left wing/right wing-whats the difference?

Question

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Answer 1

Liberal VS. Conservative

Answer 2

The terms Left and Right have been used to refer to political affiliation since the early part of the French Revolutionary era. They originally referred to the seating arrangements in the various legislative bodies of France, specifically in the French Legislative Assembly of 1791, when the moderate royalist Feuillants sat on the right side of the chamber, while the radical Montagnards sat on the left.

Originally, the defining point on the ideological spectrum was attitudes towards the ancien régime ("old order"). "The Right" thus implied support for aristocratic, royal, or clerical interests, while "The Left" implied opposition to the same. At that time, support for laissez-faire capitalism and free markets were regarded as being on the left whereas today in most Western countries these views would be characterized as being on the Right. But even during the French Revolution an extreme left wing called for government intervention in the economy on behalf of the poor.

Answer 3

Bit of a biggie that one!
It isn't true that left wing = liberalism. On the contrary, one of the tenets of right wing conservative thinking is that the individual needs to be as free as possible from the confines of state interference.
Both extreme right wing (fascism) and left wing (communism) are extremely anti-liberal.
I think of the divide as being about how society is viewed. Margaret Thatcher's opinion that "There is no such thing as society" sums up right wing conservatism to me. It is the belief in the freedom of the individual over and above all other concerns.
Whereas, Socialism is more concerned with society as a whole and the obligations that each of us, as individuals, have towards society and each other.
I have no doubt at all that Jesus Christ was a Socialist!

Answer 4

If you stand at the front then the left wing is in the left and the right wing is on the right.
If you stand at the back then the right wing is on the left and the left wing is on the right.

If you watch football then Ryan Giggs plays on the left and the right wing.

Birds have left and right wings.

Hope this clarifys the position.

Answer 5

Left Wing - those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare.

'Left wing' was first used around 1700 to describe the people and groups who advocate liberal, often radical measures to effect change in the established order, especially in politics, usually to achieve the equality, freedom, and well-being of the common citizens of a state. This was what the British called the Revolutionaries in America.

Right Wing - those who support political or social or economic conservatism; those who believe that things are better left unchanged.

This term became popular around 1930 to describe the people and groups who advocate the adoption of conservative or reactionary measures, especially in government and politics. Again our nation was influx, that is to say, there were many changes happening in the government due to the economics of the day. Many people were frightened of the drastic changes that were about to be made in the name of the 'common good.'

Today we have 'Right Wing' and 'Left Wing' politicians although the majority of the population is in the 'Middle or the Road'. :-) That means most people will swing either to the right or left depending on the situation and how it affects them.

Answer 6

Left wing = liberal (usually Democrats)
Right wing = conservative (usually Republicans)

Here are some specifics, and remember these are generalizations, so these rules don't apply to everyone:

-- Left wing is pro-choice, Right wing is pro-life
-- Left wing supports homosexual rights, Right wing doesn't
-- Left wing supports all environmentalist causes, Right wing is skeptical of environmentalism
-- Left wing supports affirmative action, Right wing believes it's reverse discrimination
-- Left wing supports a Federal health care program, Right wing believes that's too much government interference
-- Left wing believes in heavy taxation of the rich, Right wing believes that's forced redistribution of wealth
-- Left wing supports a perpetual welfare system, Right wing believes there should be a time limit on receiving welfare
-- Left wing supports more government control of business, Right wing believes in minimum government interference

Does that help?

Answer 7

Left wing is more on the liberal side and Right wing is more on the conservative side.
communism is considered far left wing, whereas fascism is considered far right wing. Others fall in between these two extremes.
terms came from where the parties where seated in British parliament in the 1700's.

Answer 8

left-wing and right-wing are the two main ideologies of politics.
characteristics of left-wing:
* individualism
* freedom
* reason
* equality
* toleration
* consent
* constitutionalism

characteristics of right-wing:
* tradition
* pragmatism
* human imperfection
* organicism
* hierarchy
* authority
* property

this is the political spectrum (left to right):
communism, socialism, liberalism, centre, conservative, nationalist, fascism.
please note the two extremities (communism and fascism) are very similar and can't usually be told apart.

there are other ideologies obviously, but are not as well known, or just unpopular, such as feminism and anarchism.

hope this helps

Answer 9

All of Social norms falls within a spectrum . Politics is no different. The further to the left ie Marxism and Communism or the further right ie Conservatism and Totalitarianism, the more extreme the doctrines and ideologies they will convey

Answer 10

Left-Wing is considered to be a socialist movement. Right-Wing is considered to be a fascist movement. These are the extremes of the two. I think James Baker (of all people..) stated it best..

"Left wing is about social responsibility and right wing is about individual responsibility."

A left-wing idealist believes that the state exists for the benefit of the citizen. And, by that, would have the state provide for its citizenry.

A right-wing idealist believes that the citizen is ultimately responsible for his own well-being, and the state should be minimized to its smallest possible existance.

Answer 11

well left wing is that you think more of a republic not of the queen and right wing is for the queen or its the other way around so yer there is a difference.