CreativeDominant
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Joined: 3/11/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Tkman117
Far right = fascism
Far left = communism
Love how right wingers always lump both far right and far left together as leftist. News flash to those on the right, extremism on either side is bad, and in the US, the right is closer to the Taliban, Al Queda, and ISIS than the left is to being communism.
Tell me, to...which of the below best describes you?
Liberalism is the most important to understand. The word itself comes from the same root at liberty. It can mean different things to different people, but in the end, it has to do with openness and a lack of restriction.
When the word was originally used, which is often referred to as Classical Liberalism, it described capitalism and democracy. It was the freedom to trade and pursue personal enterprise as well as the freedom for people to govern themselves. It was a depart from the old regime of monarchs and absolute power.
As time has gone on, the meaning has changed, although the root is still present. When pure capitalism resulted in catastrophe (The Great Depression), people looked to the government to intervene and moderate the economy. That has evolved in a wide series of government programs to redistribute wealth. Now it can be seen as liberty from the power of business elite.
Other aspects of liberalism today have to do with the social sphere. It involves equal rights and status for everyone, particularly minorities, women, and LGTB. It also puts emphasis on education, public services, and environmentalism with deemphasis on guns and military.
Overall, the word liberal really has to do with openness to change and response to the needs of the people as a whole.
Progressive is very closely related to liberalism, but more specifically the modern liberalism that I described. It does not have that internal foundation of liberty like the word liberalism does. Progressives call for heavy regulation of big businesses and corporations. They advocate universal healthcare and education. They generally want all social barriers to be broken, giving everyone the same conditions. The word progress is in it, but progress is seen only in the state of the lowest class.
Leftist is yet another word for liberal, but still without that foundation of liberty in the word. It usually refers to stances on the actual policies and mandates in politics, rather than the overall concept of liberalism.
Radicals belong to both sides of the political spectrum. They are extreme and advocate thorough or complete reforms. They are uncompromisable and view the world with very narrow lenses, generally seeing all things in black and white. One side is always and clearly right, while the other is always and clearly wrong.
The important thing to remember is that all these words, especially liberal, have very vague meanings and interpretations. The best way to understand them is to look at the root of the word and where it came from. This way, you can see the source of the opinion and its logical process, not just the opinion itself.
http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-in-modern-politics-between-liberal-progressive-leftist-and-radical
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