"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.
