Are you left-wing or right-wing?

[Amorphos]

Are you left-wing or right-wing?

Right-wing
Left-wing

There seams to be some confusion on this, essentially The terms Left and Right were coined during the French Revolution, referring to the seating arrangement in parliament; those who sat on the left generally supported the radical changes of the revolution, including the creation of a republic and secularization.

To frame the polarity [as to why there are only two options]; here’s an example of why you are either right or left-wing…

Imagine a line of people passing by, you cannot arbitrarily say to one passer-by, “you can have freedom and equality”, then to a given other you say “you cannot have equality or at least not as much as others”. hence you are either right or left, there are no in-betweens?


Left-wing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics

"In politics, left-wing, leftist and the Left are generally used to describe support for social change with a view towards creating a more egalitarian society".

Essentially you can create more equality [a more egalitarian society] via statism or individualism, so we could say the tories are more left in some ways, even if it is a façade, as we all know they very much want the opposite [right wing outcomes].

Right-wing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_politics

In politics, right-wing, rightist and the Right are generally used to describe support for social stratification with the preservation of traditional social orders and values.

The terms Right and Left were coined during the French Revolution, referring to seating arrangements in parliament; those who sat on the right supported preserving the institutions of the Ancien Régime (the monarchy, the aristocracy and the established church).

[Claudius Gothicus]

The Left-Right system is completely outdated, and there's the center too.

Right Now I would consider myself a centrist's with very anarchic views regarding social control and coercion, I support equal rights, equal opportunities, and total freedom of individuals. So I'm I right or Left?

[Amorphos]

The Left-Right system is completely outdated, and there's the center too.

Maybe, well its not very sophisticated, but as a general outline its ok. The problem is modern politicians don’t like being classified, hence invented the term centrist maybe?

Right Now I would consider myself a centrist's with very anarchic views regarding social control and coercion, I support equal rights, equal opportunities, and total freedom of individuals. So I'm I right or Left?

That just sounds left wing [as I am too] to me, in what way is it right? I suppose equal opportunities can be seen as right wing because it allows for some people to become richer than others. However if it is truly equal [I.e. you don’t just have the rich exploiting the less rich and poor], then surely it is left wing. Its just not commy or socialist.

edit;

Why is there not an option for neither?

its a polarised perspective, but i dont think there is much else.

[Amorphos]

Motiv-8

I'm a person who picks and chooses a point of view on a given issue based on what appears most practical and/or logical, whether it be right-wing or left-wing. Those two demonyms for all intents and purposes mean nothing to me except an incredibly annoyance in public discourse. So I can't call myself either. Thanks for leaving me out Quetzie

Sorry mate, but actually I am not leaving you out as I think similarly. However overall we are on one side or the other, individual issues count towards being that? This is roughly how I am seeing it now, so I am testing the ground to see if anyone can substantiate a given perspective e.g. on a given issue, that is not ultimately polarised.

Caelifer_1991

The 2 dimensional spectrum is more relevant, though you'd need a 3 dimensional one, differenciating between social, and economic issues, for it to be particularly useful.

I don’t see how economics and social issues can be separated? There are of course things that are economic and non social, and vice versa, but in politics the two surely come together or are only relevant to politics when taken together. hmm i am unsure what is ecenomic and doesnt have an effect socially though?

[Claudius Gothicus]

Maybe, well its not very sophisticated, but as a general outline its ok. The problem is modern politicians don’t like being classified, hence invented the term centrist maybe?

I define myself as a centrist because I believe that planned economy is total fail, while free market might have it's flaws it's overall better, but that doesn't mean that I'm against public spending regarding social security, health, culture and education, It's just that I believe that most leftist end up spending the resources in the wrong areas, or solving one thing while leaving the main problem untouched(the same goes for many conservative right wingers especially regarding criminal offenses).

That just sounds left wing [as I am too] to me, in what way is it right? I suppose equal opportunities can be seen as right wing because it allows for some people to become richer than others. However if it is truly equal [I.e. you don’t just have the rich exploiting the less rich and poor], then surely it is left wing. Its just not commy or socialist.

Equal opportunities means not screwing some guy's freedom just because the other guy didn't make as much money. It means starting in the same ground(health and education mostly) and letting people develop freely.

Exploitation is against freedom therefore any liberal(right economics) or anarchist(left economics) that has some form of respect for the ideology that he/she advocates should try to denounce/attack it wherever it happens.

[MaximiIian]

The Left-Right system is completely outdated, and there's the center too.

This. And it doesn't take into account that someone's political opinions might be all over the place. I'm leftist on some things, rightist on others, and one particular issue I'm downright reactionary.

Though I tend towards centre-left most of the time.

