David Conner
Center for Rural Studies
207 Morrill Hall, UVM
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-3021
FAX: (802) 656-0776
dconner@moose.uvm.edu
On Thu, 16 May 1996 willi_r@mail.uwlax.edu wrote:
> Mr. William Blake had stated:
> >
> >1) Yes, right-of-center suppositions are detrimental in and of
> >themselves. They derive from beliefs about human worth vs. state power,
> >and the conclusions demonstrate these beliefs. Not that "left-wing"
> >viewpoints are _necessarily_ good alternatives, but many or most of them
> >are.
> >
> Wow, that has to be the most extreme statement that I think I have probably
> seen printed anywhere in a long time. I wonder if Mr. Blake understands the
> concept of right vs. left? As a former leftist myself, I have to completely
> disagree most strongly. The main reason I parted company with the left was
> that I finally realized how detrimental the group solution was by a
> centralized power. That is the basic concept of left thinking. (Sure they
> put it under the guise of the little guy and belittle right wing views as
> for the big corps etc.) Right wing tends toward less centralized control
> especially as you go extreme right toward the libertarians. It specially
> stresses economic freedom (which is the basic freedom without which all
> other freedoms are moot) and the idea that the worth of the individual is
> more important than the centralized state.
>
> It is primarily left wing thinking and action (politics) that have led the
> U.S. and other nations to its current situation. Not completely, of course,
> but a definite trend or direction put in motion. Hey does this mean right
> wingers have all the answers. Probably not. It is a balancing act. If you
> let right wing tendencies to go too far, human nature is always ready to
> take advantage of the situation and attempt to squelch those who disagree
> and you wind up with totalitarian situations. But do not be deceived by the
> left either. The same thing happens when you go too far and you lose all
> freedom too. Fascism and Communism are basically the same thing (remember
> the grand Alliance of Germany and Russia -- but it didnt last). They dont
> call Nazism NATIONALIST SOCIALIST for no reason:)
>
> Most people are more middle of the road. They dont think left and right but
> tend toward pragmatism. And yes, they are swayed back and forth depending on
> the times and what they perceive is their own self-interest.
>
> Richard K. "Rick" Williams
> Internet Address: willi_r@mail.uwlax.edu