[Peace-discuss] left-right etc.

[Bob Illyes]

Wayne writes: "Carl, Please explain how you classify M/O [McCaine/Obama] as 
being well to the right.  I see both of them as being mid-left to left. 
Please advise how you reached your assessment."

Carl has previously claimed that Democrats in general, and Obama in 
particular, are to the right of Republicans in general. This would make the 
Democrats the right wing and the Republicans the left wing. Orwell would be 
pleased by this, I'm sure.

Note that supposed opposites, such as the Greens and the Libertarians, 
actually seem to attract rather similar people. For those of you who are 
familiar with the number line (negative to the left, positive to the right) 
and the number circle (plus and minus infinity are actually next to each 
other), it would seem that the left-right distinction is a circle, so that 
the left is both to the left and right of the right and vice versa. I think 
Orwell might be starting to frown at this point.

It looks to me like we need some new terminology. Wayne's authoritarian 
(vs. libertarian?) looks like a good start. Liberal isn't a very good term 
because it contains opposites: for individual liberty but also for 
individual safety (these two don't necessarily mix). Conservative is even 
more meaningless. And left vs. right? These terms are marginally useful at 
best, and probably less than useless.

Bob