The descriptions left-wing and right-wing are obviously badly broken for describing the complexities of political thought. Does extreme right wing mean an Anarcho-Capitalist type or a Fascist? Does extreme left wing mean a Maoist or a Green? Trying to describe too many unrelated variables with an overly simple model is a recipe for confusion.
I think that the terms should be used only to refer to the leading political coalitions in a particular country at a particular time. Any ideology with no serious political power should not be described as leftist or rightist. With this definition, extreme left and extreme right become meaningless, or perhaps refer to the ideas at the hearts of the two main parties. Of course, one may still refer to extremism with respect to more specific ideas.
Patriotism
Some recent articles on patriotism in the Telegraph, and in Overcoming Bias.
Our feelings on patriotism are colored by the times we live in. This is a relatively peaceful time for the west, despite the gathering storm clouds, and so patriotism is not particularly useful. The exception is the US, whose hegemony is responsible for the current peace, and must therefore keep sufficient faith to maintain that peace.
When America fails, hopefully not soon, and the world is plunged back into chaos, I am sure that patriotism, or some such emotional expression of loyalty to whatever organization is offering protection to you and yours, will come back into style.
Updated - another apposite Telegraph opinion article here
Our feelings on patriotism are colored by the times we live in. This is a relatively peaceful time for the west, despite the gathering storm clouds, and so patriotism is not particularly useful. The exception is the US, whose hegemony is responsible for the current peace, and must therefore keep sufficient faith to maintain that peace.
When America fails, hopefully not soon, and the world is plunged back into chaos, I am sure that patriotism, or some such emotional expression of loyalty to whatever organization is offering protection to you and yours, will come back into style.
Updated - another apposite Telegraph opinion article here
The Peoples Constitution
Billy Bragg reckons in the Telegraph that what the UK needs is a formal constitution, decided through a peoples debate of some sort.
Nice idea, and it is good too that Mr Bragg realizes that our current political and legal classes are too venal to be allowed anywhere near such a thing.
However, I cannot imagine that "the people" are going to be able to come up with a reasonable constitution. Has such a thing ever occurred before? And especially in so large a place as the UK.
A decent constitution requires a class of people that are both legally savvy, and who have a strong stake in the long-term success of the organization in question, rather than their political careers, or profiting off legal conflicts. Sadly, modern democracies have no such class of people.
Nice idea, and it is good too that Mr Bragg realizes that our current political and legal classes are too venal to be allowed anywhere near such a thing.
However, I cannot imagine that "the people" are going to be able to come up with a reasonable constitution. Has such a thing ever occurred before? And especially in so large a place as the UK.
A decent constitution requires a class of people that are both legally savvy, and who have a strong stake in the long-term success of the organization in question, rather than their political careers, or profiting off legal conflicts. Sadly, modern democracies have no such class of people.
Articles of Incorporation of Rob Spear Blog
1. I am probably too lazy to keep this up for any time.
2. Nevertheless the urge to write stuff does come up occasionally.
3. Therefore I shall create this blog so that I have a fighting chance of actually posting stuff when the urge hits.
4. Sadly my interests are broader than they are deep.
5. Nevertheless I think I can come up with interesting stuff from time to time.
6. Therefore anything I post here shall be of no fixed topic, but shall reflect whatever I am thinking about at that moment.
7. No humor or humour however, as I do that elsewhere.
2. Nevertheless the urge to write stuff does come up occasionally.
3. Therefore I shall create this blog so that I have a fighting chance of actually posting stuff when the urge hits.
4. Sadly my interests are broader than they are deep.
5. Nevertheless I think I can come up with interesting stuff from time to time.
6. Therefore anything I post here shall be of no fixed topic, but shall reflect whatever I am thinking about at that moment.
7. No humor or humour however, as I do that elsewhere.
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