By: Richard T. Hill
Just what are fighting over these days? Not many would argue that in the USA, we're a nation divided. Sometimes into so many different factions that we've forgotten how to define our terms. To complicate matters, these terms change over time. There are many ways to look at the myriad of differences.
One interpretation of Left and Right wing goes like this. The Left could be defined as state imposed equality. This would be applied to Communist and Socialist authoritarian regimes like the old Soviet Union and today's Cuba. The Right could then be distinguished as state imposed inequality. Most definitions I've researched are as such: "The primary example of far right then would be racist regimes like apartheid South Africa or Nazi Germany. Also, any regime in which power is concentrated in one small group by heritage or military might..."
This quickly falls apart under scrutiny however. The Soviet Union and all communist governments were military dictatorships which had a small ruling elite which lived very well and much of the rest of population was systematically starved to death. South Africa was not run by generals; they had strict limitations on voting rights but there was voting. Nazis were socialists who were looking to equalize the economic disparities of the post-WWI years. Karl Marx, founder of communism and leftist icon, hated Jews with a passion and wrote about it often. It all gets very murky very quickly.
Today in America, it's even murkier. Right wing is supposed to mean conservative and conservatives are supposed to be opposed to change. But the culture has been decidedly non-traditional and "counter-cultural" for at least 50 years. People who are looking to, at least, maintain the status quo of liberal accomplishments would call themselves Leftists. They are also quite vigilant about any change to liberal progress made since the New Deal, an important landmark to those who consider themselves Leftists. In the last presidential election, the mantra was CHANGE but that was never clearly defined and remains to be. Also, racism seems to always be associated with the Right among leftists one can easily point to examples of racism vs. Blacks by Hispanics, vs. Hispanics by Blacks, vs. Asians by Blacks and Hispanics, vs. Blacks by Jews, vs. Whites by Blacks, Hispanics, Jews, etc. You get the picture. One can't even look to war as a way to tell the difference.
When one examines the Right wing in America, there is even more confusion. Since they can't carry the racism banner exclusively, if one doesn't defined themselves as a Leftist, there is a hodge-podge of various issues that gets painted as Right Wing. Half Rightists believe in open borders and no restrictions on immigration, mainly so employers can hire cheap labor. That's not exactly racist, especially considering that whites are the ones being displaced. Many people who call themselves conservatives constantly call for smaller, more limited government and non-intervention in foreign affairs. There are only a handful of Congressmen in office today from both parties that meet this qualification. Besides, this approach, if adopted would represent radical change and not the conservation of anything existing today. There are Southern Republicans who make it a point to praise Martin Luther King at every opportunity. When was the last time Jesse Jackson praised Thomas Jefferson?
This is simply a note and not a thesis with references. Suffice it to say that there is much confusion regarding how we define what we believe. It is my belief that this confusion is encouraged by those who have an interest in maintaining the growing power of the federal government. There is an axis which is rarely spoke of and I believe that it is purposeful. The axis of Control vs Freedom. I'm not advocating anarchy but I believe that we have been speeding ever faster down the axis of control while fighting over which wing holds power. It is my hope, that as the century goes on, we will give greater emphasis on side of freedom vs. control.
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