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Do You Really Want to Ascribe to the Left or Right?

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by righteousdude2, Jan 26, 2013.

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  1. Left...

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  2. Right...

    3 vote(s)
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  3. Neither, Never was one or the other!

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  4. No opinion, but see my comment...

    2 vote(s)
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  5. Somewhere in the center, but even this defintion is unsettling!

    6 vote(s)
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  6. I think of myself as a Tea Party person...

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  1. righteousdude2

    righteousdude2 Well-Known Member
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    There is general consensus that the Left includes progressives, social-liberals, greens, social-democrats, socialists, democratic-socialists, civil-libertarians (as in "social-libertarians"; not to be confused with the right's "economic-libertarians"), secularists, communists, and anarchists, and that the Right includes conservatives, reactionaries, neoconservatives, capitalists, neoliberals, economic-libertarians (not to be confused with the left's "civil-libertarians"), social-authoritarians, monarchists, theocrats, nationalists, Nazis (including neo-Nazis) and fascists. (from Wikapedia)

    Here's a more in depth explanation of the difference between the "left" and "right" in politics.

    I don't know about you, but I no longer want to be associated with either the right or left, since they carry such negative connotations.

    How about you?
     
  2. church mouse guy

    church mouse guy Well-Known Member
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    President Eisenhower said that he went down the middle of the road, leaving the gutters to the left and the right. However, the country has moved so far to the left that my old moderate position is now classified as right. I am a conservative, capitalistic Protestant. I think that the Jesus is the Answer (not politics).
     
  3. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    Terms are usually variable.

    For example "Rich" Exactly what does that mean? Have more than one billion?, more than one million?, To a citizen of a 3rd world country, our citizens (as well as illegal immigrants) on welfare are rich.

    How about Pro-life - to some if you believe in the death penalty - you are not considered pro-life.

    I consider myself a Conservative (note the capital C as I am a member of the NY Conservative party).
    but to some I would be considered liberal - to others I am ultra conservative.

    Thus when discussing politics, religion ect, you first must understand the terminology.

    I remember a Methodist preacher in WV, who by no means would consider himself a fundamentalist, was called one by someone in his Bible study since this pastor believed that salvation simply comes by grace thur faith
     
  4. Dennis324

    Dennis324 Member

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    Hi Everyone! :wavey:

    This is a good question because I was just discussing something similar with people in another group. Unfortunately that group is sprinkled with rudeness.

    Do I consider myself left or right?

    I'm lean to the right personally...but not to the far right. I'm no white supremacist. :laugh: But I'm certainly socially to the right and in most cases (there are a few exceptions) I'm to the right as well.

    I'm a Christian Conservative and have voted Republican all my life. Unfortunately I have the sinking feeling that Republicans are in danger of losing the GOP to socially left people.

    I was in Hannity's forum a few days ago and was shocked to find that many there blame the GOP's loss on Christian Conservatives. They feel they should kick Christian Conservatives out of the party and adopt socially leftist views in order to achieve power.
     
  5. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    Cool. Let em, then we can all join the constitution and libertarian parties and show em what a real defeat looks like.
     
  6. Dennis324

    Dennis324 Member

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    Speaking of Libertarian... There are a lot of people in politics and the media who say they are Republicans but actually hold socially liberal viewpoints. So my question then is...

    What do you folks think a Libertarian is? And What do you all think a Republican is? Whats the difference between the two parties?
     
  7. General Mung Beans

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    A capital Libertarian is someone who is a member of or supports the Libertarian Party. A small case libertarian is someone who believes in a political philosophy of minimal government. The two overlap obviously.

    A Republican is someone who supports or is a member of the Republican Party. This includes some libertarians, along with social conservatives, neocons, moderates (a dying breed), and others (and various combinations thereof).
     
  8. JimmyH

    JimmyH New Member

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    British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said,"If you're not a liberal when you are young you have no heart. If you're not a conservative when you are old, you have no brains." I would say that is a very wise observation. I'm right of center BTW.
     
  9. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    As far as candidates go . . .

    Libertarian candidates believe in free markets, sound money, individual liberties, property rights, and constitutionally limited government.

    Republican candidates believe in whatever their constituents tell them they should (opinion polls) until they are elected to office. Same goes for democrat candidates.
     
    #9 poncho, Jan 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2013
  10. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I don't consider myself Right or Left. I consider myself a Constitutional Conservative. The following article written by columnist Holmes Alexander many years ago presents that Constitutional Conservative philosophy as well as I have seen. Of course there is Barry Goldwater's Conscience of a Conservative but it has been a long time since I read it!

    I have taken the liberty of changing the lower case "c" when used in conservative to upper case. The Conservative political philosophy should not be confused with the dictionary definition of "conservative" any more than the Liberal philosophy should be confused with the dictionary definition of "liberal".
     
    #10 OldRegular, Jan 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2013
  11. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    In other words . . . Ron Paul.
     
  12. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    I suspect that, were Libertarian candidates to obtain power, many would be guilty of like behavior. It's human nature to want to hold on to power once it's obtained.
     
  13. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    I should add that I think any organized political party could be inclined to do likewise.
     
  14. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    You might be right but I highly doubt we'll ever get the chance to find out.

    The system is rigged against reformers.

    Just as I should add any organized party or movement can be co-opted. Examples. The republican party limited government conservative movement was co-opted by the neocons, and the Tea Party movement was co-opted by the co-opted republican party.
     
    #14 poncho, Jan 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2013
  15. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    To a large extent I agree with you, but the day of change may come if one or more of the minor parties can get enough support and can get organized enough to do something with it. That is to say it very well may be rigged, but part of the blame lays with the minor parties.

    Perhaps.
     
  16. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    I am not sure that Churchill's remarks are relevant as the meaning of liberal and conservative have changed since his day.
     
  17. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Lets not forget the democrat. A democrat is one who believes in a cradle to the grave welfare state; that is if you are fortunate enough to make it from the womb to the cradle, approximately 2 out of 3. And to shorten that span from cradle to grave they have the death panel of Obamacare!
     
  18. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    Not Ron Paul. A true blue libertarian is a nonviolent anarchist!
     
  19. poncho

    poncho Well-Known Member

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    Ron Paul isn't a true blue libertarian. He does fit your description of a conservative (which I agree with) to a tee though.

    Change will only come when republicans and conservatives get tired of being "neo-conned". From the looks of some of the threads here that's still a long ways off.
     
    #19 poncho, Jan 30, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 30, 2013
  20. Dennis324

    Dennis324 Member

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    Well, folks, what I meant was:

    What do YOU think a Libertarian 'believes' and what does a Republican "believe' with regards to politics. Socially and fiscally.
     
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