The Left-Right Dichotomy

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27 Jul 2010, 7:34 pm

In general, the Left and the Right tend to take polarizing stances on many things: Let's break it down for the contemporary U.S. political culture:

Code:

Left | Right
Liberal | Conservative
Democratic Party | Republican Party
Green Party | Libertarian Party, Constitution Party
Progressive | (Right-)Libertarian
Multi-cultural | Traditional culture of dominant cohort
Secularism | Evangelical Christianity, some Jewish people (Zionists)
Feminism | "Traditional" gender roles
Gay rights | Abhorrence to any non-heterosexual relationship within marriage
"Living" Constitution | Federalist/"Strict" Interpretation
Labor | Management/Owners
Environment | Industry
Urban | Rural
West Coast/East Coast | Middle America, the South
Young | Old
Tendency to demonize the wealthy and corporations | Tendency to demonize illegal immigrants, non-Christians (particularly Muslims these days), Arabs, "lazy" welfare/unemployment recipients 
An elite of academics, Hollywood entertainers, and some service-industry business leaders | An elite of businesspeople, wealthy old-money WASPs, Christian Right religious leaders, experts from conservative-leaning think tanks, country-music and "Middle America" entertainers
Welfare spending | Military/defense spending
Personal freedom | Economic "freedom" (lessening of regulation of commerce)
Role for public sector | Private sector (free markets)
Civil rights/liberties | Law and order
Empathy | Obedience
Skeptical on "war on terror" | Warhawks
Nuance, shades of gray ("The Waffler") | Black and white ("The Decider")
Indie | Conformist

Obviously when we break something down into two simplistic dipoles, the generalization will tend to break down, but these are the dichotomies held by many in the popular imagination.

thechadmaster
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27 Jul 2010, 8:19 pm

The right column is pretty much spot on for me. Except, i am young, i side with labor, and i demonize both sides.

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pgd
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27 Jul 2010, 8:34 pm

Basic ideas: Left vs Center vs Right

Assorted comments:

Left (Democrat) vs Center (a Democrat who wants to attract votes so will vote centrist).

Right (Republican) vs Center (a Republican who wants to attract votes so will vote centrist).

A number of politicians are known to talk left or talk right but vote center to get legislation passed/get elected/get reelected.

Many politicians are into numbers because counting numbers accurately means getting elected, staying elected, and getting legislation passed.

Many politicians are flexible like reeds which bend in the wind but do not break.

Trial balloons - Testing the wind

Many politicians will create a list of reasons and toss that out to the public with the hope of discovering which reason attracts the most votes.

Over many years, the idea of left vs center vs right can shift dramatically.

At one time, slavery was ok in the USA. At one time women did not have the right to vote. At one time, blacks could not vote.

It's improved. Slavery is illegal today, women and blacks can vote today.

Values - standards can change over time.

At one time, a horse and buggy was considered fine living. Then the automobile was invented and the idea of fine living changed.

Polarization exists in nature.

A horseshoe magnet works on the basis of polarization.

Directions work on the basis of North vs South (etc.).

Day is viewed as being quite different than night.

Black ink is used on white paper for book pages.

Sports in general favor youth and discriminate against old age.

There is a place for polarization.

Some cartoonists will draw a person - a man or woman - with an angel with wings sitting on one shoulder and a red devil with pitchfork sitting on the other shoulder - displaying that a person can make choices: good choices vs poor choices.

Other

skafather84
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27 Jul 2010, 8:43 pm

NeantHumain wrote:

Code:

Tendency to demonize the wealthy and corporations | Tendency to demonize illegal immigrants, non-Christians (particularly Muslims these days), Arabs, "lazy" welfare/unemployment recipients 

Don't forget the conservatives demonize blacks as well!!

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27 Jul 2010, 8:58 pm

skafather84 wrote:

NeantHumain wrote:

Code:

Tendency to demonize the wealthy and corporations | Tendency to demonize illegal immigrants, non-Christians (particularly Muslims these days), Arabs, "lazy" welfare/unemployment recipients 

Don't forget the conservatives demonize blacks as well!!

And don't forget the liberals demonize rural people, gun owners, "rednecks," certain segments of Christianity (or all Christians in some liberal circles), and many others.

Both sides have their prejudices.

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thechadmaster
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28 Jul 2010, 3:27 pm

NeantHumain wrote:

Don't forget the conservatives demonize blacks as well!!

What about the very liberal black panthers who think we should "kill cracker babies"? a white man cant use the N word, but a black man can call me a cracker?

And who do Conservative Black people (like Michael Steele) demonize?

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Jacoby
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28 Jul 2010, 6:07 pm

They are all conformists. Neither are independent thinkers.

skafather84
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28 Jul 2010, 6:34 pm

thechadmaster wrote:

NeantHumain wrote:

Don't forget the conservatives demonize blacks as well!!

You can use the n word...but it'll cost you.

ruveyn
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28 Jul 2010, 7:58 pm

skafather84 wrote:

Don't forget the conservatives demonize blacks as well!!

Apparently you have not yet met conservative black folk. I have.

ruveyn

NeantHumain
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28 Jul 2010, 10:21 pm

Jacoby wrote:

They are all conformists. Neither are independent thinkers.

The subset of Leftists who were hippies, hipsters, and the indie types considered themselves to be non-conventional and nonconformist. This doesn't necessarily mean your neighborhood Democratic alderman is some rebel nonconformist.

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