Define the far-left

[ChristineM]

I am a centre left libertarian, seen by many americans as a far left communist, mamby pamby wuss.

Seen by true communists as a right wing mamby pamby wuss

Left and right labels depend on who is doing the sticking.

But one thing they hold in common, liberals are mamby pamby wuss's.

 

[Laika]

Someone actually picked nazism and fascism as "far left"?

Our education system really does suck.

There are deeper reasons for the view that nazism and fascism are far-left. The political spectrum as understood in Europe developed from the National Assembly in the French Revolution. The right-wing of the assembly favoured monarchy and social hierarchy and inequality, whereas the left-wing of the assembly favoured a republic and greater social equality.

In America however, at least by the start of the Cold War, the right was defined by reducing government control whilst the left was supposed to increase it. This helped to equate Nazism and Communism by emphasising the similarities as authoritarian states and methods of rule, but effectively ignored ideological differences between them as "big lies" by cynical, corrupt ruling elites who gained and kept power only by terrorising people by armies of thugs.

So in the European model, nazism is right wing because it justifies social hierarchy and inequality. But in the American model, nazism is left wing because it support greater government control of the economy and society.

The major problem with the American model is that it downplays ideological differences and fanaticism to such an extent that it assumes their loyalty is for sale to the highest bidder and you can "buy" communists and nazis because they are basically all corrupt thugs. In practice, that's a very dangerous miscalculation to make and greatly under-estimates both the willingness of their respective adherents to adopt means and ends that are contrary to the desire for self-preservation more typical of authoritarians who are simply only interested in power and money.

 

[Stevicus]

I see much talk about the “far left” these days. But does anyone actually know who or what they mean? Is there any agreement on what it means?

Or is everyone an evil “socialist” because they like free stuff and want to redistribute your money to their wallet?

You decide!

I think far left would have to entail, to some degree, belief in communism, socialism, and/or usually advocating such changes through revolutionary means. I've always found it somewhat incongruous to see people who are clearly pro-capitalist and bourgeois being defined as "far left" merely because of their belief in identity politics. Identity politics is ideologically related to nationalism, which is right-wing or far-right, depending on how extreme it goes.

 

[usfan]

Are you putting a label on the far left?

Nah.. no label, there. That is a tactic, to identify groupthink loyalists.

Most leftists are obsessed with groupthink labels, to identify friends, and stigmatize enemies. It is easier than having to verbalize or rationally defend a position.

Are you 'us', or 'them?'

 

[Thief]

I see much talk about the “far left” these days. But does anyone actually know who or what they mean? Is there any agreement on what it means?

Or is everyone an evil “socialist” because they like free stuff and want to redistribute your money to their wallet?

You decide!

out in left field

wanting to play at the home plate

can't do either

 

[Stevicus]

Nah.. no label, there. That is a tactic, to identify groupthink loyalists.

Most leftists are obsessed with groupthink labels, to identify friends, and stigmatize enemies. It is easier than having to verbalize or rationally defend a position.

Are you 'us', or 'them?'

Rightists have also used similar tactics. Joe McCarthy used to do it all the time.

 

[ChristineM]

Nah.. no label, there. That is a tactic, to identify groupthink loyalists.

Most leftists are obsessed with groupthink labels, to identify friends, and stigmatize enemies. It is easier than having to verbalize or rationally defend a position.

Are you 'us', or 'them?'

I see projection here.

The west is mostly in the hands of the right wing at the moment. They who label the left with every despicable label they can dream up.

Tactics are labels in disguise to make the use feel better about hypocrisy.

 

[usfan]

Rightists have also used similar tactics. Joe McCarthy used to do it all the time.

My comments are related to the current political climate, not from 70 years ago.. i think the basic beliefs about America, socialism, and Marxism, have changed since then..

 

[usfan]

I see projection here.

The west is mostly in the hands of the right wing at the moment. They who label the left with every despicable label they can dream up.

Tactics are labels in disguise to make the use feel better about hypocrisy.

1. Me too..
2. I see the west dominated by progressive ideology, force fed to everyone from infancy. We are a culture of indoctrinated bobbleheads, not free thinkers.
3. Many Tactics are used to obfuscate Truth, and disguise it, not reveal it. Labels are a convenient tactic for identifying groupthink loyalists (and enemies!).

 

[MikeDwight]

Far more interesting is Conservative vs Liberal , although these tend to be attached to a Conservative Republican and a Liberal Democrat, therefore, the actual glorified, Pomp and Circumstance, and politique of the Unpopular body of America is obscured and uninteresting? The Government unpopular and uncontrolled by votes?

Liberal Democrat is basically anyone watching TV! You watch TV and I always want to help people and the solution is invariably Government, right? Every argument since long ago, big Government is the solution that will help out a very, albeit, human situation. So, don't throw labels that Aren't happening, those are Democrats. FOX looks like watching grade school history shoved at your face. American History shows. Sean Hannity just got off the boat in New York from Ireland?

 

[ChristineM]

1. Me too..
2. I see the west dominated by progressive ideology, force fed to everyone from infancy. We are a culture of indoctrinated bobbleheads, not free thinkers.
3. Many Tactics are used to obfuscate Truth, and disguise it, not reveal it. Labels are a convenient tactic for identifying groupthink loyalists (and enemies!).

1

2 i wouldn't call it progresses, much more regressive.

3 works both ways

 

[Woberts]

None of them, really. On a rather unrelated note, please don't call it anarcho-capitalism. Those two things are irreconcilable. Ancom as an ideology is one great big lie. Sort of like how Hitler evoked socialist passions to gain support, then offed them.
Rant over, I suppose.

 

[Stevicus]

My comments are related to the current political climate, not from 70 years ago.. i think the basic beliefs about America, socialism, and Marxism, have changed since then..

Yeah, but as they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

I think the right-wing got a bit too overzealous in their anti-communist crusades, which led to a mild backlash against them in the 60s and 70s. Then they reinvented themselves under Reagan.

 

[PureX]

Eh? The right most certainly isn't about unbridled freedom, considering their history with LGBT rights, reproductive rights, sexual liberty, cannabis legalization, compulsory pledge/anthem/prayer, flag burning, etc.

You're confusing their freedom to do whatever they want with other people's freedom to do whatever thy want. They want total freedom for themselves, but not for anyone else. Like I said, for Real Americans, freedom equals selfishness. That's why Real Americans love freedom but hate equality.

 

[Milton Platt]

Far left is Communism, and Marxism, Anarchism.
Maybe only a few on this forum can be seen as far left, the rest of us "lefties" are middle to left or just left, but not extreme left.

I may have a few things I am far left on, but mostly somewhere left of center. There may even be one or two things considered right of center that I would agree with, but can't buy the whole package. I identify as independent and look at people, not parties.

 

[lostwanderingsoul]

Far left want to take money away from those who work hard to earn it and give it to those who are too lazy to work for it.

 

[Yerda]

Marxists of various stripes, most anarchists. People who want to smash states and call for violent revolution as well as some people who want to carry out radical political agendas (by conventional means like elections and legislation) that aim to transfer the control of major industries to the public. I'd consider that far left.

In the general discourse it means almost nothing.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I choose the two versions of communism. Socialism can be far-left but not necessarily.

 

[Willamena]

The Left-Right Political Spectrum Explained - Fact / Myth

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Left/right is only one dimension. I'm socially liberal, anti authoritarian, fiscally conservative, believe in government regulation of big business but much more freedom for small business so what does that make me?

I’m with you here