Political Definitions?

Question

Since the elections are coming up, will someone please define the following: Right Wing, Left Wing. Is there such thing as a Left Wing Republican and a Left Wing Democrat? How about a Right Wing Democrat and a Right Wing Republican. Who are these people and what do they do??? Thanks!

Answer 1

Each of the major political parties focuses on different aspects of the Constitution as most important. In the Preamble to the Constitution, there are five goals (values) of the US government: "establish Justice, to ensure domestic Tranquility, to provide for the common Defense, to promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty"

Conservatives think the most important are "to ensure domestic Tranquility" (meaning to promote conformity with 'traditional' ways) and to "provide for the Common Defense". Most conservatives are Republicans, who (nowadays) want group rights (conformity with 'traditional' values) and a large government to ensure domestic tranquility (by enforcing those conservative majority beliefs). Moderate republicans (originally called fiscal conservatives) want a small government, just large enough to provide for the common Defense.

Liberals think it's more important to "promote the general Welfare, and ensure the blessings of Liberty". Most liberals are Democrats, who want individual rights and a large government to promote the general welfare. Moderate democrats don't want a lot of wasteful spending, and want to achieve their goals without causing too many problems. Democrats do have a Conservative wing, which focuses on better ethical leadership and greater protection for both groups and individuals. The main difference is that conservative democrats still don't believe in enforcing their views on the minority, even if their own personal choices would be the same as what conservative republicans would make.

The concept of promoting Justice is important to both camps, but their idea of justice differs. Most camps of the liberal parties believe ensuring Justice requires favoring defendants, preferring the guilty to go free rather than sending the innocent to prison. Republicans and conservatives believe the promoting Justice requires being harsh to those accused, even if that occasionally inflicts sentences on the innocent.

Interestingly, the spectrum is not linear, and has more than one dimension. There are other political parties who focus on different combinations of those values. For example, Libertarians want a small government (no wasteful spending) and very little Welfare (few if any entitlements), but strong on Defense. Libertarians also want lots of protection for individual civil rights, to secure the blessings of Liberty. They feel that Tranquility will take care of itself, and doesn’t need government enforcement of morality. As such, they are moderate about most issues, except for being adamant that the majority should not impose its beliefs on the minority, as part of their way to promote Justice.

So, it basically comes down to which sets of Constitutional values each group thinks are most important.

Right-wing and left-wing are inherently meaningless labels, but are often used as substitutes for Republican (right) vs. Democrat (left), or conservative (right) vs. liberal (left). However, because the right-wing and left-wing terms are broad generalizations, and because those left/right labels have no inherent meaning, they are useless any rational purpose except to confuse the issues.

Answer 2

Left wing - liberal - usually democrat (but can be 3rd party - green, independent, libertarian)

right wing - conservative - neo con - usually republican

Democrats are usually defined as wanting more taxes to support public programs (schools), social welfare (some not all can be pro - womans right to choose, anti-war)

Republicans are usually defined as wanting less taxes and dont support public programs and social welfare (some not all are anti-abortion, more supportive of war efforts)

There are MANY more details that are involved and not everyone falls into a category so neatly....you just need to pick up your voter ballot this season and read on each political party and see what their platform is - and see which one fits your values the best.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

Yes, of course. Within each political party you will find a wide spectrum from left to right. Politicians on the left of the Republican party and right-wing Democrats may find they have more in common with each other with than others on the opposite extremes of their own party.

Answer 4

Left wing are politicians who want to change the government; right wing are the ones that believe there's nothing that requires change. Usually right wing politicians are the ones that are in power presently and left wing politicians are the opposition.

Answer 5

Wow, you finally asked a question. I finally get the opportunity to say what I wanted to say. You once answered my question that was not at all immature and called me a spoiled little brat. Remember that? I'm sick of the way you answer people's questions...by ALWAYS calling them immature and "sweetie" and starting each one off by saying, "Oh for heaven's sake!!" Or how about the way you end them with a big DUH to make the asker feel like a loser. You need to get a life. You are not better than these people, as you are also a user of this website. You do not have an unlimited amount of wisdom to offer the world. You can report me, go ahead. I've done it to you countless times for insulting other participants. You can also call me immature if you'd like...I'm used to it by now. Just know that you are not at all perfect and that you need to stop putting people down for no reason. 'Kay, sweetie?

*DUH!*

Answer 6

Fringes, Left Wing Democorats, everybody gets to do what they want. Frenges, everyboby gets to do what God wants as there meaning. There are those of us with bad grammer who want to do what is best for all of us. We call our sevles Americans

Answer 7

Left Wing - communist
Right Wing - non-communist

Answer 8

You should go to www.politicalcompass.org. You can take a test to see where you fall on the spectrum and also what each believes.

Answer 9

The class is called POLITICAL SCIENCE. Sign up.

Answer 10

Sure. It's politics. Not sacrosanct.