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Mon 4 Aug, 2003 01:11 pm
The Optimists say times are great ! while the Pessimists cry Havoc !
This psychological orientation converts into a conflict in the political sphere, centering on whether one tends to uphold physical, materialistic and military values; or whether, on the other hand, one tends to uphold the more spiritual, social and humanistic values.
If it is true that a unified country in wartime [Note Churchill's England] is also the STRONGER, and that a divided country is, again, weakened by internal conflicts ["Divide and Conquer" ], then the whole 'problem' becomes easier to stand under.
The Right Wing is, of course, pro-America and has an ideal of material strength: it wants the US to be strong: eg. unified especially in time of War. This leads to suppression of some dissent.
But the Left-Wing has another view of this country, and is, naturally, also Pro-America and pro American values, such as tolerance, diversity and questioning. But these democratic values may be seen as weakening the body politic, especially against foreign foes, real or imagined. Especially in times of peril.
So it comes down to the Realists [the Right Wing] vs.. the Idealists [the Left Wing].
Are we in a time of relative Peace [favoring optimism] ?
Or, a time of relative Danger [favoring pessimism] ?
Your answer will determine your politics.
What is wanted, of course, is a happy medium, or, even, an Unhappy Medium somewhere between the two. In times of Peace, more Liberty may be called for [as, during the 60s].
While after an attack Unity becomes more important. This makes relatively more sense [like after Pearl Harbor and, according to some, after 911].
So, what view do you stand under ?
I really try not to assess the right and left from the perspective of the man or woman in the street -- but rather from the perspective of what the politicians of those pursuasions do and say.
That being said, I do not consider the right wing to be any more realistic than the left wing -- and that probably is a slap in the fact to both.
I most assuredly do not consider the right to be any more pro-American than the left -- and I compliment you on at least mentioning that -- although I do see a bias in favor of the right over the left in your remarks.
I do see the left as being more idealistic -- although there are times where I see some of that idealism as naive.
I see the extremes of the right and the left as out to lunch.
I suspect the country is much, much better off having a solid right and left -- and I prefer it this way.
My sense of things is that the left (at least the Democratic party) is much better at getting things done -- and the right (at least the Republican party) seems at its best when it is being the loyal opposition. When their roles are reversed -- neither shines.
Too much "unity" is, in my opinion, more of a problem for a democracy than is too much division.
Good to see you here, Tickler.
These are interesting times. You can be assured that future generations of Phd candidates will be well supplied with topics.
chaos often hide behind peace
This is the worst time in human history. There is nothing positive about the 21st century so far. There is no right-wing policy, there is a fascist and outright psychopathic policy ruling the U.S., which deceitfully expanded Palestinian terrorism into 9/11 with the help of some Saudi mercenaries. This policy serves no good reason, or someone should explain it to me.
In 2000 your country was on top of things. That's all gone now.
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