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Posted-Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 08:31:34 -0500 (EST)
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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Date:         Mon, 11 Jan 1993 08:31:34 -0500
From:         pwhmds@UNITY.NCSU.EDU
Subject:      Re: righ-left contest
Comments: To: POLITICS@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu

 >
> > To all:
> >
> > Please define THE RIGHT (rightist, right-wing etc)
> >               THE LEFT  (letfist, left-wing)
> > I would like to see simple, clear definition. not a "you know common usage",
> > "1024 experts say this", "you don't understand this", "Humty-Dumpty
 theories"
> > Just tell me what are those terms, how do you undersatand them, or I will
> > assume you have no idea what you are talking about.
> >
> > Simple statements and short academic disseratation will be appreciated.
>
> I'm down with that.
>
> OK, here's the difference, as I understand it, between contemporary
> 'left-wingers' and 'right-wingers':
>
> 'Right-wingers' believe in laissez-faire economics, meaning government
> should have no hand in the economy. They tend to support government
> intervention in non-economic areas, such as crime, drugs, abortion,
> pornography, privacy, etc., although some notable examples believe
> the government has no place there. William F. Buckley is for marijuana
> legalization (I don't know about other drugs) and William Weld, the
> governor of Mass., is pro-choice and (I believe) supports homosexual
> rights, at least to some extent.
>
> 'Left-wingers' believe in intervention in the economy. I guess they
> see the economy as a means to an end, not an end to itself. For
> example, deficit spending brought the US out of the Great Depression,
> but now it is hurting the economy, so every 'left-wing' politician
> is at least giving lip service to the deficit, if not actually trying
> to lower it. In both the economic and non-economic realms, the 'left-
> wingers' try to bring about a 'fairness' based on broad philosophical
> beliefs, such as 'no one should have to live in fear,' etc. When
> implementing this philosophy, 'left-wingers' come at some seeming
> contradictions: Legalizing drugs but no smoking. Anyone can have
> sex but no pornography. Freedom of expression but don't say anything
> offensive. Personal responsibility but no one can responsibly handle
> guns.
>
> Any questions?
>
> > Caius
>
> Dave
> t9aa@sdsumus.bitnet
> We are living in a revolutionary situation.
>               --Henry Kissinger
>
> Disclaimer:  The opinions contained in this post are not the
> opinions of the Administration, Faculty or Student Body of
> South Dakota State University.  Hell, they might not even
> be mine.
>
Try this typology:

                          Should Gov't Interfere w/Market Decisions?
                                 Yes       |          No
                                           |
Should Gov't           Yes  Populists      |  Modern Conservatives
Interfere w/Personal_______________________|_______________________________
Lifestyle                                  |
Decisions?             No  Modern Liberals |     Libertarians
                                           |

You'll find the "right-wing" on the right of the diagram, and the "left
wing" on the left, by and large.
Hamlett
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU