SpeedRacer 1 #1 May 26, 2011 Long, but a good read. The political definitions have gotten so convoluted they need to be redefined in a historical context. The article points out the fallacy of the simple left-right political model. The Nolan chart, which has two spectra (economic and social issues) still falls short because it doesn't describe exactly what is being regulated and for what purpose. Secondly, the modern American conservative movement is pro-capitalist, but in today's world that means encouraging consumerism, which will naturally increase the tendency towards secularism/social liberalism that conservatives denounce. http://rationalrevolution.net/articles/redefining_the_political_spectru.htm Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dmcoco84 5 #2 May 26, 2011 Ridiculous... Slap In The Face Of Our Founders Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #3 May 27, 2011 QuoteRidiculous... Slap In The Face Of Our Founders Huh? WTF? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #4 May 27, 2011 QuoteThe political definitions have gotten so convoluted they need to be redefined in a historical context. The article points out the fallacy of the simple left-right political model. Yet, it's still non-sense. The "proper" model would probably have 20 or more dimensions. Unfortunately most people would have difficulty wrapping their heads around any sort of graphical representation of that.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scruffy 0 #5 May 27, 2011 QuoteThe "proper" model would probably have 20 or more dimensions. Unfortunately most people would have difficulty wrapping their heads around any sort of graphical representation of that. I would say 20 dimensions is still reductive. The problem is that the idea of labeling people on any ideological continuum is flawed from the very get go because there is absolutely no deterministic model or conceptual framework behind the labels. If you ask 20 people what liberal or conservative means you will get 20 entirely different responses, and that's optimistically assuming 20 people picked at random would have the ability to actually communicate a critical political thought. Oh, and assuming you had any success at all with that task, try introducing more specific models like neo-liberalism or classic liberalism which continue to be redefined and reconceptualized. There are no paradigms in political science, and therefore there will never be a real way to place anyone on a scientifically valid political spectrum. Silly ideas like the ones in the OP are just as over simplistic as the left right model, the only function I've ever seen the two dimensional model have is as a recruiting tool for the libertarian party. ETA: not arguing with your sentiments, just saying the whole idea of political labels is non-sensePeace, love and hoppiness Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #6 May 27, 2011 QuoteQuoteRidiculous... Slap In The Face Of Our Founders Huh? WTF?Yeah, I don't think he read it. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
muff528 3 #7 May 27, 2011 Here's one I drew up last year and posted in a similar thread topic. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3866083;search_string=political%20spectrum;#3866083 I think anyone who defines or devises a "political spectrum" will do so from their own political/ideological vantagepoint and just that, in itself, will cause these graphs to be constructed differently from person to person. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
