How do I tell if I am right or left wing?

Question

How do I know how to describe myself politically. I have elements of left and right wing views and some unusual ones ?

Answer 1

This is somewhat accurate

Answer 2

Never mind your views, if you think clearly, are aware there are others around you, believe in people to make the right choices you are left of center.

If you are blind, and deft, check your wallet twice a day to see how much money you still have, live in a trailer park, drive a Ford pick up with a gun rack in the back. drink Pabst Blue Ribbon, get in a fight and go to jail every Saturday night, get bailed out in time for Church on Sunday, have a straw hat and only three teeth left, then there is a good chance you are right wing. Any of the above means that you lean that way.

Answer 3

Lots of Americans have views that don't line up perfectly with the Democratic or Republican party platforms.

"Right wing" and "Left wing" refer to the degree to which someone agrees with the responsibility of government versus the free market to provide goods and services. In America, the political spectrum is actually not that wide, so calling someone left or right wing indicates that their beliefs can be considered "extreme."

"Left" means you are more likely to believe the government is responsible for providing goods and services to its people. In America, the Democratic Party is the leftmore party. Someone who is a Democrat probably thinks the government should provide welfare to those who cannot work, and that the federal government should provide funding for clean water, transportation and other public services. In other countries, "left wing" can mean someone believes the government should control businesses and people should own products communally.

"Right" means that you are more likely to believe the free market will provide goods and services to the people. The Republican Party is the rightmore party in America, and someone who is a Republican probably believes people should not pay very much in taxes because they would rather pay for only the services they use. In other countries, "right wing" can mean someone believes the government's proper role is to mandate standards in personal values.

In America, the extremes aren't really respresented, although people on both sides like to use the extremes to criticize other views.

To further complicate things, there is also a spectrum concerning government intervention: from statism to libertarianism. Statists believe the government should have lots of control (when associated with the left, statism means the government controls and regulates all businesses - when associated with the right, it means the government controls human behavior). Libertarians believe the government should be small and have very little control (when associated with the left, libertarianism implies group ownership of natural resources - when associated with the right, it means the government does not intervene in markets or personal behavior).

Try using the political compass (www.politicalcompass.org) to determine where you fall along these spectra, and don't worry if you feel like something of a round peg looking at the two square holes of the American political parties.

Answer 4

In that case, if you pin a label on yourself, it wont be entirely accurate. In any event, you have to decide where you think the centre ground is, or perhaps, should be. I say that, because in Britain over the last ten years, the centre ground has been shifted to the left. So, you often hear peoples views described as right wing, when, in fact, only a short while ago , they would have been regarded as centre ground. I think the views expressed/promoted by the BBC are left wing, many young people fresh from listening to their left wing teachers/lecturers, would regard it as centre ground.

Answer 5

In practice there is no difference between the old definitions, the extremes of right and left both wind up with the government in control of everything and no one has any freedom. It would be better to think about whether you want the government more or less involved in telling you what to do, in giving you things or enabling you to earn things. Are you for individual responsibility, freedom to say what you want and decide for yourself how you should live?

To me there is no practical difference between fascists and Communist/Socialists, they get to the same state by different paths. Forget the labels and look at the goals of the political parties, because the labels have become reversed. The old Left is now the Right and the old Right is now the Left, if you look at their aims. In most places Liberal means the same as Socialist/Progressive/Communist and the conservatives are trying to preserve freedom.

I have astounded some Liberal/Socialist/Progressives because as a conservative I want clean energy at less cost, pollution controls that don't raise prices or cost jobs, cheaper alternative energy, fair elections, truth and honesty. Mainly they were surprised because they talked about it but didn't believe in practicing it themselves if it meant their side might lose.

Forget the labels. Support what you believe in your mind to be right. Never be a hypocrite. Do not do to those whose views you oppose what you would not want done to you. If attacked defend with provable facts, not someone else's opinion of what is a fact.. Defend freedom, oppose government controls and political party controls. Be yourself, a wing of truth, reason and justice and forget right or left wings.

Answer 6

Read the US Constitution. If you hate it then you are a Socialist or a Communist. If it makes sense to you and you agree, well, you probably see what the founders have formed, your are a constitutionalists.

There is little difference by today's "media" standards between left an right wing.

Some people believe morality is fluid. Although you cannot legislate morality, if the flavor of the day is "whatever feels good", then we are in a death spiral. People can find a way rationalize anything away.

Answer 7

I actually took an Internet quiz on that very thing. I ended up having about the same percentage of views from both sides even though I consider myself a Republican. I'd just stick to what you're telling us now if someone asks- you have elements of both and don't like to pigeonhole yourself into one category...And tell them you vote for candidates and not parties. It drives me crazy when people don't.

Answer 8

Take the chop up feather, lay it on a flat floor with the small end pointing in the direction of you you will possibly be able to ought to hold the small end down with your finger.word the direction of the curve of the feather. If the curve is to the left, whilst it rather is located in this form it's going to be a left wing feather. If the curve is to the terrific it's going to be a suitable wing feather. ensure the clamp you're making use of to fletch the arrow with has the terrific helical for suitable or left wing feathers. The helical has to tournament the two suitable wing or left wing. and you will't mixture them up on the arrow.

Answer 9

Most of us do.

We have liberal attitudes to somethings and a mixture of 'stick and carrot' on a wide range of issues, from education, health and crime to voting and the form of our democracy. In my view it is a sign of a healthy enquiring mind if you don't try to categorise yourself but try to evaluate the views form a wide range of sources.

It is better to be a floating voter rather than a predictable one, look how many 'traditional' Labour voters are currently complaining that they have been betrayed, or Conservative ones who are unsure if Cameron is a conservative or a 'fifth columnist blairite' taking control of their party?

Answer 10

Don't put yourself in a box I would say. You may be an independant.
I am a democrat with some very conservative views and some more moderate.
Even people in the same parties do not agree on EVERYTHING.

Answer 11

Take this test:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/questionnaire

Many people don't fit well on the left/right spectrum. This makes a square. It will help you figure out which types of issues you are on the left, and for which type you are on the right.