Political Words

I read a lot of blogs, and I see words and labels tossed around all the time. There's the "evil Republicans" and the "Left-wing wackos," and on and on the labels go. We all use the labels, we all LIKE labels. It helps keep things organized.

One thing that annoys me, and I know some do it on purpose, is when a label is applied that does not fit my definition or idea of what the label should be. For example, when people call the Republican Senate "conservative" -- that's just not even close to right.

So, to help anyone who reads my posts or comments, here's my perception of the left-right chart of politics. The standard left/right scale is illustrated with the far left side being the far-lefties, and the far-right side being the, well, far-right. The donut in the middle is the middle position between the left and right.

Yes, that's me, Libertarians, lovers of freedom, and members of the Free State Project waaaaay over there on the right. I wish people would stop (deliberately) calling Republicans conservatives -- it's just not true any more.

Posted by: Ogre at 10:31 AM

Comments

1 Love it! Tempted to steal it.

Posted by: Echo Zoe at November 17, 2005 11:23 AM (K+h36)

2 Go ahead! Feel free to adjust the "me" line if you like.

Posted by: Ogre at November 17, 2005 12:57 PM (/k+l4)

3 Interesting idea of how it is. I'm not sure I agree 100%, I've always considered myself middle of the road with conservative tendancies. But on your chart you'd have me as a liberal.

Posted by: Contagion at November 17, 2005 06:39 PM (Q5WxB)

4 Not liberal -- lefty -- and that's if you think the Republicans are conservative.

In my mind, conservatives oppose larger government and work to shrink government. Certainly the Republican Party and G.W. Bush do NOT. Sure, this simplistic chart is biased towards financial matters, but that's really reflective of so many other things, including freedom and economics.

Posted by: Ogre at November 17, 2005 07:58 PM (7PCNv)

5 Hey Oggie:

Take a look at this.

http://charlottecapitalist.blogspot.com/2005/11/philosophical-political-lineor.html

Based upon the ideas of the last 2300 years it is more of a triangle than a straight line.

See ya,

Andy

Posted by: The Charlotte Capitalist at November 18, 2005 07:26 AM (8vJzx)

6 Yeah, according to this, I'm a lefty. And I'm not.

Posted by: Bou at November 18, 2005 07:32 AM (5JHEt)

7 Nice triangle, Andy.

And Bou, that's my point of this whole chart -- I really do believe that because of the redefinition of terms in this country today, the majority of the country IS leftist. From election results, at the very least, the vast majority of the voting population is not right of center at all!

Posted by: Ogre at November 18, 2005 07:40 AM (/k+l4)

8 I don't know if I consider the RNC all that conservative anymore.. and I'm not talking just financially. With their lack of utilization of a majority, to change things. I don't see how anyone really could.

Posted by: Contagion at November 18, 2005 08:38 AM (Q5WxB)

9 That's exactly why they are over there on the left of center side!

Posted by: Ogre at November 18, 2005 08:59 AM (/k+l4)

10 Ogre, I just joined FSP as a "Friend of FSP." I'm not sure if I could move to NH, but I agree with the philosophy.

Classical Liberal.

Posted by: Uncle Jack at November 18, 2005 10:02 AM (nyCJ9)

11 That's absolutely awesome, Uncle Jack!

If it works out there with enough participants, you might want to move there to enjoy the freedom...I just hope enough people do move there to really give freedom a chance.

I like freedom.

Posted by: Ogre at November 18, 2005 10:08 AM (/k+l4)

12 I love it, and all of my conservative friends appreciate it. Very cool.

Posted by: Stevin at November 20, 2005 11:22 PM (LfL8N)

13 Why thanks, Stevin!

Posted by: Ogre at November 21, 2005 05:39 AM (7PCNv)

14 And to the right of you would be... AnarchoCapitalists?

Posted by: Harvey at November 21, 2005 12:59 PM (ubhj8)

15 That might work. You gotta get pretty far out there to be to the right of me.

Posted by: Ogre at November 21, 2005 02:17 PM (/k+l4)

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