people).

Religion is also independent of either party and I suppose technically from the conservative/liberal issue, though many religions have a strong foundation in tradition so tend towards the more conservative side. Currently, again, there is a lot more open religious support for the Republicans, and it seems to me that more of those who claim to be Atheist/Agnostic/Don't care about religion gravitate toward the Democrat side.

That's the basics for America at least. Of course there are liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats, strongly Christian Democrats, Atheist Republicans, and people with their own views on particular issues that may not fit the broader policy of their party. Also, there are more and less extreme views on all sides.

As for me, I consider myself to be a moderate, which means I'm kind of a loner here in the Backroom. I don't really get to join either side, and if I did I would occasionally disagree with them and get my club membership revoked . At home I feel very liberal, here at school (or probably anywhere in California) I feel much more conservative. I think a mix of both viewpoints is required for a healthy nation, and generally just wish people would take more time to openly think about any specific issue, instead of following whatever their party-line says is right and refusing to consider its fallibility.

Ajax

[AntiochusIII]

Some of you guys give him horribly biased definitions.

That's really bad of you.

Here comes mine, probably just as biased, hopefully not:

In American terms, the current political climate is a left-right spectrum. But what is the Left and what is the Right?

The Right is currently identified mainly with the Republican party, even though the parties themselves, technically, are not bound by ideological positions like some other political parties prevalent in Europe. There are varying numbers of "stereotypes" which characterizes the Right, in which the people who are considered "conservatives" can believe in only some of them. These include: a socially conservative position, against Abortion and homosexuality, for example, or economically conservative ("fiscal conservative") position in which they are advocates of small government and low taxes, as well as against deficit spending, or they could be politically conservative, in American viewpoint, in that they hold an "America first" position when it comes to world affairs, a relic of the Cold War.

The Left, on the other hand, is a very varied spectrum at the moment. Those who are on the Right specify the Democratic party as representatives of the Leftist ideology in America, but many in the Left themselves disagree. The stereotypes on the Left include: socially liberal, as in advocating minority rights, a "live and let live" position in social characteristics, etc., and economic-political liberal, which is advocating a more socialist platform like redistribution of wealth of varying degrees, welfare state, etc. Of course, like the Right, many in the Left can believe in only parts of the stereotypes I've specified to be characterized as such.

This, remember, is in current American terms. A very important distinction as other places and other times, the definitions change. Of Europe you will have to ask someone else.

Religions naturally support the Right due to their socially conservative positions, or, at least, that's what's happening.

Nativist appeals generally runs with the Right in the US, as well as Imperialist appeals, but they are only marginally related. Libertarian is a traditionally Right position though it is shared by many in the Left. Environmentalists often identify themselves with the Left, along with animal right supporters; albeit they are not mainstream.

Of my humble position it is irrelevant, but if I am to state who I am I am generally identified with the American Left. I am, shall we say, a believer of a universally supported welfare system, albeit not so dominant as to dominate our lives; I support a highly socially liberal position, and despise the position of Social Conservatives with great passion; I don't care for nativist and imperialist appeals -- perhaps it's something to do with my own immigrant status; I am an environmentalist; I am not a religious enthusiast; of economies I am torn, but neither laissez-faire nor communal economies are of my tastes; and I have a progressive slant in the fact that I believe in moderation while going forward.

An interesting observation I've come up with is that moderates are defined by extremism on either sides. Therefore, nobody likes moderates. [not serious]

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Hmm, sum myself up:

Monarchist

Christian

Right on some issues (such as defence and policing.) Left on others (Such as social reform and welfare.)

[Idaho]

Nah, we're just going to draft your children, poison the air and water, and do whatever else is in Idaho's sig.

I forgot it had that on the sig. I have sigs switched off as they annoy me

[Duke Malcolm]

Moi...
Imperialist -- I feel proud that Britain once ruled the greatest empire to have existed and oft reminisce to those days...

Monarchist -- I feel a Constitutional Monarchy system of Government is better than a damned Republic (and they are the two options in Modern Europe).

Tory -- Well, "One Nation Conservatism" or "Tory Democracy".

[Viking]

I`m centerpolitical. I don`t believe in socialism, nor capitalism. I follow "The Golden Midway"(sp??)...

Hey, C`mon, we all know that if we`re ever to agree, we need to gather at centerpolitics.


(that`s why Norway is the best country in the world to live in, according to the UN )

[Paul Peru]

I'm fair and balanced, basing my views on rationality and humanism.

[doc_bean]

This contains some valuable information about discussing politics on the internet:


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8841340504849794258&q=red+vs+blue+internet

[Kagemusha]

Im pretty conservative when measured on scandinavian politics.So in USA i would be a liberal hippie me thinks.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

"The republicans will draft your kids, poison the air and water, take away your social security and burn down black churches if elected." Gawain of Orkney



Bah, I'm conservative (American) but disappointed with the Republicans.

[BigTex]

I'm disappointed in both partier. Their all to worried about being re-ellected (yet most have managed to manipulate the system so that there's no competition, bravo you rep/dem's) to actually get laws past and do their jobs (look at the "free trade" we have with china). IMO there needs to be some new parties, like the light green party!

[Kommodus]

A lot of confusion attends the use of the terms "left" and "right", "liberal" and "conservative." That's partially because political views can't really be plotted on a 1-D line. They are better (though still not perfectly) represented by a 2-D chart with two axes, one concerned with the economic and the other with the social. For a good illustration (and a test to see where you fall) visit this well-known site:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

The economic left, as has been said, is socialist in nature, concerned with the redistribution of wealth to create equality of economic condition in a society. The economic right stands for free enterprise, free markets, and generally little government regulation of business. It's a matter of degree - even free-market capitalists recognize the need for some government regulation to prevent exploitation, and socialists understand that too much government control stifles innovation and progress.

The social scale, on the other hand, is between "authoritarian" and "libertarian." Authoritarians believe that laws are required to regulate the behavior of individual citizens, while libertarians believe that people should be generally free to act as they choose. Once again, it's all a matter of degree - everyone knows that some laws are necessary (such as basic prohibitions against murder and theft), and likewise values personal freedom, but people disagree on what other regulations are required.

To name a few examples, communism is economically far left, and also very authoritarian. Fascism is also authoritarian but tends to be to the right economically. The American government is becoming increasingly libertarian - in the past there have been more "moral" regulations. It is also slowly becoming more left-wing economically, but is still pretty far to the right, relatively speaking. It's always been a little confusing to me why right-wing/authoritarian and left-wing/libertarian are the usual pairs. I'd expect to find more right-wing libertarians (all-around little government interference) and left-wing authoritarians (all-around big government interference).

My own stance on the political compass places me pretty near the center on both axes, although I always thought of myself as fairly socially conservative and economically capitalist. However, I'm satisfied with a centrist position, as most of the great evils of political history come from extremists on both sides. Thus I now identify myself as a "moderate" rather than conservative or liberal, although I prefer to simply discuss actual views rather than give myself or others a label.

I utterly despise the far left, but find the far right to be even worse. (Although Christianity in America has somehow become identified with the political right, I've come to realize that the far right is a virulent enemy of Christ and the church, perhaps even more so than the far left.)

Anyway, I hope this helps. Check out the political compass if ya feel like it.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Be warned, though. The Compass grades on a Euro scale, not American. Both Kerry and Bush appear to the right on the Compass!

I do like the 2 axes, though.