I’ve got this theory. . . we don’t have a political spectrum, we have a political circle. The further to the right or left you go, the nastier the regime, and the harder and harder it becomes to tell their tactics apart—until the two “ends” meet at the top in some diabolical system like Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia.
Consider, insead of left and right, a scale degree; Least government to most government (anarcy to totalitarianism). SOME government is very necessary. The Founding Fathers established a Republic with limited powers and balance between the branches, and responsibility to the citizens. Both ends of the scale are disasterous.Where are we now, and where are we going?
What’s the difference between Hitler and Stalin? Seriously, what is? Just because someone is labeled “right wing” doesn’t make him so. He was head of the National Socialist Worker’s Party, after all.
It’s technically called the “Political Continuum”.
View politics as a clock, and you will see where the far right ends at 6:29 and the far left at 6:31. For all intents and purposes, they are the same, just got there from a different dogma.
Think of it this way: Joe Biden and President Obama are about 10:00, to the left of noon, which is standard for the Democrats in the US. The tea party is about 3:00 and more mainstream GOP runs about 2:00. Ted Kennedy would be about 10:00, and most of California politicians, especially in San Francisco, run about 9:00.
The reason for the skew is that America is inherently more conservative than most other nations, short of the Islamic countries, which hover more like 5:00, well to the right. In fact, our 3:00 people look downright liberal to them.
Socialist Europe is an interesting one, but I put them about 9:00. I suspect that modern Russia is actually over to about 1:00 now, which is a bit frightening, when you think about it.
China is at 7:30 on social issues and such (When Mao was in charge, they were at 6:31, no question), but are conflicted by capitalism, so economically, they are sitting at about 1:00. At the same time, China can be draconian in their actions, leaning very far right at times. Figure that mess out and you win the Nobel Prize. I sure haven’t come to terms with it yet.
Stalin was so far left, he was at 6:31, whereas Hitler and Mussolini, both fascists, were at 6:29. Again, the same but with different ways of getting there. But the dogmas, being so deeply entrenched and diametrically opposed created a problem and that was expressed nicely by Operation Barbarossa… 40 million people later…
I am all on board with Extreme Centrism! Love it. So damned clever, Scott!
perceptor3 over 12 years ago
Where do we meet, indeed?
I’ve got this theory. . . we don’t have a political spectrum, we have a political circle. The further to the right or left you go, the nastier the regime, and the harder and harder it becomes to tell their tactics apart—until the two “ends” meet at the top in some diabolical system like Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia.
Potrzebie over 12 years ago
How can he be an extreme lefty? Aren’t those supposed to be bohemians/hippies/flower children etc?
Stephen Gilberg over 12 years ago
Before reading the words, I saw the dotted line as foreshadowing a noose.
Comic Minister Premium Member over 12 years ago
You better think carefuly Kevin or else?
gocartmozart over 12 years ago
Just abide by the CONSTITUTION, and you will be the MAN or rabbit, as the case may be.
Grumpy-DC over 12 years ago
Consider, insead of left and right, a scale degree; Least government to most government (anarcy to totalitarianism). SOME government is very necessary. The Founding Fathers established a Republic with limited powers and balance between the branches, and responsibility to the citizens. Both ends of the scale are disasterous.Where are we now, and where are we going?
KPOM over 12 years ago
What’s the difference between Hitler and Stalin? Seriously, what is? Just because someone is labeled “right wing” doesn’t make him so. He was head of the National Socialist Worker’s Party, after all.
realbogus over 12 years ago
It’s technically called the “Political Continuum”.
View politics as a clock, and you will see where the far right ends at 6:29 and the far left at 6:31. For all intents and purposes, they are the same, just got there from a different dogma.
Think of it this way: Joe Biden and President Obama are about 10:00, to the left of noon, which is standard for the Democrats in the US. The tea party is about 3:00 and more mainstream GOP runs about 2:00. Ted Kennedy would be about 10:00, and most of California politicians, especially in San Francisco, run about 9:00.
The reason for the skew is that America is inherently more conservative than most other nations, short of the Islamic countries, which hover more like 5:00, well to the right. In fact, our 3:00 people look downright liberal to them.
Socialist Europe is an interesting one, but I put them about 9:00. I suspect that modern Russia is actually over to about 1:00 now, which is a bit frightening, when you think about it.
China is at 7:30 on social issues and such (When Mao was in charge, they were at 6:31, no question), but are conflicted by capitalism, so economically, they are sitting at about 1:00. At the same time, China can be draconian in their actions, leaning very far right at times. Figure that mess out and you win the Nobel Prize. I sure haven’t come to terms with it yet.
Stalin was so far left, he was at 6:31, whereas Hitler and Mussolini, both fascists, were at 6:29. Again, the same but with different ways of getting there. But the dogmas, being so deeply entrenched and diametrically opposed created a problem and that was expressed nicely by Operation Barbarossa… 40 million people later…
I am all on board with Extreme Centrism! Love it. So damned clever, Scott!