Left-Wingers - Idealists or Hypocrites?

[JohnRich 4]

New book: "Do As I Say (Not As I Do)"

LEFT-WINGERS - IDEALISTS OR HYPOCRITES?

Michael Moore is heavily invested in Halliburton. Ralph Nader lives in luxury houses and condos owned by his relatives. Noam Chomsky makes most of his income from the U.S. military. Rep. Nancy Pelosi is co-owner of several strictly non-union businesses. … And more gun control advocates than can easily be counted either own guns or hire armed bodyguards.

Peter Schweizer's new book, "Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy," reveals all this and more. The vignettes may be worth the price of admission. Schweizer follows up his previous exposes... with a scathing analysis of those on the Democrat-left side of the debate. But this latest work is not just a book of "gotcha" journalism. According to Schweizer, the examples of "liberal hypocrisy are of central importance in evaluating the validity and usefulness of liberal ideas."

Schweizer cites his methodology and conclusion this way: "Using IRS records, court depositions, news reports, financial disclosures and personal statements, I sought to answer a particular question: Do these liberal leaders and activists practice what they preach?

What I found was a stunning record of open and shameless hypocrisy. Those who champion the cause of organized labor had developed various methods to avoid paying union wages or shunned unions altogether. Those who believe that the rich need to pay more in taxes proved especially adept at avoiding taxes themselves. Critics of capitalism and corporate enterprise frequently invested in the very companies they denounced. Those who espouse strict environmental regulations worked vigorously to sidestep them when it came to their own businesses and properties. Those who advocate steep inheritance taxes to promote fairer income distribution hid their investments in trusts or exotic overseas locales to reduce their own tax liability.

And he continues, "Those who are strong proponents of affirmative action rarely practiced it themselves, and some had abysmal records when it came to hiring minorities. Those who proclaim themselves champions of civil liberties when it comes to criminal or terrorist cases went to extraordinary lengths to curtail the civil liberties of others when they felt threatened or just inconvenienced. Advocates of gun control had no problem making sure that an arsenal of weapons was available to protect them from dangerous criminals."

Source: http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=1745

[rehmwa 2]

I'll ask you though, how many self proclaimed left wingers here really want to be put in the same category as Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, Nancy Pelosi or Noam Chomsky or Rosie O'Donnell or Sean Penn, etc. I doubt many would even want to be in the same rooms.

This is no better than Amazon claiming that all right wingers were carbon copies of televangelists.

It's unfair to characterize a group by it's extreme zealots. That way lies madness

Rough stereotyping of one side or the other might make good sales of a book, but doesn't foster good conversation in such a 'classy' place as speaker's corner. (oh, wait,... nevermind)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[shropshire 0]

Hi Peeps,

I'm sure that I'm not the only one (but I could be).... But when peeps on here try to argue Left .vs. Right wing...... what are they actually comparing it too?.... Where's your middle ground.

Because, from my (UK perspective) most American politics are Well Right of our center. (apart from that twat Blair, who is s'posed to be a Labour politician, left winger and recently appears to be futher right than Genghis Khan)

Gives us a politics for dummies, American style......
please.

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[wmw999 2,600]

Bwahahaha!!!!!!!

Who answers you will determine what is "right" and what is "left" and what is "center." Each of us has our own little road, and we think it's the only one.

I'm probably not the best person, but I can assure you that here I'm considered left of center. Also remember that the loudest people are the ones who seem to be picked to exemplify a position -- moderation has no reward in publicity.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[markd_nscr986 0]

Extreme left...........Mis-guided Hypocrites

Moderate left ..........Mis-guided Idealists

A little left of center......Wannabe Libertarians

Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004

[shropshire 0]

Bugger... caught out by the first post .... You really are a star I.L.Y

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[billvon 3,132]

>But when peeps on here try to argue Left .vs. Right wing...... what
>are they actually comparing it too?.... Where's your middle ground.

