cont...

Nevertheless, I'm not so convinced that we should throw out all labels, as others on this thread seem to be. Political labels can be a shortcut to others ideas about how they might handle particular issues. As long as they're descriptive and flexible rather than prescriptive and boxy, I think they serve a purpose. I also like the way we can trace certain ideas and groups of ideas back to their sources. These labels carry their history with them.

Antonios, I loved your comprehensive and passionate description. I agreed with much. Yin and yang were interlacing in much of your characterisation.

TRTL, re the "you on the left/right think [x]" stuff, yeah, bugs me too. Particularly when people interpret a commitment to freedom of speech and/or religion as evidence the leftie in question favours some particular religious or cultural group (usually Islam). Or, conversely, when people think an advocate for small government does not believe in helping those less fortunate. It's all simplistic hogwash.

Dear Vanilla,

What I'm curious about is - how do people define their understanding these days of 'left' and 'right'?

I've always thought that the 'left' prioritises social equality, while the 'right' prioritises individual responsibility and the maintenance of natural and inherent inequalities between people.

Any thoughts?

Vanilla,

'Cynical dismissal of other people's motives is always the intellectually lazy option.

Of course, if we attribute base motivations to others, our own political personality gleams in comparison. It's all too easy, isn't it?
'

Too true. Now if only Fractelle would read this and think about her attacks on Col in the TAX forum...

whatever you think about the left and right is probably true. there is one thing that they have in common, and that is spending more of your money on ridiculous policies and drafting more laws to control and manipulate your behaviour as a citizen.

examples of spending:
-the wars and the second hand junk to go with it
-the recent punitive taxing of some alcoholic drinks

examples of control:
-the new isp censorship proposals and rigid censorship control in our country
-discriminatory banning of gay marriage for no rational reason other than to enforce control on a group of Australians

Surprise surprise I find myself a centrist according to the test.