The Lib Dem conference is prompting talk of whether the party should move left or right. Which raises the question: what exactly do these terms mean? What does, say, Roger Scruton have in common with anarcho-capitalists - to the exclusion of others - that allow us to describe both as "right wing"? What unites George Galloway and Harry's Place that allow them to be called "left wing"?
As far as I can make out, the following definitions work for British politics:
Left: Economic illiterates who believe the state should provide jobs for all middle-class unemployables.
Right: People who believe life should be a lottery, with biased odds and no escape or insurance.
Centre: Power-worshipping opportunists.
Extremists: Anyone BBC journalists don't like.
Modernisers: Believers in Leninist theories of historical determinism, but without Lenin's humanity.
hmm. I think I'll pick "power worshiping opportunists" please Bob.
At least there's some sort of rationale that should keep them *ahem* honest, after a fashion.
Posted by: Paddy Carter | September 21, 2005 at 01:12 PM
Except that these days the power worshipping opportunists regard it as a badge of honour to be seen as believers in Leninist theories of historical determinism, but without Lenin's humanity. I suppose there's some sort of crazed consistency there.
It is perhaps time to close the book on a terminology which dates from the French revolution and which allowed Clemenceau to describe himself as a man of the left. Perhaps politics should follow quantum theory in adopting terms which are deliberately meaningless in context, like "colour" and "charm", but not, I think, "spin".
Posted by: chris | September 22, 2005 at 11:13 AM
A very apt way to define them... for if the ardent 'lefties' and 'righties' aren't defined by their hatred of the other, what are they defined by?
Posted by: Paul Davies | September 22, 2005 at 11:54 AM