Right wingers consider the left wing to be made up of Michael Moore and Matt Damon, with the center being made up of reasonable right wingers. Left wingers consider the right wing to be made up of Pat Robertson, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh, with the center being made up of more reasonable left wingers. Pretty straightforward.

The so-called 'middle ground' doesn't really care much, and finds both extremes pretty silly. They are not so much a point along a scale as they are apolitical.

[shropshire 0]

Thanks Bill.

But you know, the most telling thing that I get from your response (and I mean no disrepect), is that I guess that all of the people that you mentioned are, well, American..... Fair enough, but a touch insular....
On a globally political stage (for other readers, there is one!!) - there are other options and opinions.

I'm trying to be careful (but not too much) not to Troll... but, in general do people tend to get all of the news from one source/station/Agency or are people prepared to look around?

PAX.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[wmw999 2,600]

To be fair, you did ask for American style . That would mean Americans, right?
And I don't get all of my news from the US press; I also take the Economist, but I only look at the pictures .

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[shropshire 0]

Fair comment - thanks. - Pictures are good

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[billvon 3,132]

>is that I guess that all of the people that you mentioned are, well, American . . .

Quite true. I agree with your assessment, though, that on the political spectrum, the people I've met in Europe have tended to be more left-leaning, from the UK to Italy. Hong Kong tends to be more left-leaning as well in my experience. As for Africa and China, I couldn't get enough of a feel to be able to tell. Which probably has to do with the culture difference getting in the way, given that China is officially as left as they come.

[shropshire 0]

I have to agree and (although no definitive) posts here would support that... Europeans posting here tend to be further left than their American friends (not exclusively, but in the main).

Also, I cannt speak for China or Africa as I dont know anyone their.

Thanks,

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Amazon 7]

Quote

This is no better than Amazon claiming that all right wingers were carbon copies of televangelists.

I would love for you to find where I ever said that. I find what constitues most Conservative movement these days to Ultra Right handies.....and to be anywhere to the left of their positions they consider to be evil liberals and left wing.. when in point of fact they have no use for the middle ground and are themselves somehere to the right of the boys in Germany circa 1933.
Find a current issue that this administration supports.... preemptive strikes on any country supporting " terrorists" ( lets cook the intelligence to make it look like they are there) to following in goose step with anything the administration says or you are unpatriotic to the provisions of the patriot act and you will find that the road has been travelled before in the not so distant past.

And by the way.. since MOST Televangelists have an open door policy at the Oval Office... I do think they have FAR too much influence there.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

This is no better than Amazon claiming that all right wingers were carbon copies of televangelists.

If you cherry pick, you can easily fill a book of examples of right wing family values politicians caught cheating on their wives, sometimes with other men.

(Which was your point, I think.)

[lawrocket 3]

It's a pretty common thing for all political or social backgrounds. What causes this? People are concerned that others may be acting just like they are. Why does that girlfriend accuse you of cheating? Because that's what she'd be doing if in your position.

The religious right talks about sex and immorality. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Baker are a couple of good examples. Why? Because, dang it, sex and immorality are on their minds so much.

The left are the greedy ones. Those ones, like the Ted Kennedys and Barbara Boxers will speak out against their kind, because nobody should be able to get away with what they get away with. Well, nobody else.

It's not an uncommon thing at all.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[TheAnvil 0]

I too read The Economist. Excellent magazine.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[rickjump1 0]

Quote

Because, from my (UK perspective) most American politics are Well Right of our center. (apart from that twat Blair, who is s'posed to be a Labour politician, left winger and recently appears to be futher right than Genghis Khan)

Gives us a politics for dummies, American style......
please.

.

A lot of the Brits I met overseas were former labor party types who became quite conservative once they started making big bucks. One friend, who claimed to be a communist in her misguided youth, tried to explain the difference between the labor and conservaive party: a labor member sees a man driving a new Rolls and thinks it's not fair and tries to figure a way to take it away from the lucky driver; the conservative member also seeing the new Rolls just day dreams about working hard so he can someday buy one. Is this close.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[sinker 0]

Quote

I too read The Economist. Excellent magazine.

