EXTREME LEFTISM. This is where the state has total authority. The state
makes most of the decisions. The extreme end of the left includes all
forms of totalitarianism. That means the old traditional forms
known as "monarchies" and the recent ones of Communism (communal
socialism) and Nazism (nationalized Socialism - did you know that
is what "Nazi" is an acronym for?). If you want the state to run
everything, then the individual does nothing significant and you
are an extreme leftist.
LIBERALISM.This is where the state runs many things in the country,
perhaps even owning some of industry. Liberalism has many, many
of the trappings of the extreme/totalitarian left, characterized
by faith in the state and power to the central government all at
the cost of freedom of the individual. Liberalism is typified
by the inability to face this reality while at the same time
always promoting it avidly.
CENTRISM. This is, as best I can express it, an area of confusion and
inconsistency, typified by having characteristics of both ends
of the spectrum. Confucius say: "He who tries to straddle both
sides of street often ends up in slippery middle."
CONSERVATISM. The first stop on the real right is typified by wanting
to promote many of the concepts of freedom of the individual
and lessening of the state's power over same. Yet the
traditional conservative still believes that government should
try to control things that are immoral even when this is
patently impossible, such as in the case of the new Prohibition
against drug use. This stance is defended as "moral," and I
would have to agree that it is moral.
LIBERTARIANISM. Home, sweet home. Libertarianism is as far right
as you can get without being an anarchist. Libertarians
advocate maximum individual freedom, initiative, and self
reliance. Which means absolutely minimalist central government.
Although, as I stated above, conservatism holds the
moral ground, I do not believe government either can or should
try to legislate morality in any way, shape, or form. The
last thing I want is some deranged politician (especially a
liberal, or worse) telling you or me how to behave as long as
we are not hurting others. A classic recent example of the
abject inability of government to legislate morality is the
recent left-wing push to embrace sexual deviance as "healthy"
or "normal," when, by no criterion except for their own self
promotion, can any such thing rationally be hypothesized. Just
leave me and every one else alone, OK? Cage felons and repel
foreign invaders and forget everything else. Don't even pay
remote lipservice to any of the dead manifestos of collectivists.
ANARCHISM. Anarchism is the farthest point on the scale of the
relationship of the individual to the state. Because anarchism
advocates all individual and no state whatsoever. No government,
no nothing. Zip. This is unrealistic for anyone who understands
human nature. Remember, Thomas Paine said, "That government
is best which governs least," not "which does not exist at all."
