Changes

The '''political spectrum''' classifies some political positions as [[leftist]] or [[rightist]]. Politics on the 'right' usually favor of the traditional system of a society. Politics on the 'left' usually favor challenging the traditional system.  

The '''political spectrum''' is a method used to assign views to persons and groups which they do not hold. It is a method of pigeon-holing stereotypes.  

The left-right classification comes from the [[National Assembly]] in [[France]] just before the [[French Revolution]]. Members who supported political rights for all classes of society, would sit on the left side of the assembly hall in which they met.  Members who supported the monarchy, would sit towards the right. Those who had been offended by their own party would frequently stand up and walk over to the other side of the hall in order to make a political statement.

The left-right classification comes from the [[National Assembly]] in [[France]] just before the [[French Revolution]]. Members who supported political rights for all classes of society, would sit on the left side of the assembly hall in which they met.  Members who supported the monarchy, would sit towards the right. Those who had been offended by their own party would frequently stand up and walk over to the other side of the hall in order to make a political statement.

==Criticisms of a one-dimensional political spectrum==

==Criticisms of a one-dimensional political spectrum==

Many people reject a one-dimensional view of the political spectrum.

[[Libertarian]]s reject a one-dimensional view of the matter.

:"The old one-dimensional categories of 'right' and 'left', established for the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly of 1789, are overly simplistic for today's complex political landscape."  <ref>[http://www.politicalcompass.org/ The Political Compass] </ref>

:"The old one-dimensional categories of 'right' and 'left', established for the seating arrangement of the French National Assembly of 1789, are overly simplistic for today's complex political landscape."  <ref>[http://www.politicalcompass.org/ The Political Compass] </ref>

For example, [[libertarian]]s say that their point of view - advocating personal freedom in all its forms, as long as it does not conflict with the freedom of others, is '''not''' a left-wing or right-wing position. Advocating freedom sometimes leads them to take positions that are usually considered [[rightist | right-wing]] (for example, defending a worker's right not to join a labor union) but at other times leads them to take positions that are usually considered [[leftist | left-wing]] (for example, defending gay rights).

They say that their point of view - advocating personal freedom in all its forms, as long as it does not conflict with the freedom of others, is '''not''' a left-wing or right-wing position. Advocating freedom sometimes leads them to take positions that are usually considered [[rightist | right-wing]] (for example, defending a worker's right not to join a labor union) but at other times leads them to take positions that are usually considered [[leftist | left-wing]] (for example, defending gay rights).

==Notes==

==Notes==

* [[Democrat]]

* [[Democrat]]

[[Category:Politics]]

[[Category:Politics]]