Why is it that in the US, the far right has been so much stronger than the far left over history?

Question

Think of all the media attention and public support given to far right racism, the KKK, anti-gay extremists, and the like over the course of history. Why do such groups have so much more power and attention than do their radical-left counterparts, i.e. the socialists? Is America really a right-wing society?

Answer 1

No, what this country and the rest of the world is about mostly goes on at work, and at home in the kitchen. History, however, has always been taught by men, and they have, for whatever reason always focused on what men do, specifically the most powerful of men, as they have made this most notable disturbance on the world's stage. We always reward those who are the loudest and most aggressive with the most attention, thus encouraging more of the same behavior in the minds of young men. As long as we reward this behavior this way, essentially ignoring those least aggressive and less violent, we can expect to see more of the same. These are our values and to change this we will have to change ourselves. Most humans are not this way you describe, no matter the country, for when the dust of violence settles, you will find the vast majority of humans going about the business of living and raising their families.
It is true, however, that those who would rape, sack, and pillage the rest of us have abandoned the social contract the rest of us live by, are willing and able to do whatever it takes to accomplish their ends. They are always stronger than the rest of us in that they energetically work together to deceive and manipulate, while we believe in basic forms of fair play. As long as we live out our ordinary lives in ignorance, there will always be those who will prey on us and the world at large, or as a famous villian in the movies said, "if God did not want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep!" Most of us simply cannot believe this is happening, but the more you look at the world, the more you can readily see it. You only have to look at the Middle East today to see who is most powerful in the US, the right or the left.

Answer 2

I am not sure that this is always the case. Look at the 1960's with the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War Protests. These were both very strong movements that cannot be considered far right by any stretch of the imagination. Woman's Suffarage and Abolition of Slavery are two other movements which would have been considered liberal in thier time.

Also, look at what kind of media attention the KKK, neo-Nazis, and anti-gay extremists get. Is it positive or negative? Do the majority of Americans agree or disagree with these groups?

Answer 3

That's a good question and a tough question. Far right and far left have changed in our history as a nation, so remember that. I would suggest the far right simply causes more events that get media attention--like that Westboro Baptist Church that protests at military funerals. Disgusting, but they publicize it in advance and get the press there. I don't think America is either right or left-wing. I think people vote on issues that they care about. I think every liberal has conservative views on some issues and vice versa. America is probably moderate.

Answer 4

Yikes! Please don't associate all those parties with the "Right" in the US. Historically, the "Left" & "Right" have been together more than appart in the U.S. (The 2 political parties were actually the same party at one point). The Radical, of whichever side, always gives the true side a bad reputation. America is not a socialist society, but even liberals in the US don't like to be called socialists.

Answer 5

The government hammer has been repeatably dropped on the far left. Many times throughout our history we have used the military or other government means to criminalize and weaken ideas considered a threat to our way of life. The people is a dangerous weapon and letting us fall for one ideal might mean the demise of the other.

Answer 6

People are generally morons!

The Nazis took over the USA in 1963

Power has been kept in a small circle.

Banks favour people who get the job done = Totalitarian Republicans. Not woolly jumper wearing, hand holding cookie munching coffee sipping intellectual do gooders!

Human Nature.

Answer 7

America was founded by the pilgrim fathers who sailed from, Plymouth, England.
These were a highly religious, puritan group of people something like the Quakers, who's traditions still seem to hold fast even to this day. Liberalism, by contrast, is a relatively new way of thinking.

Answer 8

Because the rich Americans in their wish to keep the ordinary Americans in their place and therefore to protect their profit before humanity philosophy, have taken control of the media.
It is almost impossible for ordinary working class Americans to broadcast their opinions to a wide audience.
In my opinion the treatment of the ordinary working class American by both employers and government is a disgrace in a country that boasts of it's love of freedom.

Answer 9

America does not like Communists or Socialists and is
partially a right-wing society!!!

Answer 10

Because leftists threaten the American system of government much more than the right-wingers. Right-wingers attacked blacks, gays, some other minorities but did not want to overthrow the American capitalists sytem and install a socialist, anti-capitalist system. That is why right-wingers got more sympathy than left-radicals in US and also around the world.(usually)