epiphany Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Whenever someone uses the term "left" or "right", what do they really imagine these positions to encompass? To highlight the inadequacy of the left-right mode of thinking (or lack thereof) in any serious political debate, you only have to look at the potential ideological viewpoints one could lean both towards or away from that would defy any notion of a single, linear spectrum. You could be (to a greater or lesser degree)... Economically liberal and socially authoritarian Economically collectivist and socially liberal Economically and socially liberal Economically collectivist and socially authoritarian Technically, Hitler cannot be considered right wing because he opposed economic liberalism. The BNP technically aren't as right wing as the Tory party, or even New Labour, because many of their policies involve far more government intervention in the economy. But there is more to consider. Someone may be economically liberal, but not subscribe to the current definition of how a liberalised economy would operate. For example, libertarian or "anarcho" capitalists may oppose the current order because it involves bailouts, subsidies and protectionist measures from the state. Therefore, even if we establish that someone is economically right wing, it doesn't tell us in which market system they envision the "perfect liberty" being attained. In a nutshell, to call someone "right wing" or "left wing" is pretty meaningless, unless you also state to what attribute you ascribe their "leftness" or "rightness". More info here http://www.politicalcompass.org/ukparties2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky3 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 What about balanced in the centre? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epiphany Posted March 15, 2012 Author Share Posted March 15, 2012 What about balanced in the centre? But where is the centre? Isn't that like trying to find the centre of space? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L00b Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 What about balanced in the centre?Doesn't exist/is a total fiction. Everyone has at least one polarising issue, which would take them away from that (utopian) position. In those famous old words: "you can't please everybody all the time". After that, it's a question of how many issues, and how polarising. Hi epiphany, not seen you around these parts in a while EDIT - IMHO, the issue you raise in the OP is, or results in, or manifests itself as, what I sometimes call "policy-by-headline": little in the way of aims, convictions and principles, just going with the public opinion/flavour of the month/flow to stay on top. Of course, that becomes quickly afflicted by short-termism to such an extent, that you necessarily end up with little in the way of progress/direction. Just going round in ever narrower circles, ever more immobilised by the growing body of liabilities of things said, promised and done or not done over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky3 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Doesn't exist/is a total fiction. Everyone has at least one polarising issue, which would take them away from that (utopian) position. In those famous old words: "you can't please everybody all the time". After that, it's a question of how many issues, and how polarising. Hi epiphany, not seen you around these parts in a while Oh yeah, didn't Freud do a list of traits which were graded between frustrated and satisfied, but surely there has to be a middle ground statistically speaking, maybe coffee an an biscuits may be him, might also be why he's generally quite late... less to get wrong though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janie48 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Just shuffle about a bit,then when we have the next election,move to the best position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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