[Caelifer_1991]

I'm on the left for sure, but doubtless further or at least as far away from many of the others that vote left, as those that will vote right. Left/ Right is simply.... well, 1 dimensional. An example would be that I am nearer to a Conservative than I am to an anarchist or a libertarian, despite Conservatives being right wing, the "scale" is meaningless. The 2 dimensional spectrum (including authoritarianism/ libertarianism) is more relevant, though you'd need a 3 dimensional one, differenciating between social, and economic issues, for it to be particularly useful.

[motiv-8]

Why is there not an option for neither?

[chamaeleo]

Why is there not an option for neither?

Seriously!

I'm ready for a total rewrite; a new class system based on individual ability, motivation and merit, where law is applied equally regardless of income, race, political party or religion. Far too much dead weight at both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum, I'm sick of entitled privileges of any kind.

After all it's the middle class who's largely responsible for most innovation and progress. Entrepreneurial advancement above all else!

Not gonna hold my breath, of course.

[Phier]

After all it's the middle class who's largely responsible for most innovation and progress. Entrepreneurial advancement above all else!

And what happens to a member of the middle class who comes up with a new innovation?

Oh yea he becomes upper class, or will you somehow eliminate them after?

[chamaeleo]

And what happens to a member of the middle class who comes up with a new innovation?

Oh yea he becomes upper class, or will you somehow eliminate them after?

Of course not, anyone who succeeds despite adversity deserves their rewards...but their spoilt brat kids better be taking notes!

I am not anti-upper class, I am anti-inertia. I am pro-self realization and self sufficiency. Systems encouraging inefficiency and waste are the most fundemental enemy, regardless of socioeconomic rank. I don't think anyone deserves a free lunch so long as they've got two capable hands, and social class has nothing to do with this sentiment.

Nice try, but your strawmen are getting really monotonous. Gonna call me a leftist next, huh?

[♔DeusVult!♔]

Of course not, anyone who succeeds despite adversity deserves their rewards...but their spoilt brat kids better be taking notes!

I am not anti-upper class, I am anti-inertia. I am pro-self realization and self sufficiency. Systems encouraging inefficiency and waste are the most fundemental enemy, regardless of socioeconomic rank. I don't think anyone deserves a free lunch so long as they've got two capable hands, and social class has nothing to do with this sentiment.

And what, exactly, would you propose to do about it? Have the state steal all personal earnings after death?

What I also find ironic is that many of these "spoilt brat kids" are lefties. Paris Hilton ring any bells?

[Phier]

Of course not, anyone who succeeds despite adversity deserves their rewards...but their spoilt brat kids better be taking notes!

I am not anti-upper class, I am anti-inertia. I am pro-self realization and self sufficiency. Systems encouraging inefficiency and waste are the most fundemental enemy, regardless of socioeconomic rank. I don't think anyone deserves a free lunch so long as they've got two capable hands, and social class has nothing to do with this sentiment.

Nice try, but your strawmen are getting really monotonous. Gonna call me a leftist next, huh?

Is some son of a rich man your boss?

I'd argue the problem with many rich children is that their fathers married for looks rather than brains.

Stupid tends to sort itself out after a few generations though, so who cares. Taking that money away doesn't do anything positive.

[Jenuensis]

Center-Left!

[motiv-8]

I'm a person who picks and chooses a point of view on a given issue based on what appears most practical and/or logical, whether it be right-wing or left-wing. Those two demonyms for all intents and purposes mean nothing to me except an incredible annoyance in public discourse. So I can't call myself either. Thanks for leaving me out Quetzie

[Alkarin]

I'm a person who picks and chooses a point of view on a given issue based on what appears most practical and/or logical, whether it be right-wing or left-wing. Those two demonyms for all intents and purposes mean nothing to me except an incredible annoyance in public discourse. So I can't call myself either. Thanks for leaving me out Quetzie

despite wether i agree with your views or not. I agree with how you come about them. Labeling yourself or someone else as either left or right places you in a certain fleshed out doctrine you may not 100% agree with. You should make your decision on an issues with your own personal morals, not what your party says on the issues

[motiv-8]

despite wether i agree with your views or not. I agree with how you come about them. Labeling yourself or someone else as either left or right places you in a certain fleshed out doctrine you may not 100% agree with. You should make your decision on an issues with your own personal morals, not what your party says on the issues

Exactly.

[Heinz Guderian]

Definately left wing.

We are just nicer people.

[RomanSoldier9001]

The left wing is wining I dont know what sort of left wing that some people interpreted but concerning the ones here I would say that is very rigthest left wing face people you are just a band of capitalists.xD

[Amorphos]

To frame the polarity here’s an example of why you are either right or left-wing…

Imagine a line of people passing by, you cannot arbitrarily say to one passer-by, “you can have freedom and equality”, then to a given other you say “you cannot have equality or at least not as much as others”. hence you are either right or left, there are no in-betweens?

updated op with this for now.