Far-left and Far-right in America.

[CK23]

I ask everyone to keep their political hate for each other down and I simply ask this, do the respective American political parties, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party do they warrant the classification as far-left and far-right respectively? I've been attempting to prove my point to people but they just refuse to believe it.

[spanish_emperor]

You would have to provide a method by which you came to that conclusion. Either way, political ideologies simplify the political process too much to be an accurate political thermometer. Concerning these two parties, my impression is that 90% of the representatives are elitists and thus consider themselves superior to the rest of the populace (this is applicable to all other political parties around the world).

[saglam2000]

Neither the democrats or the republicans are far anything. Everyone is right of the middle except democrats are closer to center.

[spanish_emperor]

Neither the democrats or the republicans are far anything. Everyone is right of the middle except democrats are closer to center.

Yep, these two parties currently seem so similar that you would have a hard time trying to differentiate them from one another without the eye candy and rhetoric.

[Mr. Scott]

It depends. By American standards I would be a "centrist", or moderate libertarian.

Generally speaking, but not restricted to, they are the following

Republicans: Socially conservative (morality integrated with the government - usually christian morality); Economically conservative (Less restrictions on business and more economic pro, than environment pro)

Democrats: Socially progressive (secular government, but also advocates a "making right" policy - affirmative action); Economically liberal (more restrictions on big business, more regulations to reduce emissions and pollution, and greater government integration with the economy).

[Claudius Gothicus]

The Democrats are currently dominated by edulcorated Social Liberals which have lost track in many aspects(the days of JFK, Robert Kennedy and FDR are sadly gone), the Republicans are a huge mix of socially conservative and supply-sided individuals who play with the evangelical right(which could be truly classified as far-right) to win elections, while at the same time have to battle the Libertarian and Small Government crowd who's mainly represented by Ron Paul and to some extent Mitt Romney's moderate views, they are a mess right now.

Neither the Dems or GOPs can be branded as ''far'' in the ideological spectrum, even if some of it's political supporters are.

[generalveers]

As far as I'm aware, the Democrats in America tend to take on a more 'Pragmatic Conservative' and centrist outlook towards the issues than Republicans do. They lean to the right by most standards, but remain on the left here because the Republicans tend to be (more) reactionary.

Sadly our current two party system gives people a small spectrum of policy to vote on, but within that small area of socially acceptable political thought there is a ton of unneeded and over-excessive debate.

[Mr. Scott]

It's very hard to define each side. I've encountered many democrats who share the exact same views that I do, but just weigh their importance differently (ex. they weigh social liberalism more heavy than economic conservatism/classical liberalism)

If the libertarian party were to not have the anarchist view that many Americans see it as (and it in many ways possesses), it could be a very potent party and potential contender to remove the Democrats and Republicans as the top dogs.

Each party covers such a broad base of people, a person's party loyalty really doesn't tell what they're views are clearly.

As far as I'm aware, the Democrats in America tend to take on a more 'Pragmatic Conservative' and centrist outlook towards the issues than Republicans do. They lean to the right by most standards, but remain on the left here because the Republicans tend to be (more) reactionary.

Sadly our current two party system gives people a small spectrum of policy to vote on, but within that small area of socially acceptable political thought there is a ton of unneeded and over-excessive debate.

Some Republicans are reactionary (the religious right for instance), but many simply believe in classical liberalism in regards to the economy. Me for instance. I'm socially left, but fiscally right.

What I find stupid about the Republican primaries is because we weigh the first few states so heavily, you get these backwater evangelicals having massive sway in the republican party, even though in no way do they constitute the majority of the actual party. It would be a real shame if someone like Santorum were to get nominated.

[King Gambrinus]

Communism is banned in America. Nazism isn't. The far left is considered more evil...


Only in America.

[Condottiere 40K]

As someone pointed out on the Daily Show, America isa one party state with a Democratic and Republican wing.

[Enemy of the State]

There is only one party in the United States, the statist party. All this division is empty rhetoric.

[CK23]

Ah, I'm glad you all came to same conclusion that I did a long time ago that the Democrats and the Republics are really a sham. I started arguing with a guy about how far-right and far-left do not exist in America and the party politics are not even close to Socialist or Fascist at all, I guess people use those terms un-intelligently.

