Politicians from diff. countries: How to account for different spectrums?

[Bush loves Jiang]

This has always been an issue that bothers me.

If you compare 2 candidates from different nations, what's the best way of determining who's more conservative and who's more liberal?

How about a relatively simple example involving Canada and the USA, comparing Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich to New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton.

If you place politicians from both Canada and the USA on the same political spectrum, it's obvious that Jack Layton is left of Dennis Kucinich.

(Remember: We're comparing the Canadian mainstream far-left to the American mainstram far-left, so we're obviously discounting fringe leftists who adhere to Marxism-Leninism or its many descendants, as many may be well to the left of even Layton, particularly on economic issues.)

But if you do not use a universal spectrum, and instead place them on separate spectrums that are shifted appropriately by country (The American spectrum shifted very right-ward, and the Canadian spectrum shifted somewhat left-ward), Dennis Kucinich is certainly left of Jack Layton.

But what's a better way of comparing people?

Am I wrong to say that Clinton is on the centre-right (and would be right at home with the 2 or 3 most liberal members of the Canadian Alliance) because I'm using the Canadian spectrum or a global spectrum?

[Damndifino]

1. Comparisons are pointless

Since value judgements of this kind are context-dependent, it makes no sense to compare. For example, consider making comparisons with historical figures. Lincoln was, by the standards of his day, a progressive liberal. By modern standards he was a hideous racist. His intelligence and wisdom were shaped by his historical context.

What you have to do is compare the countries, and consider the reasons why a person considered liberal in one country might seem like a radical right-winger elsewhere.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. I've seen posts on DU

where people tried to say that some current politician is 'more liberal' or 'more conservative' than Harry Truman or JFK. Equally pointless.

[newyawker99]

3. Hi Damndifino!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: