Why right or left?

[Maurepas]

I don't know about the terms left or right, but I do believe in a few things..

I believe that everyone should have equal access to education, I believe in a strong public education system and I lean towards abolishing private schools - I don't see why some people should be granted such a leg up in life when, by very dint of being sent to a private school, they have so many advantages anyway.
I believe everyone should have free, or heavily subsidized, access to healthcare. I think that a society that allows for people to suffer for illness because they can't afford healthcare, and even the economic costs that brings to a society in terms of productivity and various others, is not s responsible society. Having said that, I would not abolish private healthcare in the way that I would education.

I don't believe in absolute equality, I just don't think it's possible, but I do believe that, as a society, we should give everyone as equal an opportunity as possible - some may see that as 'punishing' the rich but those people do not exist in a vacuum, their riches are a result of the society they live in. More I see it as levelling the playing field.

Other than that, I'm relatively easy.

Unfortunately, some other aspects of life that are entirely irrelevant also mark one out.

I don't believe in God
I think we should do something about the climate
I don't believe in the death penalty, nor do I see why there can't be some checks on firearms at least
I believe a woman has a right to choose

I don't think these should mark one out as anything other than rational, it's a pity they're so politicized for wedge issue purposes.

I'm a firm believer in the free market and economic policies that would quite honestly fall under the "far right" category most of the time. Yet, I still prettymuch agree with most of this.

I think the real issue is that the "right-left" paradigm forces one to abandon logical thought in order to better adhere to an ideological position. It really doesn't have any bearing in a serious conversation on political/social ills, imo.

[The Serbian Empire]

I don't support such economic ideas, but it's because I know tax havens are a very real threat to leftist economic ideas.

[Skinia]

As left means less hierarchy, I'm a leftist because I dislike hierarchy. Also, empowerment of employees and workplace democracy are important to me.

[Olthar]

Because letting the rich and privileged keep their money and power invariably leads to tyranny. They climbed that mountain, but when they reached the top, they spent the rest of their lives kicking everyone else off. Every improvement in the lives of the poor that has happened since the Industrial Revolution has been taken, not granted. If it weren't for "leftists," we'd all be working 60-80 hours a week in dangerous environments for pennies with no breaks or vacations. It's only because of liberals and labor unions that we have things like regulation, workers' rights, and basic human dignity. It's a shame that the rich elite have convinced us to allow them to slowly degrade all we've worked towards. Fuck trickle down economics. Fuck tax breaks for the rich. Fuck slave wages. And fuck the rich for telling us all it's our fault.

[European Socialist Republic]

Because I'm a lazy moocher who wants to steal the hard-earned money of the hard-working job creators.

Thanks to welfare handouts, I'll never have to work a day in my life. Thanks Obama![/sarcasm]

[Skinia]

Because letting the rich and privileged keep their money and power invariably leads to tyranny. They climbed that mountain, but when they reached the top, they spent the rest of their lives kicking everyone else off. Every improvement in the lives of the poor that has happened since the Industrial Revolution has been taken, not granted. If it weren't for "leftists," we'd all be working 60-80 hours a week in dangerous environments for pennies with no breaks or vacations. It's only because of liberals and labor unions that we have things like regulation, workers' rights, and basic human dignity. It's a shame that the rich elite have convinced us to allow them to slowly degrade all we've worked towards. Fuck trickle down economics. Fuck tax breaks for the rich. Fuck slave wages. And fuck the rich for telling us all it's our fault.

I am currently fist bumping my screen in an effort to get one to reach you. You're awesome.

[Bulgar Rouge]

The right is based on the principle of "I conquer and it all goes for myself". Eventually the right turned into "I conquered so you bitches are now subordinated to me because I'm more capable, therefore I'm always correct". The right is essentially a modified form of tribal mentality.

The left, on the other hand, wants to keep such tendencies in check, or to outright dismantle their long-term results. The left is simply one step ahead in mankind's social evolution. That does not make the right necessarily wrong, but it inevitably brings the question of balance, which the left answers.

Because letting the rich and privileged keep their money and power invariably leads to tyranny. They climbed that mountain, but when they reached the top, they spent the rest of their lives kicking everyone else off. Every improvement in the lives of the poor that has happened since the Industrial Revolution has been taken, not granted. If it weren't for "leftists," we'd all be working 60-80 hours a week in dangerous environments for pennies with no breaks or vacations. It's only because of liberals and labor unions that we have things like regulation, workers' rights, and basic human dignity. It's a shame that the rich elite have convinced us to allow them to slowly degrade all we've worked towards. Fuck trickle down economics. Fuck tax breaks for the rich. Fuck slave wages. And fuck the rich for telling us all it's our fault.

^ This goes to sig.

[Risottia]

As a radical-rightest, I've always wondered what motivates leftists.

I believe most people justify it using a moral standpoint. However, I find it immoral that the privileged be robbed simply because they are privileged. I assure you, the vast majority of the wealthy are rather altruistic. (However, the Waltons are a joke.)

So, I'd just like to see what the general reasoning for leftist beliefs are.

To me, it's basically because without equality and solidarity freedom is nothing but the privilege of the powerful.

[Skinia]

As a radical-rightest, I've always wondered what motivates leftists.

I believe most people justify it using a moral standpoint. However, I find it immoral that the privileged be robbed simply because they are privileged. I assure you, the vast majority of the wealthy are rather altruistic. (However, the Waltons are a joke.)

So, I'd just like to see what the general reasoning for leftist beliefs are.

To me, it's basically because without equality and solidarity freedom is nothing but the privilege of the powerful.

"Freedom without socialism is privilege and injustice. Socialism without freedom is slavery and brutality." -Mikhail Bakunin

I love that quote.

[Olthar]

Because letting the rich and privileged keep their money and power invariably leads to tyranny. They climbed that mountain, but when they reached the top, they spent the rest of their lives kicking everyone else off. Every improvement in the lives of the poor that has happened since the Industrial Revolution has been taken, not granted. If it weren't for "leftists," we'd all be working 60-80 hours a week in dangerous environments for pennies with no breaks or vacations. It's only because of liberals and labor unions that we have things like regulation, workers' rights, and basic human dignity. It's a shame that the rich elite have convinced us to allow them to slowly degrade all we've worked towards. Fuck trickle down economics. Fuck tax breaks for the rich. Fuck slave wages. And fuck the rich for telling us all it's our fault.

I am currently fist bumping my screen in an effort to get one to reach you. You're awesome.

I just spoke what needed to be said.

[Vaness]

Socially I'm a marxist-leninist (without the secret police and killings), but economically I think capitalism is good, if it is monitored and restricted.

[National Socialist Korea]

> Implying all leftists are communists.

[Vaness]

> Implying all leftists are communists.

this

[Confederate Ramenia]

I personally identify outside the spectrum. Both leftists and rightists have a greedy, materialistic worldview, and are intent on crushing human dignity through opposing means.

[Skinia]

I personally identify outside the spectrum. Both leftists and rightists have a greedy, materialistic worldview, and are intent on crushing human dignity through opposing means.

Yeah, I don't know what kind of definition of left and right you base that on.

[The Sons of Adam]

I'll clarify my views with an example of US politics.

Personally, I believe that the US political system is broken. I'm not ignorant enough to say its a two party dictatorship. However, I believe the Democrats are right on nearly every social issue. However, I find the Republicans correct on fiscal issues.

I am fervently anti-government welfare, however, I believe public universities should be subsidized and offer free education to anyone that gains admissions.

I think the objects that provide opportunity (education, civil rights, equality regardless of sex, sexuality, color, creed, etc.) should be available to all, but the economy by entirely unregulated. With NO MEANS TESTED WELFARE

You are the opposite of me.

[Distruzio]

I personally identify outside the spectrum. Both leftists and rightists have a greedy, materialistic worldview, and are intent on crushing human dignity through opposing means.

What is "outside the spectrum"?

[Senyosu]

I personally identify outside the spectrum. Both leftists and rightists have a greedy, materialistic worldview, and are intent on crushing human dignity through opposing means.

What is "outside the spectrum"?

Political hipsterism.

[Avenio]

I personally identify outside the spectrum. Both leftists and rightists have a greedy, materialistic worldview, and are intent on crushing human dignity through opposing means.

What is "outside the spectrum"?

Special snowflake syndrome.

[Skinia]

What is "outside the spectrum"?

Political hipsterism.

[insert a stupid pun regarding underwear here followed by a douchy fake laugh]

[Bandwagon]

I think the left is not a moral necessity, but the best idea.

[Distruzio]

What is "outside the spectrum"?

Political hipsterism.

Indeed. If we assume the logic entailed, then fascism falls down and right, syndicalism rises up and left, distributism rises up and right, and bolshevism falls down and left.

Down leading to a more centralized and nationally oriented economic order and up being more decentralized and locally oriented economic order. Left being revolutionary and rejecting tradition and right being counter revolutionary and traditional.

[Dumb Ideologies]

I don't agree that it's robbing, that's why. The rewards allocated by the free market are not inherently just and a lot of less wealthy people put in a lot of hard work that should be rewarded too. Ergo redistribution. Simples.

[Senyosu]

Political hipsterism.

Indeed. If we assume the logic entailed, then fascism falls down and right, syndicalism rises up and left, distributism rises up and right, and bolshevism falls down and left.

Down leading to a more centralized and nationally oriented economic order and up being more decentralized and locally oriented economic order. Left being revolutionary and rejecting tradition and right being counter revolutionary and traditional.

that literally went whoosh through my brain for some odd reason, even though I know what you are trying to say

my brain farted

[Stasnov]

Because letting the rich and privileged keep their money and power invariably leads to tyranny. They climbed that mountain, but when they reached the top, they spent the rest of their lives kicking everyone else off. Every improvement in the lives of the poor that has happened since the Industrial Revolution has been taken, not granted. If it weren't for "leftists," we'd all be working 60-80 hours a week in dangerous environments for pennies with no breaks or vacations. It's only because of liberals and labor unions that we have things like regulation, workers' rights, and basic human dignity. It's a shame that the rich elite have convinced us to allow them to slowly degrade all we've worked towards. Fuck trickle down economics. Fuck tax breaks for the rich. Fuck slave wages. And fuck the rich for telling us all it's our fault.

^dis, goes to mah sig