The Political Continuum

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People often label others as liberals, conservatives, moderates, right-wingers, left-wingers, far right-wingers, far left-wingers, etc. I might be getting lost in some of the debates because these labels are being thrown around without much apparent discernment. . . .

I'm not quite sure how to define myself on the political contiuum.

Everyone, please help me out:

Far Left______Left________Middle________Right_______Far Right
^___________^__________^___________^__________^

Where do the conservatives, liberals, moderates, republicans, democrats, etc., generally fall on this political continuum? Give examples of some of the views held by people with these labels. What other labels are there, and where do those labels fit on the continuum?

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Hey Deb. I am mostly Libertarian. Check out the worlds smallest political quiz to find out where you stand: http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html

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That's one of the most notoriously biased tests ever, it's a brilliant PR job the the libertarian party that skews everyone toward being left or libertarian.

But it does well in making a linear scale a bit more telling.

My own tests (i'll eventually make some) would judge:

Financial left-right on taxation
Financial left-right on capitalism (e.g. I'm very left on taxation and social programs but am also firmly capitalist and do not hate corporations)

Social progressive - conservative (broken down into several large categories like immigration, and issues involving diversity)

Social authoritarian - libertarian (mainly about law and law enforcement)

Foreign policy militaristic - passive

That's just a rough outline of the multi-dimensional scales I'd make in political testing.

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Craven - your avatar changes all the time. How do you do that?

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Other labels for example:

hawk/dove

This is the militarism scale and one could be a right hawk or a left hawk because right and left are generally financial terms.

So a militaristic communist would be a left/hawk.

It doesn't work on one line, you need at least a financial vs social scale and even then there are issues central enough to further break down (for example, taxation and capitalism are both financial but are both big issues and I am financially left on taxation while not being anti-corporate).

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NickFun wrote:

Craven - your avatar changes all the time. How do you do that?

http://search.able2know.com/About/1220.html

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Debra- I think it goes something like this

You question, don't support, or participate in any function that does not consider Bush the next coming then you are a "leftist/liberal/Communist/Socialist/traitor"

Of course most of us understand that "liberal" and "leftist" are not the same nor are Democrat and Liberal/Leftist.

IMO

Most Americans are Moderates, that is they want fiscal responsibility and accountability and lower taxes along with a smaller government. However they do support social programs like Health Care, SS, Education and Welfare. They have some conservative ideals and some "liberal" ideals. They can vary on any number or issues.

There are Conservatives which exists in BOTH PARTIES. They are for fiscal responsibility etc... and for reforming or discontinuing social programs.

There are Leftist which are far left of conservatives and still left of Liberals. These are the real die hard WTO protestors, the hard core PETA people and the hard core Environmentalist that engage in some violence and properyt damage.

There are the Relgious Right or Right wing which seem to have taken over the Republican party. They want to turn the country into a Theoacracy. They claim to want a Christian nation but part of that is stiffling free speech and ridding the world of all sex. Bascically if they could figure out a way to keep women in Burkas they would do it. They are strident Pro-lifers but think killling innocents during war is fine and of course Capital punishment isn't really taking a life. They want prayer in school, and think that everyone should be walking around with a bible tucked under each arm.

Amongst the Right wing exist a hard core faction of NeoCons which are the group in power now. If you need to know more about them look up Leo Strauss, or the PNAC

I'm a moderate/liberal even though my opposers would call me a leftist.

Labels have become the new smear tool, thanks to people like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and their ilk. The Republicans set out successfully I might add, to smear the word "liberal" and make it a negative. Fact is the country leans more to the Liberal side then the right. You wouldn't know it by looking at us right now though.

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Redheat wrote:

Debra- I think it goes something like this

You question, don't support, or participate in any function that does not consider Bush the next coming then you are a "leftist/liberal/Communist/Socialist/traitor"

Of course most of us understand that "liberal" and "leftist" are not the same nor are Democrat and Liberal/Leftist.

IMO

Most Americans are Moderates, that is they want fiscal responsibility and accountability and lower taxes along with a smaller government. However they do support social programs like Health Care, SS, Education and Welfare. They have some conservative ideals and some "liberal" ideals. They can vary on any number or issues.

There are Conservatives which exists in BOTH PARTIES. They are for fiscal responsibility etc... and for reforming or discontinuing social programs.

There are Leftist which are far left of conservatives and still left of Liberals. These are the real die hard WTO protestors, the hard core PETA people and the hard core Environmentalist that engage in some violence and properyt damage.

