Ok, here comes the circle idea, takin' it slow.
When we talk about politics whether its National, Local or even within Families, we tend to think of the spectrum of possible positions as existing somewhere on a line with liberals on the left and conservatives on the right, moderates in the middle. And we tend to think of ourselves a occupying a position (a specific point) somewhere on that line, right?
Let's start there and see if everyone basically agrees with that general construct.
And let's also add these two definitions.
lib·er·al·ism
n.
A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.
con·ser·va·tism
n.
A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.
We think of "moderates" as being somewhere in between the two poles, and "radicals" way out at the far ends, both left and right – the left and right "wings". I mantain that there is something seriously wrong with looking at things this way and that it leads to our not knowing where were really at politically sometimes.
After we discuss this a little, we'll get to the circle idea.
Let's start there and see if everyone basically agrees with that general construct.
And let's also add these two definitions.
lib·er·al·ism
n.
A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority.
con·ser·va·tism
n.
A political philosophy or attitude emphasizing respect for traditional institutions, distrust of government activism, and opposition to sudden change in the established order.
We think of "moderates" as being somewhere in between the two poles, and "radicals" way out at the far ends, both left and right – the left and right "wings". I mantain that there is something seriously wrong with looking at things this way and that it leads to our not knowing where were really at politically sometimes.
After we discuss this a little, we'll get to the circle idea.
posted by Bill Fleming at 4:32 PM
5 Comments:
Okay, but how about those of us who dance on the sword's edge, you know doing the right-left cha cha...right, left cha cha cha...humin'the dance...dancin the hum? Don't you think folks that hold steadfastly to one position do so, so as not to think? ...cha, cha, cha.
Well, yes and no, Ethunk.
But you're on to one of the key points.
Most people don't hold to a single point on the line, do they. They are liberal about some things, moderate on others, conservative, and even radical on others, right?
In other words, as you said, the curious, thinking person moves around on the line, and sometimes even off of it altogether, refusing to take any position whatsoever, either from apathy, confusion or (and here's the cool parts ) empathy and enlightenment.
More on this when we get to the circle.
Here's my thing...I really like the circle idea, and I also think that it's probably correct.
However, there's conservative, and then there's Republican. There's liberal, and then there's Democrat. There are conservative Democrats, and there are liberal Republicans. There are moderate Independents, and there are conservative Independents...etc...
Can we really only talk about conservative and liberal? Shouldn't our circle look more like the color wheel?
Or a rainbow? Yes, by all means.
You guys are good!
Let's see who else checks in on this before we move to the circle model. I think there will be some big surprises in store for us all.
When I first read about the circle idea in William Irwin Thompson's "The Edge of History" the lights really went on for me. It was an epiphany of sorts.
I really love Skogg's color wheel idea. It's the perfect visual model for what I want to discuss. Can we put one up on the Spave so we can talk about it? We'll get to discuss both color theory and politics under one topic. Very cool.
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