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Old 11-03-2006, 09:34 AM
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Default Definitions of Left/Right Politics

Someone in this article's talk page claimed that this section of the article has a liberal bias, but if it does, it is a remarkably ineffective bias, since by most of the definitions given below, I am right-wing, despite considering myself libertarian and thus neither right nor left:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-ri...g_of_the_terms

Rejecting the inequality that results from the free market is left; accepting it is right.

Here I am right-wing. I see economic egalitarianism as counterproductive.

Preference for a "larger" government is left; preference for a "smaller" government is right.

My ideas border on minarchism, so again, I am definitely on the Right.

Relativism is left; Universality is right.

I'm on the Right again. Even apart from my Christian faith, I support what some would call universal prescriptivism in politics.

Equality of outcome is left; equality of opportunity is right.

The latter completely supersedes the former in my mind, so once again I am on the Right.

A secular government is left; a religious government is right.

Here I'm firmly on the Left. Religion and government should not mix.

Collectivism is left; individualism is right.

I am fiercely individualistic, so I am on the Right.

Innovation is left; conservatism is right.

I don't believe that tradition has any intrinsic value, so I am on the Left.

The idea that law dictates culture is left; the idea that culture dictates law is right.

I'm right-wing here without question.

Support for national independence, autonomy and sovereignty, especially for smaller groups is left; support only for established states and governments is right.

I'm on the Left by this definition. I support independence for Palestine and Chechnya, for example, even though I loathe the methods that some have used to try to bring about their independence.

Internationalism and cosmopolitan attitudes are left; national interests are right.

I'm center here. I oppose economic protectionism, but I also oppose alliances with other nations.

Diplomacy is left; military force is right.

I'm center again. Unless the United States is under attack by a foreign state, I oppose both.

The idea that human nature and society are malleable is left; the idea that they are fixed is right.

I think that our nature is pretty much hard-wired by our genes, so I am on the Right.

The idea that human beings are naturally good is left; the idea that they are naturally flawed is right.

We are naturally flawed- so flawed, in fact, that neither voluntary nor involuntary populism will solve our problems. I am solidly on the Right on this one. That puts me on the Right 8 times, on the Left 3 times and in the center twice. Whoever claimed the above has a left-wing bias is nuts.
I don't think that these definitions necessarily apply in today's world, but they are interesting to analyze anyway. I appreciate all replies. Thank you very much.
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