Rightly dividing the political spectrum is a notoriously confusing problem.Are we outside the house of mirrors yet?I lean to the idea that "conservative", "rightist", "leftist", are ambiguous terms and that this fact is no accident. I think that journalists are very influential in assigning language meanings.
I also lean to the idea that "leftists" like Stalin did not become conservative when in power--it's just that leftism consists of
criticism,Thus, Stalin evaded responsibility for the fact that his bureaucracy was even worse-suited to the creation of prosperity than was the mess that preceded it--and did so with show trials of the people who had tried to make the system work.
condemnation, and
complaint.You may say, yes but you are criticizing, yourself. How then is that a distinctive of the left?
The Boston brahmin was condescending to the Texan, and said, "We in proper society think that breeding is everything."You need not, as a practical matter, worry about who is a leftist. You need only wait a moment, and they will tell you. Tell you that you are a rightist, that is . . .The Texan replied, "We down in Texas think it's fun, too--but we try to have some other interests!"
Leftism is criticism of those who created, and/or are trying to create, something of value to society. Criticism with a view to ruling or ruining the fruits of the creative efforts of we-the-people. Criticism in the name of "the people" but destructive of the general welfare.