Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Actual Political Spectrum
LeighPatrick.com ^ | April 21, 2014 | LP Sullivan

Posted on 04/21/2014 11:09:02 AM PDT by Leigh Patrick Sullivan

We all are familiar with the political spectrum, that hypothetical horizontal line on which we find our ‘point’ – our personal political ideology. The principle is basic: left is liberal, right is conservative.

But while the standard spectrum is still valid as a foundation, in reality it isn’t a flat line at all.

(Excerpt) Read more at leighpatrick.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; conservative; liberal; pimpmyblog; politicalspectrum; zot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last
To: PapaNew; Zeneta
As Reagan said, it's not right or left, it's up or down.

Any description of human interaction is going to be complex, but I think Reagan's is close enough to be useful. The most important dimension (however you graph it) deals with whether rights and responsibilities are individual or collective. On one end are anarchists, and on the other are 'socialists' (which includes fascists, communists, 'progressives', Marxists, and so on).

There are distinctions among the collectivist end that some people think are important, but they are minor in comparison to their similarities.

On that scale, the mass of people are truly 'moderates' wanting some government for some purposes (unlike anarchists), but not wanting government intrusion into every decision they make. That dynamic - how much and what authority should government have versus the individual - is the core of all philosophies of government. I happen to think the US Constitution describes an amazingly wonderful form of government - far superior to the one we live under.

However, as Hayek expressed very well, you can't control part of an economy. So the collectivists always demand more and more control over more and more decisions until there is no independent choice left to anyone who is not part of government. The inevitably destroys the middle class and economic strength.
21 posted on 04/21/2014 12:09:41 PM PDT by Phlyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Vinylly
I was taught that the political spectrum was not a straight line too, but really a circle.

If that where true, then the position more or less halfway between the two would be . . . what? Some sort of compromise of the two that are, in fact, the same? What other dimension moves you from those two labels for the same point?

The polar opposite of both of those collectivist positions is anarchy, not some compromise between them. If full anarchy is zero, and full collectivism/totalitarianism/socialism/fascism is ten, then I would put the libertarians at about 3, the establishment Republicans at about 7, the Democrats at about 8, and the government described by US Constitution at about 5 - a great place to be.
22 posted on 04/21/2014 12:15:07 PM PDT by Phlyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Phlyer
Right, and today's "anarchists" are the Progressives. They are overturning the Law of the Land, the Constitution. Rebellion against an unconstitutional government is a fight against anarchy - its a fight to restore our freedom-loving Constitution as the Law of the Land.
23 posted on 04/21/2014 12:21:48 PM PDT by PapaNew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Still Thinking
Fascism is an authoritarian centrist movement. National Socialism is definitely further Left--indeed only the Communists were further Left than the Nazis. For example, Mussolini was ultimately answerable to the King, while the Nazis blocked every effort in Germany & Austria to restore Monarchy.

For one take on the Political Spectrum.

William Flax

24 posted on 04/21/2014 12:27:41 PM PDT by Ohioan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: PapaNew

No No No.

Today’s Progressives are the furthest thing from Anarchists.

They use anarchist tactics to impose more government controls, not less.


25 posted on 04/21/2014 12:48:09 PM PDT by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Leigh Patrick Sullivan; Jacquerie
There's no sense in comparing our own nation's law with others.

We should compare our design to its implementation by whoever is in power. That it the appropriate measurement.

Go to the video linked to this website and consider its argument for a bit.

By the way, it's my book.

26 posted on 04/21/2014 1:00:36 PM PDT by Loud Mime (Character matters for those who understand the concept)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zeneta
Definition of anarchy: a state of disorder and confusion due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.

The Progressive Fabian Socialists do not recognize the authority of the Constitution and have created a state of disorder and confusion in America. They also utterly reject the existence and authority of God and the natural law developed from our Judeo-Christian heritage.

Yes, I'd say the Progressives are very much anarchists.

And fighting their tyranny is fighting against their confusion and disorder and fighting for a peace-loving free society.

27 posted on 04/21/2014 1:03:19 PM PDT by PapaNew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime

Ancient Aliens: the Annunnaki Connection is on History Channel right now, just started. Isn’t this the lizard people that VJ, Murkowski, Ayotte, Reid and others spring from?


