Can someone please explain what right wing and left wing means in politics?

[theholygideons]

They'd probably decide to have more than one. 

or electronically...
but if China were a democracy, you'd have factions arising, and then the whole country would burst into flames. Whereas, since it's socialist, everyone just keeps quiet and moves on with their lives.

[malaguena]

Tea? I prefer coffee.

Best,

Alistair

Mmm, I prefer coffee too. It was the only thing left to drink after they dumped the tea overboard.

[malaguena]

"The Tea Party is also associated with some other aspects that have little correlation with political principles:  they despise intelligence, education, and scholarship.  They are, however, determinedly pro-God!"

I can certainly say I do not despise intelligence, education, and scholarship. The only way to a stable life is through intelligence, education, and scholarship. I can definitely say that my considerable amount of friends who mostly have strong tea-party leanings most certainly do not despise education. In fact, many of them are extremely highly educated, and are heading for high goals they've set in their lives. There is no real evidence to your claim.


You may notice I indicated I didn't agree with liberals and democrats; but my disagreement with their political beliefs did not bring me to a level on which I would insult them.

[j_menz]

Can anyone else hear "Tea Party" and not think...

[timothy42b]

"The Tea Party is also associated with some other aspects that have little correlation with political principles:  they despise intelligence, education, and scholarship.  They are, however, determinedly pro-God!"
 There is no real evidence to your claim.


You may notice I indicated I didn't agree with liberals and democrats; but my disagreement with their political beliefs did not bring me to a level on which I would insult them.

Your hero is Sarah Palin.

I rest my case.

[iansinclair]

Your hero is Sarah Palin.

I rest my case.

Timothy -- please do not resort to insulting folks who don't agree with you; it is unbecoming.  I cannot speak for Malaguena, of course, but my "hero" -- if I had to pick one historical or current figure, and only one historical or current figure, to be an example to follow -- it would probably be Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perce nation.

There is no current political leader on the world stage who comes even close.

In the United States, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, assuming that all those who identify more or less closely with this political party or that think alike is both foolish -- and very dangerous.

[timothy42b]

In the United States, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, assuming that all those who identify more or less closely with this political party or that think alike is both foolish -- and very dangerous.

The Tea Party in the US has a fuzzily defined political agenda, and a reputation for, as I said earlier, having a disdain for intelligence, scholarship, and education.

And Sarah Palin IS their shining example of an intellectual giant. 

Now, you can tell me that any particular member or adherent does not fit into that category, and I'll cheerfully agree with you. 

But the general reputation is deserved.  Even the conservative end of the Republican party is dismayed by the antics of the Tea Party.

And to deny that the reputation exists (not whether it's justified, but whether it exists, as is happening now) is an example of the level of integrity of many Tea Partyers. 

Perhaps nobody here will fit the denier camp, but certainly the Tea Party as a whole are global warming deniers, evolution deniers, and who knows?  maybe holocaust deniers?

[timothy42b]

Forgot to mention - hope this isn't adding insult to injury!

In my part of the US, Tea Partyers are also birthers.

Yep.  94% of the Tea Party believes the US President is not actually a US citizen, having forged his birth certificate, and shouldn't be in office; they also believe he is Muslim rather than the Christian he claims to be. 

You can't make this stuff up. 

[j_menz]

You can't make this stuff up. 

I thought Fox did.....

[timothy42b]

I thought Fox did.....

The spokespersons for the Tea Party are Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachman, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck

It may just be an accident they all hang out on Fox

[j_menz]

It may just be an accident they all hang out on Fox

Rupie's not too keen on accidents.

[malaguena]

Forgot to mention - hope this isn't adding insult to injury!

In my part of the US, Tea Partyers are also birthers.

Yep.  94% of the Tea Party believes the US President is not actually a US citizen, having forged his birth certificate, and shouldn't be in office; they also believe he is Muslim rather than the Christian he claims to be. 

You can't make this stuff up. 

In fact, my hero is not Sarah Palin. If I had a presently-living American hero it would be people like Sean Hannity, Ted Cruz, Rush Limbaugh, Rand Paul, Rick Perry or Mark Levin.

I will not deny "birthers", and that many believe, or would like to believe that Obama is not a citizen. I do not believe this, however, nor do any of my 200+ conservative friends.

No, it's not adding insult to injury, especially when I didn't feel insulted or injured in the first place. I usually just feel badly for people who feel like they have to insult others to get their point across.

[timothy42b]

In fact, my hero is not Sarah Palin. If I had a presently-living American hero it would be people like Sean Hannity, Ted Cruz, Rush Limbaugh, Rand Paul, Rick Perry or Mark Levin.

Actually I have a bit more sympathy for Sarah, who after all is not that bright, than for those others you mention.

The biggest incongruity for me is that they profess Christian values, but everything they espouse, and in particular the nasty way they enjoy saying it, seems a direct contradiction to everything Jesus stood for. 

[j_menz]

Sarah, who after all is not that bright

Congratulations!

[malaguena]

The biggest incongruity for me is that they profess Christian values, but everything they espouse, and in particular the nasty way they enjoy saying it, seems a direct contradiction to everything Jesus stood for. 

Yes, I will agree with you on that. There are those who express certain values, yet do not live up to them. But there are people such as that in every political party; it's not just limited to one. I have seen many liberals and democrats become extremely nasty in political debates, as well as conservatives. It is entirely possible to discuss politics without becoming insulting or demeaning. I believe when all someone can do is throw insults, rather than refuting the facts, they have already begun to lose, whether right wing, or left wing.