Historically, the far left was the no government end. The progressives and socialists have created a double victory by: 1, placing communism and fascism at opposite ends, and 2, convincing everyone that classic liberalism is right wing.
Also, the fact that it's a representative democracy vs. direct democracy is pretty much irrelevant as long as it's a constitutional form of government. Of course, direct democracy is impracticable, but you could still have a constitutional direct democracy form of government (in theory). In this end, this democracy vs. republic thing is silly. What do you think it's called when you go vote for your Congressperson?
While I think overall thoughtful, there are a couple problems with this video:
1) Nazisms and Fascists are generally regarded as rightest by scholars. To poh-poh that seems to be a blatant attempt to paint liberalism as always dictatorial while painting conservatism as always libertarian (something which isn't necessarily the case).
2) While we do have a republic, it is still a democratic republic. Plenty of things can still be done via majority rule, albeit indirectly via Congress
@fleetadmiralj Nazism is in no way right wing, there official name is actually the Socialist party, they were extremely socialist, even though they killed communists, it was all a big mess of politics, kind of like what we have today
@eatontherun It was an aspiring dictator. A psychopath, if you will. One of the keys to freedom is to recognize these pyscho/sociopaths from their easily recognizable patterns of behavior - all of which lack empathy for the suffering they inflict. That's why psychopaths make great lawyers, stock brokers, bankers, and politicians. We are top heavy with them right now. The Founding Fathers feared this moment would come, as pointed out by Ben Franklin at the beginning of the video.
This video makes some egregious and glaring historical and terminological errors.
Firstly, the United States is indeed a Constitutional Republic. But what exactly is a "Republic"?
According to Wikipedia:
"James Madison defined Republic in terms of representative Democracy as opposed to direct Democracy."
And also:
"Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to either autocracy or direct democracy."
Secondly, the terms of "Left" and "Right" are also confused in this video.
Again, according to Wikipedia:
"In politics, left-wing, leftist and the Left are generally used to describe support for social change with a view towards creating a more egalitarian (a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have the same political, economic, social, and civil rights) society."
"In politics, right-wing and the Right are generally used to describe support for social stratification (the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society), the preservation of social order, and upholding traditional values."
The impression that Left = more government power and that Right = less is incorrect. Left = social equality and Right = social stratification.
Both Left and Right forms of government can lead to Tyranny ~ Naziism is historically considered extreme right-wing in the sense that it was a party-controlled State, where the "Supreme Race", i.e. the best fit, were entitled to rule, the exact opposite idea of social equality. Their ideologies had nothing to do with social equalization. Communism, under the banner of a "people's party", can lead to individuals in governmental roles abusing and misrepresenting the voice of the people.
So although our founding fathers were against the idea of a Pure Democracy, they were clearly in favor of a Representative Democracy. And "Left" vs. "Right" has nothing to do with the degree of governmental power ~ it has everything to do with Social Equality vs. Social Stratification.
We live in a democratic republic. When the people vote in elections, that is the democratic process. When they elect representatives, that forms a republic. You can't leave out the democracy part without discrediting yourself.
And where do the anarchists in this video get their money? From the other oligarchs who want ever more control. Ooh, look how scary it is when we're not in control! Yes, that would be scary if you weren't controlling the violent rebellion and supplying hungry young men with weapons and food.
No anarchists I know have ever suggested a world without law. The smart ones suggest that you can have law and order without the state forcing you to have their version.
Historically, the far left was the no government end. The progressives and socialists have created a double victory by: 1, placing communism and fascism at opposite ends, and 2, convincing everyone that classic liberalism is right wing.
AynRKey 9 months ago
Also, the fact that it's a representative democracy vs. direct democracy is pretty much irrelevant as long as it's a constitutional form of government. Of course, direct democracy is impracticable, but you could still have a constitutional direct democracy form of government (in theory). In this end, this democracy vs. republic thing is silly. What do you think it's called when you go vote for your Congressperson?
fleetadmiralj 1 year ago
While I think overall thoughtful, there are a couple problems with this video:
1) Nazisms and Fascists are generally regarded as rightest by scholars. To poh-poh that seems to be a blatant attempt to paint liberalism as always dictatorial while painting conservatism as always libertarian (something which isn't necessarily the case).
2) While we do have a republic, it is still a democratic republic. Plenty of things can still be done via majority rule, albeit indirectly via Congress
fleetadmiralj 1 year ago
@fleetadmiralj Nazism is in no way right wing, there official name is actually the Socialist party, they were extremely socialist, even though they killed communists, it was all a big mess of politics, kind of like what we have today
fender3207 8 months ago
One missed the like button.
eatontherun 1 year ago 2
@eatontherun It was an aspiring dictator. A psychopath, if you will. One of the keys to freedom is to recognize these pyscho/sociopaths from their easily recognizable patterns of behavior - all of which lack empathy for the suffering they inflict. That's why psychopaths make great lawyers, stock brokers, bankers, and politicians. We are top heavy with them right now. The Founding Fathers feared this moment would come, as pointed out by Ben Franklin at the beginning of the video.
redmolotail 1 year ago
Good summary, concise and to the point. Thanks for the video.
KerryLAdams 1 year ago
This video makes some egregious and glaring historical and terminological errors.
Firstly, the United States is indeed a Constitutional Republic. But what exactly is a "Republic"?
According to Wikipedia:
"James Madison defined Republic in terms of representative Democracy as opposed to direct Democracy."
And also:
"Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to either autocracy or direct democracy."
TheCuriousCreature 1 year ago
A Republic is, in fact, a form of Democracy.
Secondly, the terms of "Left" and "Right" are also confused in this video.
Again, according to Wikipedia:
"In politics, left-wing, leftist and the Left are generally used to describe support for social change with a view towards creating a more egalitarian (a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have the same political, economic, social, and civil rights) society."
TheCuriousCreature 1 year ago
And also:
"In politics, right-wing and the Right are generally used to describe support for social stratification (the hierarchical arrangement of individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society), the preservation of social order, and upholding traditional values."
The impression that Left = more government power and that Right = less is incorrect. Left = social equality and Right = social stratification.
TheCuriousCreature 1 year ago
Both Left and Right forms of government can lead to Tyranny ~ Naziism is historically considered extreme right-wing in the sense that it was a party-controlled State, where the "Supreme Race", i.e. the best fit, were entitled to rule, the exact opposite idea of social equality. Their ideologies had nothing to do with social equalization. Communism, under the banner of a "people's party", can lead to individuals in governmental roles abusing and misrepresenting the voice of the people.
TheCuriousCreature 1 year ago
So although our founding fathers were against the idea of a Pure Democracy, they were clearly in favor of a Representative Democracy. And "Left" vs. "Right" has nothing to do with the degree of governmental power ~ it has everything to do with Social Equality vs. Social Stratification.
TheCuriousCreature 1 year ago
@katnisseverdeenable: you express your ignorance magnificantly. Keep up the sand-headedness, sheeple-person.
karlplds 1 year ago
We live in a democratic republic. When the people vote in elections, that is the democratic process. When they elect representatives, that forms a republic. You can't leave out the democracy part without discrediting yourself.
KatnissEverdeenable 1 year ago
And where do the anarchists in this video get their money? From the other oligarchs who want ever more control. Ooh, look how scary it is when we're not in control! Yes, that would be scary if you weren't controlling the violent rebellion and supplying hungry young men with weapons and food.
No anarchists I know have ever suggested a world without law. The smart ones suggest that you can have law and order without the state forcing you to have their version.
KatnissEverdeenable 1 year ago
America is not a democracy.
It is a Republic.
Thanks for this video.
ryanthomastew 1 year ago