"Conservateur" was one who opposed the French Revolution, was on the side of having a monarchy; wanted to "conserve" the present form of government. I didn't know that. I thought "conservative" meant a person who wanted to go back to the old ways of doing things. But one who wants to return to an earlier state is a "reactionary." Reactionary is on the far right of the political spectrum and the opposite is "Radical" or extreme far left of the spectrum. So I learned something. I still don't know the word that describes my own political views though, since none of the French ones fit. Maybe "apathetic." No, just because I don't vote that much doesn't mean I don't care. I would vote for someone if I wanted them to win. And I would support a "none of the above" position on the ballot.
"Right", short for right wing or rightist. This is the third one that comes from the French Revolution, "le droit" for "the right." Those of the "right wing" favored hierarchy, traditionalism, and clergyism. Obviously, if one believes in a social hierarchy, one doesn't believe all are equal. I didn't know about that. Not sure I believe Wikipedia on this. Don't care all that much right now about the French Revolution, anyway.
Here is how it seems to be developing in my own mind: starting on the far left of our radio dial and tuning to the right, you would have (a.) Radicalism: (b.) the various liberals, with Progressives next to radicals, then Liberals with a somewhat less Socialistic bent, then less evangelical Liberals; (c.) in the middle part of the scale you have Moderates or Centrists or Independents; (d.) you begin to fade into the home of the more traditionalist thinkers, beginning with "Conservative Light" and working deeper and deeper into hardcore right wing reactionaries where your radio dials stops on the right. Oddly, on my own AM radio dial, this is the bailiwick of Farm News and Crop Reports, Church programming, and extreme moldy oldie rock and roll. That, I repeat, is only a coincidence.
The problem wit left & right was shown up after the fall of communism. The Russian parliament had the communists on the right and the, er new lot, on the left.
ReplyDeleteJust do the right thing and everyone will hate you.
The problem wit the left is that's where YOU are. :) Go read my reply to your sad comment which disparaged the great Tony Blair. I was in top form. Just brilliant.
DeleteYou are right about everyone hating me though. Left on all the rest.
Ha... glad to be back, sure missed your unique posts.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff. Glad to see you out early for good behavior. :)
DeleteIronically, the term "terrorist" is also of French origin, or so I've read, though, of course in their case, they were talking about the government.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the "none of the above" box.
As for the rest, I'll have to see where you're going with this before I can tender an opinion.
Ah, yes. The clever French. Le Terreurre. Derived from "terre" or "ground-bomb" and "urre", the last sound a dying Tsar makes.
DeleteI want a real none of the above box that can actually win and therefore void the election. "Anarchque."
As for the rest, you could just save your time and tender. In your heart you know I'm right. If I knew where I was going I wouldn't have to do research.
Power to the people.
There is a a great youtube video that redefines right vs left. search youtube for "Types of Government: Democracy vs. Republic vs. Oligarchy" I posted it on my blog under the title "Types of Government: Democracy vs. Republic vs. Oligarchy and how to get out of jury duty" if you want to check it out there.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank. It was interesting to review the types of government. Still working on political parties and their philosophies, and I am learning a lot the more I read!
DeleteBut as for types of governments, I remember John Stuart Mill refer to Democracy as the tyranny of the majority. If 51 out of 100 people want something - slavery or whatever - then that's what happens and the other 49 are just screwed. I dislike many things about our republican form of government (there - I've said it!) because it includes too much of that 51% voting. After every presidential election, for example, 49% of Americans grumble and bide their time for four more years. And that is true for all elected officials and for almost all bills debated. A republic is where you have representatives to debate and vote on behalf of the people instead of having the people vote directly (nothing would ever get done, or it would be mostly unfair, as the video pointed out). While a republic does establish the law separately from the people having to constantly deal with every single thing, it also tends to put itself, over time, too far out of touch with the people. We are there now. We have been there for a long time.
This split is the main problem right now. overall opinions are split on most major issues. I recently saw an online asking about Bush II as 1) a awful president or 2) given a bad rap- it was 50/50! I am a big fan of the book "The Watchman's rattle" by Rebecca Decosta. I strongly recommend it. Anyway, one of the realities we live with is we are most likely biased for any issue and nothing will change our minds- hence people are split on most issues. As detailed in the book- we have five mems (large beliefs we take as fact) that cause us to stagnate on issues. One of them is personalization of blame- when anyone presents a solution to a problem people attack it for why it won't work. This leads us to endlessly argue issues and do nothing during which the problem gets worse.
ReplyDelete