A convergence of myths plagues U.S. politics today, corrupting media conversations and deliberately misdirecting voters. Among them:
“Liberal is the opposite of conservative.”
“Conservative is right-wing, and liberal is left-wing.”
“Republicans are conservative. Democrats represent special interests.”
These myths serve a purpose: Protect corrupt incumbent special interests by dividing voter constituencies.
As the nation’s two incumbent political parties prepare this summer to crown the voters’ minimal choice of presidential candidates, let’s take a quick look at the abuse of our political language.
Actual Opposites |
|
LeftFavor an egalitarian society of equal rights and equal access |
RightFavor a hierarchical society in which rights are defined by social, religious, or economic class. |
LiberalFavor individual liberty |
AuthoritarianFavor restraint of the individual by church, business, or state. |
ConservativeFavor a current or previous status quo. |
ProgressiveFavor change from what has been to something new. |
Notice that it’s possible above to be both leftist and conservative (one who defends outdated social programs), or liberal and conservative (one who defends current individual freedoms from encroachment by authoritarians), or progressive and rightist (one who aggressively seeks to change society into a new system of privileged classes).
Now let’s glance at how these terms have been corrupted.
Misdefined Opposites |
|
LeftMisdefined as socialist |
ConservativeMisdefined as progressive capitalist and religious authoritarian |
LiberalMisdefined as libertine and lazy. |
RightMisdefined as pro-business and pro-tradition (having redefined tradition). |
AuthoritarianMisdefined as pro-freedom depending upon whether the authority belongs to one’s own military, corporate, religious, or secular class. |
|
ProgressiveMisdefined as a synonym for “left.” |
|
What impact does this corruption have upon political conversation — and upon voters at the polls?
Discuss :-)
The main result of this, as I see it, is to redefine liberals as something bad for society. Those of us who are liberal have allowed radical conservatives to define us this way. Liberal now is perceived as someone who taxes, spends, bloats government and creates deficits. Although Republicans have been doing these very things since Reagan. The problem for liberals (and gay Americans during anti-gay ballot measures) is that we do not frame the issue and define ourselves early enough and often enough. After militant conservatives (mis)define us, we are on the defense and usually lose. What this country really needs is another Party–one in the middle. One that is socially progressive and more fiscally conservative and one that refuses to take contributions from corporations or special interests so that it is only beholden to the people.
Socialism is a part of the left, it’s just a part that’s irrelevant to the modern American left. It seems to me it would be more accurate to say that liberals are misdefined as socialists by many on the right.