Who knows where the terms left and right come from

[clydefrand]

as applied to the Dems and the repugs? Why are we called Left when we're always Right? At least "righter" than the repugs are.

[NWHarkness]

1. The national Assembly during the French revolution

The supporters of the monarchy sat on the right side of the room, the most ardent revolutionaries on the far left, with their allies arrayed between.

[proud patriot]

2. cool I did not know that

:hi:

[demosincebirth]

3. Very good! You took the words right out of my mouth.

[MatrixEscape]

4. Man ...

That fits all the more in today's situation, ey?

Another, humorous way to look at it is:

They think they are completely "right" and we are "left" to clean up the mess that their false assumptions and arrogance result in.

[annabanana]

5. DUers know EVERYTHING

:*

[clydefrand]

8. And this is the way it is today, isn't it?

We're the revolutionists and they are the monarchy...they think!

Can't there be RICH Revolutionists??? Lots of them, I mean. I know there are some like George Soros.

Thanks for the info. I ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING NEW ON THIS SITE! I LOVE IT :bounce:

[Maple]

6. The Cold War

The 'left' are socialists/communists, the 'right' are capitalists.

Not nearly as flattering I'm afraid, but more truthful.

[arcos]

7. it is much older than that... n/t

[Maple]

9. Yes, in Latin

right-handers are seen as being correct and dextrous (Latin dexter: right-hand side) and left-handers as sinister and gauche (Latin sinister: left-hand side with the heraldic bend sinister indicating illegitimacy).

To be a 'leftie'...in anything...has always meant being in the wrong.

It simply became an easy verbal shorthand during the Cold War, summing up reams of political philosophy in one quick phrase.

It is now outdated, but of course some backwards types still use it.

[JanMichael]

10. "some backwards types still use it"? Pardon me?

Do you mean the Latin version that you described or the current usage of Left and Right?

[shraby]

11. What are you called when you're

left handed and on the left of the political landscape?

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

12. Didn't you read the first reply?

That's the answer.

[Eye and Monkey]

13. A link to support the already-described definition

"Left" and right" - These political terms originated in this era and derived from the seating arrangements in the legislative bodies. The use of the terms is loose and inconsistent, but in this period "right" tends to mean support for monarchical and aristocratic interests and the Christian order and religion, or (at the height of revolutionary fervor) for the interests of the bourgeousie against the masses, while "left" tends to imply opposition to the same, proto-laissez faire free marketeers and proto-communists.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_the_French_Revolution

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. Have you checked yourself out on the political compass?

http://politicalcompass.org/

[serryjw]

16. Yes, I am LEFT of Gandhi! n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

18. Heehee! I'm over that way too *high five*

[Walt Starr]

15. It would be a hoot to let the Freepers know that those on the right

are the political descendents of French Monarchists.

:evilgrin:

[crickets]

17. You are evil

-in that hilarious, "I like the way you think" sort of way.