By G.E. Smith
originally posted at
Capitalist Dove
What do “left” and “right” really mean in a political context? Where did those terms come from? Are libertarians “left” or “right” or neither? For that matter, what do the terms “conservative” and “liberal” mean? Are libertarians “conservative,” are they “liberal,” or are they something else?
Modern libertarianism sprung from a reaction to the New Deal and has been linked to conservatism or “the right” ever since. But while right-wing conservatives may have been allies in opposition to the Roosevelt regime, they are not libertarians or anything close to it, and every once in a while, the truth about right-wing conservatism is exposed.
From politics1:
“…by definition … the best form of government … is a compassionate monarchy — a monarchy that loves and respects its citizens and … is able to make easy decisions without the weight of a bureaucracy.”
These are not the words of Hugo Chavez or David Duke or Robert Mugabe, but of U.S. congressman, John Shimkus (R-IL). According to Shimkus, monarcy is “by definition” the “best form of government” — so long as it is “compassionate” and “loves … its citizens.” If this doesn’t describe Big Brother, I don’t know what does.
Are right-wing conservatives for limited government? Of course not! They are for the least limited government known to man — monarchy — which is essentially the same as the religious dictatorship of the Taliban (also a “right-wing conservative regime”), since monarchs rule under the divine right of kings. “Conservative” Shimkus is not concerned with limited government when he advocates monarchy specifically on the basis of its ability to “make easy decisions without the weight of a bureaucracy” — i.e. without the checks and balances the founding fathers wrote into our Constitution.
But back to the original point: The terms “left” and “right,” as used to describe someone’s position on the political axis date back to pre-Revolutionary France. The monarchists — who were for ulimited government and central planning — sat on the right side of parliment; while the “radicals” — who were for limited-government democracy and laissez-faire capitalism — sat on the left. The inversion of these terms is Orwellian on the level of “slavery is freedom,” and something similar has happened to the definitions of conservative and liberal.
“Broadly speaking, liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. A liberal society is characterized by freedom of thought for individuals, limitations on power, the rule of law, the free exchange of ideas, a market economy, free private enterprise, and a transparent system of government in which the rights of all citizens are protected. In the 21st century, this usually means liberal democracy with open and fair elections, where all citizens have equal rights by law.”
This is the definition of “liberalism” that the rest of the world uses.
Most countries have three political schools of thought:
- Big-government, nationalist conservatism
- Big-government, “labour” socialism
- Limited-government, pro-market liberalism
We wanted the liberals to defeat the Communists in Russia, just as we now want the liberals to defeat theocracy in Iran. Domestically, right-wing police-statists have turned the word liberal on its head, and left-wing nanny-statists have been happy to claim the liberal legacy of freedom as their own — but “liberal” Democrats are not liberal democrats, and they don’t deserve the distinction of “liberal.”
Milton Friedman insisted he was a liberal and refused to be called a conservative. F.A. Hayek even wrote a chapter specifically titled “Why I’m Not a Conservative.” “Libertarian Republicans” think “libertarian” is a euphamism for truly right-wing-conservative Republicans, but true libertarians are the proper heirs of classical liberalism and hold both conservatism and socialism in equal contempt as the enemies of liberty and human progress that they are.
Miche
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Steven Greffenius
I’m glad you liked my post, paulie! I post to Capitalist Dove in pursuit of my own rational interests — psychic satisfaction — but it sure feels good when someone likes what I’ve written. Thanks!
Niceread. ^^
From my “limited” perspective conservatives have been highjacked by the non conservative neo cons who focus on gaining influence and power by any means available(non conservative bashing and religion/close mind baiting) to give more power to their rich brethren while gaining more for themselfs.
They are tuerly bureaucrats of nobility or should I say aristocratic bureaucrats who work for power,money and fame through taxation of the populace. We need not a warped form of noble class leading us we need stern and hard rules to regulate the bureaucrats who control government.
Don’t get me wrong the 2 Party system has created the means to create bureaucratic nobility as both sides can play games with the public to further their own lives and pet projects. The Reapers as I call the current R party are much more adapt at business and its related ..er.. “issues” than the Dims(Dems) who are mostly too busy with in fighting and seeking to make one sub group of the lesser populace better than the other forgetting what they all have in common and working with that goal in mind to make society a better place to live in.
Both Corrupt and inept but one being more corrupt and the other more inept, we need a solid multi party system to break the strangle hold the 2 parties have from there on we might can fix government as so it may regulate the bureaucrats better, get rid of the money, intensives lobbyists and cover basic needs for trems in office and it will push out thos who do not really want to be there.. also if you are found to be in ethics violation you lose your trem in office and can not serve for 5 years(and thos found to collude together are forced out together this keeps the system clean when whistles are blown) if ever again we need hard and stern rules to govern thos who govern us…. without it we get what we got now a rich mans paradise filled with free money from the public….