LEFT - RIGHT - CENTER DEFINED
I thought that it was about time I tried to find a definition of Left/Right politics. Every time I think that I've got it
straight someone says something that doesn't make sense to me. The Cambridge Library helped. There is no way that everyone
will agree with what I say here, such is the elusiveness of a clear definition.
The term left/right originated in the year 1789 or there about. Some Frenchmen wanted change and the French Revolution was
brewing. Those who wanted the status quo sat on the right side of the king to show such support. Those who wanted change sat
to the left of the king. Sides were drawn - the division of desires were clear. Heads were collected in wicker baskets.
Later the expression changed in France to represent the power of the Church over government policy. Those who were
anti-clerical were deemed to be Left while those who were unopposed to the Church's influence were deemed to be Right. Once
again the division seems to be fairly clear.
Later still we have a rise in socialism which brought a new element to Left/Right meaning. The definition came to reflect
thoughts on the State's intervention into economic life. This Left/Right scale was a little less clear as it was a graduated
idea. Left implied a total State control of all industry (excluding agriculture generally). Maximum Rightness implied
complete economic freedom without State interference.
These terms were generally confined to France until about 1920. The word Left migrated and now became used in England as
identification of the Communists and Socialists. Sometimes the British Liberal Party was thrown into the pot as Leftist just
for good measure.
In the United States the expression seems to express contempt or disapproval of anything that is for change. Anything
against the American Way is suspect and therefore Left.
From The Dictionary of Social Sciences I quote, "...the Left, (in the US) in its widest connotation, means an
unorganized but self recognizing minority of intellectuals whose Leftness is characterized by ideas ranging from a desire
for government assistance in the area of medical service (I.E. health care) to the belief that the Russians and even the
Chinese are realities of the 20th century and cannot be met simply by blind opposition."
In Canada the term Left/Right also is used within a political party. Joe Clark and David Orchard are deemed to be RED
Tories (or Leftist) whereas others who oppose expanding social services are BLUE Tories. The Left within the NDP Party is
amenable to the adoption of socialism whereas those to the Right are generally non-socialistic. This is definitely true
within the Green Party as well.
So what do we have? Let me attempt to grade the scale from left to right.
Extreme Left to Center - Communist - (Socialist)- NDP - Greens
Center - (Centrist) - (Moderate)
Right of Center to Extreme right - Liberal - Conservative - Alliance - (Fascist)
Somewhere I read that this Left/Right thing is not a straight line. It is more like a horseshoe. The two extreme ends are
sometimes closer together on some issues than parties at other points on the scale. If you think of Extreme Radicals as
being called Extreme Left and Reactionaries as being called Extreme Right then you get some idea of the concept. (Racism and
anti-Semitism might fit in at both ends as an example.)
Another way of looking at this is by using disdainful labels. (I attempt to be funny -ha-ha) Starting at the Left and
moving Right. -- Radical, Red, Pinko, Commie, Tree-Hugger, Fence Sitters, Middle-Roaders, Mainstreamers, Diehards,
Standpatters, Radical Right, Skinheads.
As I was writing this piece, there was a knock at the door. There stood two Jehovah Witness gentlemen. "Was Christ Left
wing or Right wing? I asked. They were not prepared for my question so I elaborated.
"Christ had compassion for the poor and sick - correct?" "Yes" was the cautious response.
"He helped the less fortunate - correct?" "Yes."
"Well I think that he was definitely a Left-thinking person" I added, "and those who sold birds and other "stuff" at the t
emple were Right-thinking people."
Well these gentle people did not want to get too deep into this controversy. They left their literature, which I promised
to read and left me to ponder my thoughts.
"Christ promoted women's rights" I thought as I climbed back up the stairs to my computer. -- " Hmmm - Always treat others
as you would like them to treat you - Eureka! - Matthew - Sermon on the Mount - There's the key! Joyce, JOY-Y-Y-CE, where
is the Bible anyway?"
Have a nice day.
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