Do you have any idea how many members of the controversial Catholic group "Opus Dei" read The Economist?

...most that I've met...

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

I find what constitues most Conservative movement these days to Ultra Right handies.....and to be anywhere to the left of their positions they consider to be evil liberals and left wing.. when in point of fact they have no use for the middle ground and are themselves somehere to the right of the boys in Germany circa 1933.

WOW, so all conservatives all NAZI's?

I am guessing, but I think you must lean left.

[mikkey 0]

Quote

>is that I guess that all of the people that you mentioned are, well, American . . .

Quite true. I agree with your assessment, though, that on the political spectrum, the people I've met in Europe have tended to be more left-leaning, from the UK to Italy. Hong Kong tends to be more left-leaning as well in my experience. As for Africa and China, I couldn't get enough of a feel to be able to tell. Which probably has to do with the culture difference getting in the way, given that China is officially as left as they come.

The key issue is the difference in fundamental values between cultures and societies. Values formed within families and schools.

I find that the basic “values” are more “conservative” in the US and more “liberal” in e.g. Europe. Lots of reasons for that. So somebody people would call a “liberal” in the US would probably be classified a “middle” person in many other countries. There is also a big difference between being to the right or left in economic policy terms and in “social” terms. I find that non-American politicians in general are far more “left/progressive” on social issues while in economic terms the differences are not as big.

---------------------------------------------------------
When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

[kallend 2,175]

Quote

Quote

Because, from my (UK perspective) most American politics are Well Right of our center. (apart from that twat Blair, who is s'posed to be a Labour politician, left winger and recently appears to be futher right than Genghis Khan)

Gives us a politics for dummies, American style......
please.

.

A lot of the Brits I met overseas were former labor party types who became quite conservative once they started making big bucks. One friend, who claimed to be a communist in her misguided youth, tried to explain the difference between the labor and conservaive party: a labor member sees a man driving a new Rolls and thinks it's not fair and tries to figure a way to take it away from the lucky driver; the conservative member also seeing the new Rolls just day dreams about working hard so he can someday buy one. Is this close.

When I was a poor student in the UK I joined the Conservative Party. I am, in fact, a life member.

As I got older and much better off (and wiser) I became much more liberal in outlook (liberal in the original sense).

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[likearock 2]

Quote

I'm sure that I'm not the only one (but I could be).... But when peeps on here try to argue Left .vs. Right wing...... what are they actually comparing it too?.... Where's your middle ground.

Here's a good test: if you like Bush and hate Clinton, you're right wing; if you like Clinton and hate Bush, you're left wing; if you like both of them at times and hate both at times, then and only then are you really in the middle.

Then again if you hate them both, run for president yourself, whiner!

[Amazon 7]

Quote

WOW, so all conservatives all NAZI's?

Nope not NAZI's... I mean they are to the right of the crap that the facists in Europe in the 1930's pulled... and the outcome of that... yup you guessed it ......WAR.

The boys in the 1930's would have LOVED the Patriot Act..I guess in 10 years there will be a dossier on everyone in this country similar to the ones the East Germans kept on people up till the fall of the wall.

Ben Franklin warned about this crap... .. those who give up thier personal liberty for security deserve neither.

[mr2mk1g 10]

I think its important to distinguish between the UK though and the rest of Europe. The UK is way way right wing by comparison to the rest of Europe. France is way way left wing by comparison to the rest of Europe. The comforting thing recently is that the majority of Europe seems to be wanting to follow the lead of the UK.

Theres a big internal struggle in the EU at the moment between the Anglo-Saxon capitalist model and the French socialist model. The Anglo-Saxon model is winning quite significantly.

[mr2mk1g 10]

If I could pick countries to represent the US political spectrum I would say that the US middle ground is very similar to the majority view in the UK (noting of course that not everyone in the UK agrees with the majority – there are both extreme right and leftist groups as with most countries).

The US left wing is most like France.

The US right wing is most like Iran.