Please define for me what these things mean:
"Left" or "Left-wing"
"Right" of "Right wing"
"Conservative"
"Liberal"
I hear these all the time and just when I think I understand them, someone uses them in a context that throws me for a loop. Help me get what they're all about.
Thanks!
Entropy
Favorite Answer
The term Liberal and Conservative have their origins during the Enlightenment when Democracy and freedom favoring intellectuals were arguing against the Aristocracy and Monarchy. The term Liberal referred to those arguing for Liberty for all men, while the Conservatives were arguing for the preservation of the aristocracy.
As time went on Liberal meant a host of policy positions that involved a limited state that treated all men equally under the law, favored free markets so that all men might get ahead, not merely the aristocrats, and so forth. Conservative usually implied the opposite of all those things as they were attempting to 'conserve' the existing order.
In the US, the basic policy position was SO liberal compared to the rest of the world (no one is the US argues in favor of an aristocracy) that the terms got jumbled and confused during the early 20th century. The Liberal position had always been seen as favoring the little guy and folks who wanted to use the power of the state to benefit the little guy took the label for themselves, even though their disdain for limited government was contrary to the original meaning. Their opponents became conservatives. The cultural revolution further confused things as conservatives who favored a minimalist state in economic affairs took up pro-state positions on cultural ones.
The terms left and right wing come from the same era, specifically after the French Revolution, the radical Jacobins (radical egalitarians) literally sat on the LEFT side of the presiden't chair, and their opposition (classical liberals) sat on the right.
HandsomeANT
I will try to give you the most unbiased response I can about the theories.
Left is usually associated with liberals and the right with conservatives.
Conservatives: usually meaning a group of people who place the most importance on the conservation of a country's values (whether economically, ideologically, etc...), they are usually more nationalistic and have a more individualistic "pick yourself up by the boot straps" attitude. They tend to focus more on a strong economy and military than strong social programs and human rights. Conservatives tend to be more aggressive militarily and generally have a narrow view of the world, looking at other nations with suspicion. The radical, extreme members of this group has brought fascism (Hitler, Mussolini, and Pinochet) and ultra-nationalists (white power movement) to history.
Liberals: generally speaking a group of people more concerned with human rights, the progress of a society, and maintaining it's modernity (socially, environmentally, ideologically etc..), they have a more inclusive "let's do it together" attitude. They tend to value diplomacy over force, and support a more global view of foreign affairs. The radical, extreme members of liberalism has brought communism (Stalin, Mao...) and violent environmentalists to history.
The way these two groups were once described to me was like a couple, one part loud and talking non-stop, and the other shy and quiet. Neither one would be enjoyable at a party by themselves, but together they make great guests: the talkative one will bring the shy one out of his shell, while the quiet one will bring the loud one under control.
Conservatives need liberals to advance, and liberals need conservatives so as to not get carried away.
ggraves1724
They really mean nothing! Some think they mean:
Right or Conservative - member of the Republican party
Left or Liberal - member of the Democratic party
The words can have added meaning to some by prefacing with the word "far". However as I stated they mean nothing, and simply serve to confuse people. It becomes worse when someone misuses them.
If I were you; I would assume everyone is Democrat or Republican until they think or do a radical move, then they are radical.
It's all about perception of politics and what politicians think of themselves:)
Ruth S
Oops! you've got ME confused now! I thought there was only a right side, a left side and a middle!!! Where does this forth one fit in??
But to answer your question - this is only MY interpretation mindyou!
The Right side was supposed to be the good guys
The Left side were the people who thought just the opposite
The conservatives were the ones who thought about the whole problem and took the least possible path to disaster
The liberals!!! Anything goes!!!
I know my answers are not right, but who cares at this stage of the game!
None of them know what the hell they are doing!
?
Depends on time and place.
In 2009 U.S. terms:
Left/Liberal = opposition to the American System as codified in The Constitution. They say this about THEMSELVES but when you repeat it about them they call YOU a liar.
Right/Conservative = Support for the American System as codified in The Constitution. Liberals deny this WHILE referring to conservatives as "originalists," which they use as a pejorative.