[MasterOfNone]

In my view, the two major political parties of the U.S., though differing substantially in times past, are now effectively the same. This is why, when they come into or go out of power, the same policies are generally continued. This system gives an illusion of choice.

As for the spectrum. Well, there is a popular view of the left-right paradigm that really is more based on emotion than anything substantive. Hence the illogic of Lenin and Hitler (for example) being considered opposites on the political spectrum whilst espousing the same basic political philosophy.

A true spectrum, in my view, would judge government and laws (and thus politicians' and parties' platforms) by where they stand in relation to what government really is: force.

On the far left you would have powerful governmental control (statism) and on the far right you'd have chaos (no government). The idea of the Framers was to have as little government as possible, whilst still protecting people in their rights. i.e. right-wing (small government, free market).

Libertarians (similar to the classical liberals of days gone by) hold to that philosophy most faithfully, whilst traditional conservatives (or palaeo-conservatives) tend to be similar on economic issues but can feel it the role of the state to enforce the higher laws of morality even when said laws have been imposed rather than mutually agreed through citizen compact, then we have neo-cons and (modern) liberals who tend to support (in differing flavours) more statism in both economic and social issues. Libertarians, feeling that all individuals should be treated equally even in other nations, tend to be non-interventionist (as were the Framers) in matters of foreign policy - quite distinct from how many modern liberals and neo-cons (and even some traditional conservatives) feel.

I'd suggest forum readers make use of the free audios at Mises.org which have a host of superb mp3s on politics, economics, and the history thereof. Fascinating stuff

[Hresvelgr]

Communism is banned in America. Nazism isn't. The far left is considered more evil...


Only in America.

Umm, communism isn't banned here. How much do you know about America? Both parties are tolerated under Free Speech laws, though admitting to being a communist would get you weird looks and possibly some jeers, commies here are just a bunch of hipsters really, shame. Admitting to being a Nazi would pretty much get you shunned from society.

[Vanoi]

Communism is banned in America. Nazism isn't. The far left is considered more evil....



Only in America.

Source? Last time i checked the Communist Party of the United States was not banned. But don't let facts get in the way of your argument.

[generalveers]

Source? Last time i checked the Communist Party of the United States was not banned. But don't let facts get in the way of your argument.

It's not banned, our government isn't ballsy enough to come out and say that you can't vote a certain way. Not yet at least.

It is socially unacceptable to say you're a communist, many people will look down on you or consider you to be an anti-American, anarchistic pseudo-intellectual. Stems from the Red Scares and epoch of McCarthyism over the past century.

[Vanoi]

It's not banned, our government isn't ballsy enough to come out and say that you can't vote a certain way. Not yet at least.

It is socially unacceptable to say you're a communist, many people will look down on you or consider you to be an anti-American, anarchistic pseudo-intellectual. Stems from the Red Scares and epoch of McCarthyism over the past century.

Exactly. Its society. Not the government. That can't be helped. The whole Cold War and indeed Red Scare made it extremely hard for the communists in the US. However, the Cold War is over. The only people who still have anything against Communists are the oens who lived through the Cold War. Today Communists aren't as dis-liked as 50 years ago. Give it two more decades and most of the "Fear Commmunism" propaganda will be gone.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

It's not banned, our government isn't ballsy enough to come out and say that you can't vote a certain way. Not yet at least.

It is socially unacceptable to say you're a communist, many people will look down on you or consider you to be an anti-American, anarchistic pseudo-intellectual. Stems from the Red Scares and epoch of McCarthyism over the past century.

I think it's the other way around. Say you're a nazi and you'll be rejected and everyone you a horrible person. Say you're a communist, people will just roll their eyes and dismiss it as a learning phase

[Ex Tenebris Lux]

Communism is banned in America. Nazism isn't. The far left is considered more evil...


Only in America.

You're very clever.

An actual NSDAP style political party in America would be completely shut down. Don't confuse the fact that our laws allow moron trailer-trash to rally and hold up swastikas in some park as allowing an actual Nazi party to function. That would never, EVER happen.

[Thorn777]

I love how all that is leftwing in the US is big govt. Those Mises tapes rock!!!