Reply #15: I disagree about left/right

[LeftishBrit]

I don't think it is restricted to a Communist/ anti-Communist distinction. In fact, left-right in Britain has usually had relatively little to do with such a distinction.

People can be left in one area and right in another. But I would say that the fundamental differences between left and right are that the right favour a 'might is right' position, enhancing the position of the 'strong' even if this means further disadvantaging the 'weak', while the left favour protecting and helping the 'weak' even if this limits the potentialities for advancement by the already 'strong'. 'Strong' most often means basically 'rich', but may also mean 'physically strong'; 'member of a majority group'; 'well-connected'; or, when applied to international relations, 'possessing military might'. The more libertarian right simply allows the strong to advance by trampling on the weak, without interference. The more authoritarian right attempts to force conformity to the rules of a majority or well-connected group: e.g. that all must follow the social mores of a dominant religious group.

The 'strong' in a given society may be wealthy businesspeople or managers, or feudal lords, or generals, or ayatollahs, or Stalinist apparatchiks (thus so-called communist countries often ended up as very right-wing in all areas except economics); etc. On the whole, men are in stronger positions than women, especially in more traditional societies; and members of racial or religious majority groups are usually stronger than minority group members (except when a minority gains power for other reasons, as in apartheid-era South Africa).

Thus:

Economically:

Right-wingers tend to favour the advancement of the rich and economically successful; favour tax cuts and spending cuts especially in areas of spending that help and protect poor, disabled or otherwise disadvantaged people; and oppose much restriction and regulation of big business.

Left-wingers tend to favour safety-nets for poor or disadvantaged people; policies that prevent severe poverty; progressive taxation; government provision of and spending on public services; and tighter regulation of big business.


On foreign policy:

Right-wingers tend to favour strong defence and are readier than left-wingers to go to war. They tend not to regard foreign aid to poorer nations as a priority.

Left-wingers tend to favour foreign aid to poorer nations; consider military spending a lower priority than do right-wingers; and are reluctant to go to war.


On social policy:

Right-wingers tend to believe in harsh punishment for crime; and place the prevention of crime or terrorism very much ahead of civil liberties. They tend to be against too much protection to religious or racial minorities, and in some cases actively support discrimination. Many, though not all, right-wingers, favour forcing people into traditional social roles and mores, often based on religion: i.e. anti-feminism, anti-abortion and sometimes contraception, anti-gay-marriage, 'sin' in the religious sense should be against the law, etc.

Left-wingers place civil liberties ahead of prevention or punishment of crime. (Yes, I know that New Labour didn't. They were not left-wing, especially in this sense). They believe in equality for minorities, and in laws against discrimination. They are against forcing people into traditional social roles, and against religious intrusions into state law.


So it's quite a difference.