Posted on 05/19/2023 8:42:52 PM PDT by 7thson
I just listened to a Jordan Peterson video, and while I think he is perhaps the intellectual heir to the retired Thomas Sowell (if you disagree with this, please do not too caustic in your rebutal comments), he stated something in the video that made me question the meaning of far right and far left.
From my days in Young Americans for Freedom, before its child took it over and neutered it.
THE EXTREMIST HYMN
(To “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”)
Mine eyes have seen the horrors of the militant extreme.
I have heard about their tennis shoes and eyes that madly gleam.
They are armed and more fanatical than you would ever dream!
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS:
Glory be, there goes another!
Glory be, there goes another!
Glory be, there goes another!
I’ll track down every one! **
Extremists are the people to the right of Chester Bowles,
For they don’t believe in giving in to socialism’s goals.
They don’t even favor foreign aid for Yugoslavs or Poles!
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS
I am not afraid of Communists, their numbers are too small,
But extremists come in millions, and EACH ONE IS TEN FEET TALL!
Yes, extremists come in millions and are patriotic all.
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS
I have seen them in the hallways and I’ve seen them in the bars.
I have seen them in the caucuses; they come from near and far.
They control the Y.A. F. and they control the C.Y.R.
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS
They are hiding in my closet. They are always in the way.
They are lurking in the hallways...I SAW 54 TODAY!
They are spying on our meetings till my hair is turning grey.
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS
Exposing them in public was a brilliant thing to do.
Now the People’s World adores me and the Nation loves me too.
But extremists have to get their praise from National Review.
I’ll track down every one!
CHORUS
** To be sung pointing at one or another egregious rightist deviationist, who may, as the evening wears on, elect to wear a lampshade to hide from the accusing finger of the People’s Justice.
The “World’s Shortest Political Quiz” has social aspects on one axis, from most free to most restricted, and economic adpects on the other. The four corners would then be both are free (libertarian), economics are free but social aspects are restricted (conservative), social aspects are free but economics are restricted (liberal), or both are restricted (authoritarian).
The far-right, is an occurence, such as:
- barbecuing steaks on a charcoal or gas grill
- defending your life
- any attempt to convey the love of Jesus
- recommending putting a baby up for adoption instead of for abortion
- when you fail to worship the color of a person’s skin
- expressing any belief in individual freedom
- respecting the foundations of the construction of our Constitution: examples: enumeration of powers, original intent
- if you are a guy, telling a girl, “you look nice today”
- if you are a girl, telling a guy, “you look nice today”
- when you think
A fabrication by the left to vilify anyone who doesn’t agree with them.
I think a key area is the distinction between Group or Individual rights.
If you have a tribal approach, or support “class warfare” or believe in a “master race” then you are focused on Group Rights. That’s Collectivism. People of that sort usually want a strong central government with lots of authority to force people to recognize the preeminence of the special group. Of course, the “special group” usually turns out to really be a oligarchy of elitists who want to pull society’s strings. But, in theory, the power of government is there to carry out the will of the proletariat, the Aryan race, or the Woke. This could be termed “negative liberty” in that obstacles and constraints are forcibly removed to channel activities along a “correct” path. A powerful government makes life easy because all of your choices have already been made for you.
On the other hand, if you focus on Individual rights, then the focus is on “positive liberty” and the ability for each person to control their own life. It’s about personal responsibility and in this case the role of government is pretty minor — it helps prevent force, fraud and abuse that would limit the actions of an individual who wishes to freely decide how they will live. Limiting government allows maximizing personal freedom.
The answer to this is simple, the far right are high IQ individual thinkers who care about law and order, the far left are insane evil criminals. There, that’s all there is to it!
individualist
or
collectivist
Commies and Nazies are both leftists.
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