What does "far right" mean anyway?

The term "far right" has come to refer to anybody that those who are on the side of big government find most objectionable.

I was just reading this thread on the EDL, and it reminded me that this has been bothering me for a while.

In general the "right" is associated with small government and the "left" with big government. Based on this definition "far right" would mean libertarian or classical anarchist, but it never seems to be used to mean that. Don't even get me started on modern "anarchists" (communists in disguise).

I find it particularly bemusing when extreme socialists who tend toward ethnic genocide and warmongering such as Hitler and Stalin are referred to as "far right" which is just nonsense. These people are blatantly "far left".

When did this happen? Did I miss a memo? How are National Socialists "far right"?

Perhaps it's time to abandon this right/left nonsense as it has lost all useful meaning and pick some specific terminology for what is currently labelled "far right". Any suggestions?

Stalin was blatantly far left. He was extremely proud of the fact.

As for Hitler, a lot of policy could be compatible with left-wing dictatorship (but people tend to forget about economic and social policy) but there was powerful right wing ideology there too.

This is an excellent read if you have the time:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitler-Stalin-Parallel-Alan-Bullock/dp/0006863744

Seems to me that the far right and the far left have a lot in common in terms of their general intolerance and the total belief in the own views (you might call it blind faith).

It's the same with the likes of the EDL and Islamic fundamentalists - they have so much in common, if only they could see it.

As the saying goes, if you far enough in one direction, you'll meet yourself coming back

The term "far right" has come to refer to anybody that those who are on the side of big government find most objectionable.

 

I was just reading this thread on the EDL, and it reminded me that this has been bothering me for a while.

 

In general the "right" is associated with small government and the "left" with big government. Based on this definition "far right" would mean libertarian or classical anarchist, but it never seems to be used to mean that. Don't even get me started on modern "anarchists" (communists in disguise).

 

I find it particularly bemusing when extreme socialists who tend toward ethnic genocide and warmongering such as Hitler and Stalin are referred to as "far right" which is just nonsense. These people are blatantly "far left".

 

When did this happen? Did I miss a memo? How are National Socialists "far right"?

 

Perhaps it's time to abandon this right/left nonsense as it has lost all useful meaning and pick some specific terminology for what is currently labelled "far right". Any suggestions?

What's in a name? National Socialist? Pure crowd appeal. Makes the great unwashed believe that the party is there to serve their collective well being.

Hitler got them believing in some kind of Socialism anyway.

Communist? Same BS. There was no 'Communal" in communist. It was just one bunch of self serving tyrants led by Stalin who replaced an earlier bunch of self serving tyrants led by a Royal dynasty

Seems to me that the far right and the far left have a lot in common in terms of their general intolerance and the total belief in the own views (you might call it blind faith).

 

It's the same with the likes of the EDL and Islamic fundamentalists - they have so much in common, if only they could see it.

 

As the saying goes, if you far enough in one direction, you'll meet yourself coming back

I appreciate the thought, but I tend to disagree.

Surely the "right" in general are inclined to leave people to their own devices. With a small government you don't have the resources to go around forcing people to behave in one way or another.

Let's not forget the popularity of Hitler with British socialists in the 1930's.

Any evidence of that? Hitler's biggest admirers were in the aristocracy including the Royals.

I appreciate the thought, but I tend to disagree.

 

Surely the "right" in general are inclined to leave people to their own devices. With a small government you don't have the resources to go around forcing people to behave in one way or another.

You mean like Hitler left Jews to their own devices?

What's in a name? National Socialist? Pure crowd appeal. Makes the great unwashed believe that the party is there to serve their collective well being.

Hitler got them believing in some kind of Socialism anyway.

 

Communist? Same BS. There was no 'Communal" in communist. It was just one bunch of self serving tyrants led by Stalin who replaced an earlier bunch of self serving tyrants led by a Royal dynasty

Perhaps you could point me at an historic example of a big government state that didn't turn tyrannical.

---------- Post added 18-09-2013 at 20:11 ----------

You mean like Hitler left Jews to their own devices?

Not at all. Hitler didn't leave anyone to their own devices. He ran a big government intent on controlling everything and was therefore part of the "left". I believe I already made this point.

The term "far right" has come to refer to anybody that those who are on the side of big government find most objectionable.

 

I was just reading this thread on the EDL, and it reminded me that this has been bothering me for a while.

 

In general the "right" is associated with small government and the "left" with big government. Based on this definition "far right" would mean libertarian or classical anarchist, but it never seems to be used to mean that. Don't even get me started on modern "anarchists" (communists in disguise).

 

I find it particularly bemusing when extreme socialists who tend toward ethnic genocide and warmongering such as Hitler and Stalin are referred to as "far right" which is just nonsense. These people are blatantly "far left".

 

When did this happen? Did I miss a memo? How are National Socialists "far right"?

 

Perhaps it's time to abandon this right/left nonsense as it has lost all useful meaning and pick some specific terminology for what is currently labelled "far right". Any suggestions?

info on the term far right

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far-right_politics

Interesting. Specifically what aspects of "right wing" ideology did the National Socialists adopt? If it wasn't toward small government or individualism I might not be inclined to recognise it as right wing. Let's not forget the popularity of Hitler with British socialists in the 1930's.

The main one was blaming all the problems of the society on a few groups of people (Socialists, Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, foreigners, etc), then persecuting them. Right wing capitalism just targets the poor, fascism targets other 'outsider' groups.

There was obviously strong nationalism. Militarism. Social conservatism. Imperialism. They suppressed trade unions & supported corporations.

From the start Italian fascists described themselves as right wing, although they do borrow some economic concepts from the left.

They're extreme right wing with their social policy, but can have some quite left wing economic policy.