Changes

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

The original definition referred to Church and State issues from the late 18th century Enlightenment period. At its root was faith vs. rationalism, or the Church vs. [[secularism]]. The so-called "right", defined as "traditional interests" refered to the Church & monarchy who ruled by the [[Divine right of kings]], and the so-called "left" constituted secular elements challenging the Church's longheld influence over civil government.  These definitions have always been problematic when attempting to assign Western notions of "left and right" to societies which traditionally have no conception of separation of chuch and states, such as in Islam <ref>[http://nobsopus.blogspot.com/1993/11/political-career-of-muhammad.html The Political Career of Muhammad], Arnold Toynbee, ''A Study of History'' Annex II TO III. C. (ii) (b) p. 466.</ref> or Czarist Russia.

The original definition referred to church and state issues from the late 18th century Enlightenment period. At its root was faith vs. rationalism, or the Catholic Church vs. [[secularism]]. The so-called "right", defined as "traditional interests" refered to the Church & monarchy who ruled by the [[Divine right of kings]], and the so-called "left" constituted secular elements challenging the Church's longheld influence over civil government.  These definitions have always been problematic when attempting to assign Western notions of "left and right" to societies which traditionally have no conception of separation of chuch and states, such as in Islam <ref>[http://nobsopus.blogspot.com/1993/11/political-career-of-muhammad.html The Political Career of Muhammad], Arnold Toynbee, ''A Study of History'' Annex II TO III. C. (ii) (b) p. 466.</ref> or Czarist Russia.

The monarchy and titled nobility became known as the "right"; this idea however has been disabused in the United States where a landlord class of titled nobles never existed, and in fact is specifically prohibited by the U.S. Constititution.  Hence Europeans today, based upon their own cultural idioms and history, have an extremely discolored view of what  the "American right" is.   

The monarchy and titled nobility became known as the "right"; this idea however has been disabused in the United States where a landlord class of titled nobles never existed, and in fact is specifically prohibited by the U.S. Constititution.  Hence Europeans today, based upon their own cultural idioms and history, have an extremely discolored view of what  the "American right" is.   

Another common misperception is, while the "right" has become identified with defending and advocating [[Judeo-Christian]] values, [[secular]] [[atheist]] mass movements such as [[national socialism]] are often either mistakenly or deliberately labeled as [[right-wing]]. This fallacy has been particularly well illustrated in our own time by examining the modern [[fascist]] [[Ba'athist]] [[regime]]s of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. Both have their roots in the anti-clerical influences of Western [[socialism]] against fundamentalist [[Islam]], and inherently promote "change" against oppressive religious [[theocracy]].

Another common misperception is, while the "right" has become identified with defending and advocating [[Judeo-Christian]] values, [[secular]] [[atheist]] mass movements such as [[National Socialism]] are often either mistakenly or deliberately labeled as [[right-wing]]. This fallacy has been particularly well illustrated in our own time by examining the modern [[fascist]] [[Ba'athist]] [[regime]]s of [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]]. Both have their roots in the anti-clerical influences of Western [[socialism]] against fundamentalist [[Islam]], and inherently promote "change" against oppressive religious [[theocracy]].

The "left" is often described as advocating "change" of traditional systems and institutions of a society, however the leftist regimes of [[Cuba]] and [[North Korea]] stoutly resist changes other leftist regimes abandoned 20 years ago after seven decades of stagnation and exploitation of the oppressed common people by a privileged leftist ruling elite.

The "left" is often described as advocating "change" of traditional systems and institutions of a society, however the leftist regimes of [[Cuba]] and [[North Korea]] stoutly resist changes other leftist regimes abandoned 20 years ago after seven decades of stagnation and exploitation of the oppressed common people by a privileged leftist ruling elite.

At the time of the [[French Revolution]], when the existing order, or ''[[Ancien Regime]]'' had been overthrown, the idea of [[nationalism]] did not exist throughout most of [[Europe]].  During the violent years of 1793 and 1794 in France, a love of the ''Patrie'', or the nation, was cultivated to replace the foundations upon which [[society]] had been built under the old order.  Under the stimulus of this movement for national unification, Catholicism was faced with the competition of a worship of national patriotism.  [[Nationalism]] grew out of this new will to construct and shape the political community. <ref>John Hall Stewart, ''A Documentary Survey of the French Revolution'' (Macmillan, New York, 1963). </ref><ref>David A. Bell, ''The Cult of the Nation in France: Inventing Nationalism, 1680-1800'', (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001). [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_37/ai_109668489]</ref>   

At the time of the [[French Revolution]], when the existing order, or ''[[Ancien Regime]]'' had been overthrown, the idea of [[nationalism]] did not exist throughout most of [[Europe]].  During the violent years of 1793 and 1794 in France, a love of the ''Patrie'', or the nation, was cultivated to replace the foundations upon which [[society]] had been built under the old order.  Under the stimulus of this movement for national unification, Catholicism was faced with the competition of a worship of national patriotism.  [[Nationalism]] grew out of this new will to construct and shape the political community. <ref>John Hall Stewart, ''A Documentary Survey of the French Revolution'' (Macmillan, New York, 1963). </ref><ref>David A. Bell, ''The Cult of the Nation in France: Inventing Nationalism, 1680-1800'', (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001). [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2005/is_1_37/ai_109668489]</ref>   

This transmutation of a love of God to a love of "the people" as being the basis for a social and political order spread across Europe and other parts of the world during the nineteenth century.  In Germany it became a recognition and conciousness of "''das volk''", later in Russia it was a dedication to the "''narodny''".  By the mid-nineteenth century, socialism as a doctrine sought to overthrow the existing order of society, the church and aristocracy, by promoting atheism and nationalism.  The basic tenet was to replace the individual's committment to love and serve God with the individual's committment to love and serve the collective society.

