Middle east outcome

[ggiese]

[ggiese]

From Wikipedia...

Multiplicity of interpretation of the left-right axis

There are various different opinions about what is actually being measured along this axis, and lines often blur among parties. For more detail see the main article Left-Right politics:

* Equality of outcome (left) versus equality of right (right).
* Redistribution of wealth and income (left), or acceptance of inequalities as a result of the free market (right).
* Whether the government's policy on the economy should be interventionist (left) or laissez-faire (right).
* Support for widened lifestyle choices (left), or support for traditional values (right).
* Whether the state should prioritise equality (left) or liberty (right). Both the left and the right tend to speak in favor of both equality and liberty - but they have different interpretations.
* Whether human nature is more malleable (left) or intrinsic (right).
* Whether the government should promote secularism (left) or religious morality (right).
* Collectivism (left) versus individualism (right).
* Support for internationalism (left), or national interest (right).

These definitions are further blurred by the difference in practice of left and right policies, for example the "leftist" nationalism of Latin America, the "rightist" corporate protectionist policies of the United States, and the individualist philosophy of ideologies like anarcho-capitalism.

[ggiese]

This really is a fascinating study - politics. I recently had to take a course, to complete my degree, in US Politics. We studied all of the various areas of the political spectrum in the US Democratic system... And while it may seem to be a pretty wide range of views between the Democrats and Republicans, Liberals vs. Conservatives, "Righties" vs. "Lefties", the truth of the matter is - we are actually much closer in overall philosophy between the two sides than some of the other political systems in the world out there ...

I believe that's why our political system is so successful. We really aren't that far apart, but it does keep a good balance on the overall democratic system by having disagreement - a way or process to address our grievances openly, disagree on the issues, and in the end really not be that far apart (compromise is always fairly close at hand)...

I wouldn't cease to function if another Democratic president were in office - anymore than the Democrats are washed up with Bush in office. He's only got a coupla more years and it's time for him to move on. Just like the span Clinton was in office...

[SuperChuck]

This really is a fascinating study - politics. I recently had to take a course, to complete my degree, in US Politics. We studied all of the various areas of the political spectrum in the US Democratic system... And while it may seem to be a pretty wide range of views between the Democrats and Republicans, Liberals vs. Conservatives, "Righties" vs. "Lefties", the truth of the matter is - we are actually much closer in overall philosophy between the two sides than some of the other political systems in the world out there ...

The Sunnis and Shi'ites come to mind... You don't see Democrats suicide bombing the White House. :)

I'm actually finding more and more that, on the Federal at least, party lines aren't all they're made out to be. Most prominent politicians understand that they are elected to make the right decisions, not to cast a party vote or even to vote as their constituents might want them to. There has been a LOT of opposition to the Bush administration from prominent republicans in congress, for example.

There's also a lot of moderation at high levels in government. Even GWB has promoted things like the Guest Worker Program, which I consider pretty liberal.

I have an academic question, though... At one point in US History, the Republicans were liberal and the Democrats were conservative. You didn't happen to cover when this flip-flop occurred, did you? (this is what you get for letting us know you took a class )

[WhiteWidow]

I would have to say it was probably during the late 70's into the 80's. The Republicans didn't come around until Lincoln and the Civil War, at which point they were an ultra-liberal party from the eyes of the solid-south. Even into the 60's and civil rights, the democrats were still predominant in most of the south and opposing integration (wasn't it Arkansas where the National Guard stepped in?). Kennedy wasn't even that big on civil rights, but LBJ was able to use his death to push it through. Texas has been Republican for a very short time, electing Bush in '88 was a change.

I would probably mark the change with Carter, who gave away the canal and let Castro ship all of his criminals and insane into Florida.