There are the Relgious Right or Right wing which seem to have taken over the Republican party. They want to turn the country into a Theoacracy. They claim to want a Christian nation but part of that is stiffling free speech and ridding the world of all sex. Bascically if they could figure out a way to keep women in Burkas they would do it. They are strident Pro-lifers but think killling innocents during war is fine and of course Capital punishment isn't really taking a life. They want prayer in school, and think that everyone should be walking around with a bible tucked under each arm.

Amongst the Right wing exist a hard core faction of NeoCons which are the group in power now. If you need to know more about them look up Leo Strauss, or the PNAC

I'm a moderate/liberal even though my opposers would call me a leftist.

Labels have become the new smear tool, thanks to people like Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and their ilk. The Republicans set out successfully I might add, to smear the word "liberal" and make it a negative. Fact is the country leans more to the Liberal side then the right. You wouldn't know it by looking at us right now though.

I love the way you try to gloss over the far left's influence on their Party and yet you claim that the far right has all but taken over the Republican Party. Rolling Eyes

I am very active in Republican politics and I can tell you that we roll our eyes every time on of the 'Jesus Chrispies' as we call them go off on a rant. They are marginalized among the party, they just seem to have the loudest mouths and are the ones that always seem to get quoted when the media needs a good 'counter line' in some story.

On the other hand, there are many of my fellow Republicans who honestly believe that the Democrats have been taken over by the far left wackos who want nothing more than to:
Sign the Kyoto accords ...
Eliminate all fossil fuel usage in this country...
Eliminate meat from our plates and go to a total Vegan diet...
Have all of us end up living an some Kumbayah singing commune with constant wealth redistribution, living in grass huts or teepees and discussing how guilty we feel for all the hundreds of years of American oppression of everybody.

I'm not saying that the wackos from either side have taken over...
What I AM saying, is that you seem to believe the propaganda about the Left's opinion of the far Right and marginalize the fears about the Left in the mind's of the Right.

Try to look at it from someone else's point of view every now and then.

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Quote:

I love the way you try to gloss over the far left's influence on their Party and yet you claim that the far right has all but taken over the Republican Party.

What influence? I can name several influences of the far right, abortion, stem cell research, faith based programs, school prayer, pledge, guns, taxes, gay marriage...... Can you name what "left influence" there is?

Quote:

On the other hand, there are many of my fellow Republicans who honestly believe that the Democrats have been taken over by the far left wackos who want nothing more than to:
Sign the Kyoto accords ...
Eliminate all fossil fuel usage in this country...
Eliminate meat from our plates and go to a total Vegan diet...
Have all of us end up living an some Kumbayah singing commune with constant wealth redistribution, living in grass huts or teepees and discussing how guilty we feel for all the hundreds of years of American oppression of everybody.

Kyoto is a "wacko" concept? maybe they need to stop listening to Rush. Trying to prevent the earth from disenigrating for the future of our children isn't wacko in my eyes but I guess you think it's a silly idea Rolling Eyes

Why not eliminate fossil fuels if we develop cleaner, more effiecent and cheaper means of energy. Sorry but what exactly would be the oppostion to this? If we develop a new industry then there are new jobs, new technology and a less polluted environment for our children. Yeah we sure wouldn't want to do that now would we? Rolling Eyes

Vegan diet? Laughing

Again you and your friends need to stop listening to Rush. Name ONE Democratic held platform that would support this ludicris idea.

OMG YOU MEAN PEOPLE WANT US TO LIVE IN PEACE! AND LOVE EACH OTHER. OMG what demons! Then again what would be the "Christian" ideal the Republicans support? War, blood shed and hate? Is that what you're telling me?

Quote:

I'm not saying that the wackos from either side have taken over...
What I AM saying, is that you seem to believe the propaganda about the Left's opinion of the far Right and marginalize the fears about the Left in the mind's of the Right.

Given what you presented in this post I'm not totally convinced you are aware of anything you are saying.

Quote:

Try to look at it from someone else's point of view every now and then.

If what you wrote presents somone's else's point of view, then I rest my case.

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Redheat,
I'm leaving work in a few mins. and then out to dinner with my sister and her boyfriend.

When I get home, I will be happy to post the Far Lefts influence on the Democratic platform.

I do notice that you seem to refer to Rush a LOT and think every Republican listens to him...

I haven't tuned in to Mr. Limbaugh since the second or third year of President Clinton's term of office. (Not that I wouldn't want to, I just can't here in my office.)

Or is it something else?

Does 'The Majarushdie' call to a special place in your heart?

Do you secretly yearn for him?

If so, I give you this Laughing

...

http://www.sacredcowburgers.com/parodies/best_wishes.jpg

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