In our lifetime
Posted: 12/8/2003 11:47:36 AM
By: Comfortably Anonymous
Times Read: 1,455
0 Dislikes: 0
Topic: News: Politics
Parent Message
I think that there is a little more to it than "left-wing"/"right-wing". I like the 2-dimensional model shown at the libertarian party website [lp.org]. It recognizes that governmental systems have varying degrees of control over it's citizens both economically and socially.

"Left-wing" means high social freedom (i.e. pot smoking or the rights of the accused), and low economic freedom (you have to give 15% of your paycheck to social security and medicare).

"Right-wing" means low social freedom ("If you didn't commit the crime, why else would you be sitting here in handcuffs? The chair for you."), and high economic freedom (if the government wants money it should take it from some other contry's citizens!).

Libertarian means both kinds of freedom, and totalitarian means neither.

Why call commies leftists and fascists right-wing? I guess the intent of the two sides is different (I'd disagree), and maybe they go about their plans in different ways, but untimately they all take away freedom. I suppose you could talk about how ideally, communism would not take away individual freedoms, but I'm talking about reality. I think they're all totalitarian.

And my cynical side would argue that any serious politician wants to take our freedoms away somehow (for his own power), it's just a question of which we're willing to part with.
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