Will The Far Left And Far Right Ever Learn?
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by Neil Bamforth
There are politics of all kinds around the globe. Primarily, in the western democracies, centre left or centre right politics generally prevail although it has to be said, there seems to be a schism of sorts widening between the centre left and centre right. Both are moving inexorably further to the left or right and this is clearly a bad thing.
You see, whilst those on the centre left disagreed with many policies of the centre right and visa versa there was always some common ground.
This ‘common ground’ tended to prevent any serious lurches too far either to the left or right. This was a very good thing. Compromise was always possible and, ultimately, if the electorate decided they had had enough of centre left they merely voted in a centre right party and, frankly, little of any real consequence changed.
The status quo can sometimes be better than sudden and more extreme changes.
Of late the centre ground is increasingly empty as, almost en masse, western politics shifts into more extreme climates.
In America the centre left policies of Obama, whilst not exactly setting the world on fire (and we are eternally grateful they didn’t in one way) didn’t actually do anyone much harm.
Read: The United Kingdom of Great Britain And Northern Ireland, A One-Party State
Now America has elected a maverick who, if he leans anywhere, leans very much towards the political right. Quite how far he leans that way remains to be seen but the worry is he may actually lean extremely that way. Hopefully not but it is a worry is it not?
In Britain, the far right have risen to the point where the centre right are trying to copy them to keep them at bay. The result, of curse, is that the centre right ultimately lurch further to the right nearer the extreme version.
Equally the centre left in Britain have clearly lurched to a more extreme left.
A similar scenario seems to be playing out in France. We will have to see how far it plays over the coming weeks and months.
In Britain however, the lurches right and left are leaving a vacuum. At the moment the Conservatives, traditionally centre right, are not being quite perceived as moving too far to the right albeit they may well be. The centre left, n the other hand, have clearly moved almost so far to the left the may drop off the edge shortly.
As a result the Conservatives are likely to win the upcoming general election easily.
You see, by nature, Britain and, I believe, much of the west are instinctively politically centre right with certain centre left tendencies. Alternatively perhaps centre left with centre right tendencies. Take your pick. Either is fine.
It probably depends on the subject matter whether people are left or right but, generally, they may disagree but not so badly there is no room for discussion or compromise.
There is a balance in the thought processes of the west. If you are centre left you can at least understand some of the views of the centre right and the reverse is true.
More lately, as political parties and, indeed, the populace seem to be drifting ever further apart as the left becomes ‘hard’ left and the right becomes ‘far’ right we are heading for some pretty sizeable rocks.
Of course there are, and have always been, those who do believe in ‘far left’ or ‘far right’ views. In the west they have generally been dismissed quite rightly as politically unhinged and irrelevant as, indeed, they were.
Now, sadly, they are no longer irrelevant. Now, sadly, they are becoming the mainstream.
We are becoming, in the west, an extreme version of what we once believed we were.
Obviously we are not extreme in the sense of terrorism but for how long will that hold true?
I worry for the future of western democracy. I worry if there will be such a thing – perhaps even in my lifetime the way things are going.
Could it really be that the lunatics have actually taken over the asylum?
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You never give up Neil, and I wish you would. I’d love to learn more about lovely England. I was raised there as a child and I miss it. I know about politics, but not England so much anymore.
Consider it done x
It’s politics. No one ever learns, including those who lean to the extremes. Historically, the Right side of the spectrum is the worst paradigm for the people, while the Left is the best. Of course that assumes you want to protect the environment, make sure people have health care, and etc. If you don’t then you are a member of the Far Right.