28 posted on 04/21/2014 1:03:51 PM PDT by txhurl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Leigh Patrick Sullivan
The fundamental problem in your political spectrum is that the words in it aren’t English but Newspeak. This problem traces back at least to the American inversion (in the 1920s according to Safire’s New Political Dictionary) of the meaning of the word “liberal.” I’d say it even goes back further, because I’m pretty sure the term “progressive” got an inverted meaning even earlier. And, BTW, there actually aren’t any real conservatives in America; those who are labeled as such all believe in progress and liberty and therefore can NOT be considered conservative in a meaningful sense.

In The Road to Serfdom, F.A. Hayek put paid to the idea that there was any real difference between fascism and communism. They fought (during WWII) “as only half-brothers can” (quote from a nonpolitical old movie, not Hayek). People who believe in liberty can’t stand either fascists or communists - but you position “social conservatives” - who mostly just want the government to stop subverting tradition by means of government schools - right next to fascists, who - just like the communists - want government control of everything.


29 posted on 04/21/2014 1:04:08 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion ("Liberalism” is a conspiracy against the public by wire-service journalism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leigh Patrick Sullivan

I posted a similar thought almost a year ago.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3011704/posts

See post # 9.


30 posted on 04/21/2014 1:08:52 PM PDT by Sergio (An object at rest cannot be stopped! - The Evil Midnight Bomber What Bombs at Midnight)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ohioan

Excellent link!


31 posted on 04/21/2014 1:21:41 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: PapaNew

I understand your position and would ask you to consider the issue in greater detail.

Do progressives promote Individualism or Groups ?

Do progressives ask/demand that the government impose their hair brained ideas ?

Yes, Prog’s are anti-Constitution and anti our Judeo-Christian heritage.

But, our Constitution is anti-government.


32 posted on 04/21/2014 1:30:49 PM PDT by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: PapaNew

The Progressive only wants to destroy the “Known” for the “Unknown”.

They reject all certainty, other than their certainty that everything is uncertain.

I know that it makes no sense and is a circular argument.

This position of theirs is the only thing that can explain their immunity to logic and their hypocrisy.

They don’t even recognize that which they fight for is what they fundamentally oppose.

When does the snake realize it is eating its own tail ?


33 posted on 04/21/2014 1:45:22 PM PDT by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime

Have you thought of posting some excerpts as a stand alone vanity?


34 posted on 04/21/2014 1:57:29 PM PDT by Jacquerie (Article V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Jacquerie

No, I haven’t. I’m not really sure it would be helpful. I’ll think about it.


35 posted on 04/21/2014 2:04:33 PM PDT by Loud Mime (Character matters for those who understand the concept)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Leigh Patrick Sullivan

What drives me crazy is the claim that we are a ‘center-right’ country. If that’s the case, then our instrument of measure is biased to the left of where the people are.


36 posted on 04/21/2014 2:06:15 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jacquerie

Message from COS: Florida has just become the third State standing for liberty by passing SM476/HM381.


37 posted on 04/21/2014 2:12:28 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (We have met the enemy and he is us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Zeneta
Right, but it's important for us to pierce through the Left's deceptive use of language used to try to intimidate the opposition. Lets see, you've got tyranny, anarchy, and freedom.

It seems to me that tyranny (the Progressive's love-child), not freedom, is closest to anarchy. Tyranny rejects God's authority and laws that are meant for the betterment, peace, and happiness of man and instead reigns confusion and disorder. Progressiveness and tyranny are anarchy disguised as legitimate authority.

Our Constitution is anti-government

Yes and this is an example of how anti-government and pro-freedom are not anarchy. A free society, like the Constitution, erects safeguards against those who would wrongfully interfere with another's freedoms. That creates a respectful and peaceful society. The opposite of anarchy is not tyranny, but the Rule of Law (here, the Constitution). The opposite of the Rule of Law is anarchy, tyranny, and Progressivism.

38 posted on 04/21/2014 2:14:28 PM PDT by PapaNew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: 9YearLurker

What drives me crazy is the claim that we are a ‘center-right’ country. If that’s the case, then our instrument of measure is biased to the left of where the people are.


It’s all PR all the time.

It’s defining the opposition before the opposition speaks.

It’s killing the messenger to keep the message from even being considered.

It’s polarizing everything into a political choice.

It’s peer pressure to separate the relativist from the objectivist.


39 posted on 04/21/2014 2:22:23 PM PDT by Zeneta (Thoughts in time and out of season.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Zeneta

And it’s making the slightly right into the “far right”, while the far left is merely the “left”—or even more often, “left-leaning”.


40 posted on 04/21/2014 2:30:24 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-72 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson