The issue is Not Left vs. Right, but Democracy vs. Extremism
What is the “political left” that our current administration attacks vehemently and relentlessly? It is not a single entity of opposition to any current leader, nor does it describe any single political position. The “political left” describes a broad spectrum of ideologies that favor governmental reform in the general direction of more social equality. This political stance has historically, stood against hierarchy and privilege. This puts the “political left” in the crosshairs of the one-percent oligarchs who have grabbed control of our government. Are there some extremists on the “political left”? Certainly, just as we are finding extremists working their will on the “political right.” What is the “political right”? It is a broad spectrum of ideologies that would allow for less governmental regulation and accepts the status quo of social and economic class conditions as they currently exist. In their extreme states, both extremes tend toward authoritarian dictatorships.
The political terms “left” or “right” does not properly describe any enemy of a democratic society. Both, conservatives on the right, and liberals on the left, believe that government in, for, and by, the people can be effective. It is the small groups of extremists on both ends of the spectrum that are dangerous. Oddly, the main enemy of the “right” and “left” wing extremists are the responsible people in the middle, the liberals and conservatives who believe that democracy can work. If liberals and conservatives debate and compromise legislation the extremists are not able to gain their authoritarian agendas.
Rule of law, debate, compromise, fair voting… these become the enemy of the extremes on both ends of the spectrum. The extremes will grab any emotional issues they can to draw people to their extreme views. Cultural, racial, gender, and religious views are the battlefields of their competition. Issues relating to these areas of human concern draw people to more black and white views that are less capable of calm discussion and compromise agreement. The authoritarian playbook, left or right, is to empty the moderate middle and then do battle with their extreme opponents.
The concept of Truth is a casualty in our current atmosphere. Fair and rational media are enemies. Truth in any newsworthy form has to be discredited. All news has to be approached as false news unless it corresponds to one’s ideological position. If a reporter reports accurately, he or she needs to be discredited. People who are conservatives must be led to view, their natural allies, liberals, as enemies, and the same for liberal views of conservatives. Instead of these moderates seeing their common interest in maintaining democratic institutions they are invited to join the emotional mob congregating on the extremes of the political spectrum.
The “left” is an invention of the extreme right to attack liberal positions, just as the “right” is an invention of the left to attack conservatives. Democratic government operates in the center of the political spectrum. Both liberals and conservatives want the government to run well, and are willing to discuss and compromise to make that work. A political system can only survive when people of contesting views can debate and reach compromise solutions to the issues facing society. Extremists do not want politics to work. They are set on creating a system where only their ideas will be law, and they will express hatred and distrust of anyone who opposes them. When one designates political enemies of being “left” or “right” they are in essence, attacking democratic government. Extremists love that, because they can manipulate that distrust and hatred to rule according to their own profit and will for power.
Conservatives and liberals are centrists. They believe in government through debate and compromise believing that wisdom lies in slow and incremental change. They believe in rule of law based on the Constitution and that a well functioning government that does not segment the population into favored and disfavored segments. They also believe that citizens are equal before the law and governmental regulations, regardless of wealth status, race, gender, or ethnicity. Extremists, whether “left” or “right,” despise the democratic actions of moderate citizens who insist on discussing issues, respect for each other, as well as the legal framework and processes of government. In other words, the issue of our current system is not of “left”versus ”right,” but of extremists (“right” and “left”) versus the moderate center.
Rick Lohr, formerly of Marathon City, is a retired history teacher and former owner and manager of Pine Valley Golf Course. He has been retired for over 20 years but has given about 650 talks to schools, service groups and senior centers related to the 45 counties he has traveled to.