This transmutation of a love of God to a love of "the people" as being the basis for a social and political order spread across Europe and other parts of the world during the nineteenth century.  In Germany it became a recognition and conciousness of "''das volk''", later in Russia it was a dedication to the "''narodny''".  By the mid-nineteenth century, socialism as a doctrine sought to overthrow the existing order of society, the Church and aristocracy, by promoting atheism and nationalism.  The basic tenet was to replace the individual's committment to love and serve God with the individual's committment to love and serve the collective society.

Socialism has always been [[authoritarian]] from its beginnings. It began as a reaction against the [[classical liberalism]] of the French Revolution. The French writers who laid its foundation had no doubt that their ideas could be put into practice only by a strong dictatorial government. The first of modern planners, Henri de Saint-Simon, predicted those who did not obey his proposed [[economic plan]]ning boards would be ‘treated as cattle.’ <ref>[http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Friedrich A. Hayek, Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 39.</ref>

Socialism has always been [[authoritarian]] from its beginnings. It began as a reaction against the [[classical liberalism]] of the French Revolution. The French writers who laid its foundation had no doubt that their ideas could be put into practice only by a strong dictatorial government. The first of modern planners, Henri de Saint-Simon, predicted those who did not obey his proposed [[economic plan]]ning boards would be ‘treated as cattle.’ <ref>[http://www.iea.org.uk/files/upld-publication43pdf?.pdf ''Road to Serfdom'',] Friedrich A. Hayek, Reader's Digest Condensed Version, April 1945, pg. 39.</ref>

==Modern use==

==Modern use==

The left/right scale is a misleading way of comparing political systems. People use the left/right approach out of habit, but it leads to confusion. For example, [[fascism]] is often placed on the right and [[socialism]] on the left. Yet fascism is [[National Socialist German Workers Party|"National" Socialism]].  Indeed, the left/right scale is just an obsolete reference to the seating arrangement of the French Assembly in the 1790's.  <ref>[http://www.lairdwilcox.com/news/nolanchart.html Beyond Left/Right]

The left/right scale is a misleading way of comparing political systems. People use the left/right approach out of habit, but it leads to confusion. For example, [[Fascism]] is often placed on the right and [[socialism]] on the left. Yet Fascism is [[National Socialist German Workers Party|"National" Socialism]].  Indeed, the left/right scale is just an obsolete reference to the seating arrangement of the French Assembly in the 1790's.  <ref>[http://www.lairdwilcox.com/news/nolanchart.html Beyond Left/Right]

by [http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/marshall-fritz.html Marshall Fritz], 1987.  Retrieved from lairdwilcox.com 05/25/07. </ref>  In 1970, Denver advertising executive David Nolan invented the Nolan Chart to overcome the inherently illogical weakness of the outdated left/right political spectrum. <ref>[http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-faq.html#faq02 Why did the Advocates create the World's Smallest Political Quiz?] Retrieved from theadvocates.org 06/01/07.</ref>

by [http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/marshall-fritz.html Marshall Fritz], 1987.  Retrieved from lairdwilcox.com 05/25/07. </ref>  In 1970, Denver advertising executive David Nolan invented the Nolan Chart to overcome the inherently illogical weakness of the outdated left/right political spectrum. <ref>[http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-faq.html#faq02 Why did the Advocates create the World's Smallest Political Quiz?] Retrieved from theadvocates.org 06/01/07.</ref>

[[Image:Nolan-chart.svg|right|thumb|The Nolan Chart overcomes the weaknesses of the outdated left/right political spectrum.]]

[[Image:Nolan-chart.svg|right|thumb|The Nolan Chart overcomes the weaknesses of the outdated left/right political spectrum.]]

Centrists favor selective governmental intervention and temporary affiliations with others. They take a strong stance on few issues, prefering the middle position in most matters. Centrists emphasize practical solutions to current public issues.

Centrists favor selective governmental intervention and temporary affiliations with others. They take a strong stance on few issues, prefering the middle position in most matters. Centrists emphasize practical solutions to current public issues.

Furthermore, the old fashioned left-right model is fatally flawed. The model implies that if you "go too far" (i.e., are consistent) with any political idea, you end up, in some unexplicable way, at [[totalitarianism]] or anarchism, or maybe both. Pursue conservative thought to its logical extreme, according to this model, and you somehow end up at fascism, which is national socialism, or white supremacy or some other authoritarian position. If you pursue liberal thought too far, you supposedly end up at socialism or communism. This is inconsistent, and it ignores large philosophical differences between, liberalism and communism, and conservatism and fascism.

Furthermore, the old fashioned left-right model is fatally flawed. The model implies that if you "go too far" (i.e., are consistent) with any political idea, you end up, in some unexplicable way, at [[totalitarianism]] or anarchism, or maybe both. Pursue conservative thought to its logical extreme, according to this model, and you somehow end up at Fascism, which is national socialism, or white supremacy or some other authoritarian position. If you pursue liberal thought too far, you supposedly end up at socialism or communism. This is inconsistent, and it ignores large philosophical differences between, liberalism and communism, and conservatism and Fascism.

==Extreme polarization==

==Extreme polarization==