I’m sorry, I’m an American where liberals are actually centrists, but can you explain to me what else is off-base about this chart?
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Allero@lemmy.today 2 months agoLiberalism in the center? Gosh, this is the most American political coordinates there could be
It’s almost physically triggering how off-base that is
Pandantic@midwest.social 2 months ago
Allero@lemmy.today 2 months ago
Generally, it is the fact that right-wing entails focus on businesses and private property owners, and left-wing entails direct focus on the economic wellbeing of everyone and a more egalitarian society.
In more extreme cases (which I agree for in terms of clarity and fairness, but which is not really a consensus) left-wing is seen as actual socialism (i.e. collectively/socially owned enterprises) and right-wing is capitalism (i.e. private property and its operation for profit). This makes a useful and clear distinction in relation to economic policy and is not dictated by the hegemony of one option. It also makes centrism virtually impossible, which is good, because the meaning of “center” drifts radically between cultures, and most people tend to just associate with whatever is predominant in their culture while calling themselves such.
Here is how voters of neighboring Canada have put themselves on a political compass, on average, in relation to their party of choice. Note that liberals are very much not in the center, and more right-wing, while conservatives as well as People’s party (don’t look at the name, it’s seen as far right even by American metrics), predictably, are extremely authoritarian-right.
Pandantic@midwest.social 2 months ago
I see US liberals as defending both social and economic policies. Here are some examples I can think of:
- Supporting unions but also not cracking down on union busting as much as they should
- Wanting universal healthcare solutions (Obamacare) while not wanting Medicare for all or proper socialized medicine.
I am just speaking to what I observe, but I think the trick the liberal party in my country play is a show of being “for the people” and giving concessions but, in the end, being absolutely capitalist motivated.
Allero@lemmy.today 2 months ago
Yes! The latter part of what you say explains exactly to me why liberals cannot be the center.
Being “for the people” is more of a show here, while they are funded and act in the interest of businesses. When people do demand change that goes against capitalists, they will play everything to keep the spectacle while clearly not choosing people’s side. And this is actually quite consistent with the spirit of liberalism.
Hydra_Fk@reddthat.com 2 months ago
Why would you let a “chart” trigger you physically? What good will that do?
Allero@lemmy.today 2 months ago
The point is that it skews the understanding of “left” and “right” to favor the latter.
Essentially serving as a tool to claim socialist policies extreme and liberal ones perfectly balanced.
Hydra_Fk@reddthat.com 2 months ago
Sounds like your just slurring his opinion without trying to be civil and engaging with honest logical discussion.
Allero@lemmy.today 2 months ago
Which I would certainly engage in if I wouldn’t remember you personally as a troll who cares little of civility.
If someone else is up for debating it, I’m always here.
Also, one thing you genuinely caught me on is a bit of an emotional outburst, while I generally am the one picking civility card. Good job! I do apologize for that part.
The coordinates are heavily skewed and likely to either be formed in a right-wing society or intentionally made as to confuse people.