Preferred Political Government Power?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Right wingers are simplistic people. They prefer the anecdote, the generality, the known association.

Poppycock. Right wingers are no more or less simplistic --as in craving of cognitive simplicity -- as is the progressive. There are rafts of those persons who revel in me & mine good/you & yours bad or suspect thinking on both (all) ends of the political spectrum. If you sir, appreciate or at least tolerate the ambiguities of reality better than many (and I think you do), be happy in your ability to cope with that degree of uncertainty. Many of our peers -- on both sides -- prefer simpler answers (sometimes even when they know they should not).

[Idaho]

Poppycock. Right wingers are no more or less simplistic --as in craving of cognitive simplicity -- as is the progressive. There are rafts of those persons who revel in me & mine good/you & yours bad or suspect thinking on both (all) ends of the political spectrum. If you sir, appreciate or at least tolerate the ambiguities of reality better than many (and I think you do), be happy in your ability to cope with that degree of uncertainty. Many of our peers -- on both sides -- prefer simpler answers (sometimes even when they know they should not).

Sorry seamus, you are more right wing than me, but in a more acceptable, thoughtful way. You aren't really what I targeting in my unsubtle digs at Greyblades. He's a tory. And an archetypal English tory. The kind that run in packs, and don't believe they need to think as they already know it all. Blind to how they got where they are and carrying around a familiar and unquestioned sense of entitlement, like a stray dog carries fleas.

[Sarmatian]

For communism to work, human cognitive development needs to be on a much lower or much higher level than it is now.

That said, there's no reason why we shouldn't take some good aspects of communism and apply them in a more democratic political system.

The best thing about communism (besides pulling some countries out of a feudal society into an industrial one within a short time) is that it kept capitalism in check, and forced capitalist societies to acknowledge issues of workers and middle class. After the demise of communism, we've generally seen middle class dwindling and the wealthiest class of society becoming even wealthier in most countries, with indications that the trend is going to continue.

[Montmorency]

For communism to work, human cognitive development needs to be on a much lower or much higher level than it is now.

That said, there's no reason why we shouldn't take some good aspects of communism and apply them in a more democratic political system.

The best thing about communism (besides pulling some countries out of a feudal society into an industrial one within a short time) is that it kept capitalism in check, and forced capitalist societies to acknowledge issues of workers and middle class. After the demise of communism, we've generally seen middle class dwindling and the wealthiest class of society becoming even wealthier in most countries, with indications that the trend is going to continue.

Here's a bit for a socio-political thriller series - just an intro scene for the pilot:

A spokesman from the US armed forces steps onto the podium to address a joint session of Congress. Reading dryly from the prepared statement, he announces that the armed forces have approved the official position that the top security threat facing the United States and its interests is "wealth disparity, stagnant standards of living, and corporate class warfare". Uproar ensues. While the functionary sweats at the podium waiting for a chance to continue reciting the document, we get a variety of wide and close shots of the pandemonium between the Reps and Senators.

Not even all that far-fetched, really.

[Pannonian]

Sorry seamus, you are more right wing than me, but in a more acceptable, thoughtful way. You aren't really what I targeting in my unsubtle digs at Greyblades. He's a tory. And an archetypal English tory. The kind that run in packs, and don't believe they need to think as they already know it all. Blind to how they got where they are and carrying around a familiar and unquestioned sense of entitlement, like a stray dog carries fleas.

You mean Thatcherite. There are also the old school One Nation Tories, whom I greatly respect, who balance their belief in conservative institutions with an equal belief in fulfilling duties and responsibilities. Thatcherites take the worst aspects of liberalism and conservatism and combine them into a sense of self entitlement without admitting any responsibilities.

[Greyblades]

Funny, I thought we were calling it blairism these days.

Sorry seamus, you are more right wing than me, but in a more acceptable, thoughtful way. You aren't really what I targeting in my unsubtle digs at Greyblades. He's a tory. And an archetypal English tory. The kind that run in packs, and don't believe they need to think as they already know it all. Blind to how they got where they are and carrying around a familiar and unquestioned sense of entitlement, like a stray dog carries fleas.

Coming from the person who considers everyone right of stalin is a tory I find myself unable to take the disdane as anything but affirmation of sanity.

[Idaho]

You mean Thatcherite. There are also the old school One Nation Tories, whom I greatly respect, who balance their belief in conservative institutions with an equal belief in fulfilling duties and responsibilities. Thatcherites take the worst aspects of liberalism and conservatism and combine them into a sense of self entitlement without admitting any responsibilities.

Definitely tory. What you describe as one nation tory, is the overlap between you and PVC. You are both natural whigs.

[Montmorency]

You are both natural whigs.

Forgive me, but how do the 19th-century Whigs compare to modern Liberal Democrats?