What political beliefs/principles distinguish the "far left" from

[Mairead]

the "mainstream Democrats"?

I'm asking the question because I have the strong suspicion that what people here consider "far left" would on a world scale be considered mildly left of center.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Using John Kerry as an example of a mainstream Democrat.

He voted to for the Iraq War Resolution.

Some on the left would have voted against it.

He voted for NAFTA.

Some on the left would have voted against it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. far left are for the people not corporations

they are for protecting the environment, aggressively pursuing alternative energy solutions, and are also very much into personal privacy (almost like the libertarians in this regard).

[cmd]

3. I believe the DLC is an important part of our party.

[Mairead]

4. I think that comment is off-topic

Or do you want to try to motivate it?

[Lexingtonian]

5. it's just a code word

for 'hippie'. And those dozen dope-smoking dingbats on every college campus that have to publish a Marxist paper that cites Chomsky in 80% of their articles.

[sam sarrha]

6. th left just wants Bu$h out, far left wants a free , just ,equitable Natio....

[bemildred]

7. "Far left" means opposed to the empire. nt

[sam sarrha]

8. actually the word Left is Cold War Speak for "COMMUNIST".. just spin

[mike_c]

9. I consider myself "far left..."

...because I believe government should serve people before corporations, protect the environment before the profits of businesses, that access to education should be a right enjoyed by everyone, regardless of their socio-economic backgroud, and that accessible health care should be considered a fundamental service that the government guarantees to all citizens.

I believe that it is immoral to profit from other people's misery.

I oppose much of this country's foreign policy-- indeed, I'm deeply ashamed by it. We've conducted ourselves like avaricous bullies all over the world for the last century, guided by naked greed just barely covered, it at all, by a thin veneer of sanctimony. I believe that social justice is more important than corporate profit or political posturing abroad.

I oppose using the military as an instrument of foreign policy, and I support massively dissassembling the American military. I believe that except during times of war (and those defined only by the need for defense against aggressors), the military budget should be smaller than budgets for such things as universal health care, public health service, and education.

I support the right of workers to organise and demand a living wage from employers. I am a union man myself.

I believe that human societies are more often organized by the worst aspects of our character-- greed, hunger for power, and deceit-- than by our best qualities. I instinctively distrust politicians.

I'll stop now.

[NaturalHigh]

The far left is often equated with socialism.

Moderates would be the ones who advocate some more stringent controls on capitalism without scrapping the system altogether. Of course, this simply covers the economic side of things without even touching social issues. That's a whole different discussion.

[McCamy Taylor]

10. "Far left" =Socialist. For example:

Far left would insist upon single payer national health insurance for all, cradle to grave.

Far left would insist upon nationalization of utilities, most natural resources and other commodities that people MUST use for day to day living.

The far left would ensure that taxes paid increase as income AND wealth increases.

The far left would have generous social programs to ensure that all citizens have a basic standard of living that approaches that of the working class. On the other hand, luxuries would be highly taxed.


This economic stance would necessitate social positions such as:

Public health prevention would become a priority since the government covers everyone cradle to the grave. That means zero tolerance for tobacco. Drug addiction programs would be of the effective type--i.e legalization and treatment as opposed to criminilaztion and incarceration. Teen agers would have sex ed and access to birth control not absitinence since the goal woiuld be pregnancy prevention.Gun control would be strict since gun violence is a serious public health program.

I think you can see where this is going.

[mike_c]

12. call me socialist...

...because I agree with every one of those positions! :hi:

[pop goes the weasel]

11. "far-left" is meaningless

Ask a Republican, and it's any Democrat who ever disagrees with them on anything. The Democrats who are afraid of being labled as "far-left" by Republicans then become part of the problem by becoming indistinguishable from the Republicans and busying themselves telling other Democrats to be more cautious about supporting such nutty ideas as equality and justice. Why, some of them become such wankers that they even participate in Republican party politics, giving speeches at Republican conventions.

And right now, if you ask members of the MSM, they have the same definition as the Republicans. Rather than say, "You are an idiot if you think Bill Moyers is a far-leftist," they repeat the charge until uninformed people think it must be true.

If anyone uses the term "far-left" in a conversation with you, challenge them to define the term, and not by resorting to simile ("Like Michael Moore! He's a leftist!" Further challenge them to actually define Moore's political and economic philosophy if they pull this shit).

[keek]

13. good post

I think that there are definitely 3 dominant groups in the American left. This was clear especially during the primaries in 04. I witnessed this during the Iowa caucuses.

The "mainstream Democrats" (Kerry Supporters) would consider themselves to be extremely pragmatic, realistic, tough and yet compassionate. Democrats like Clinton, Kerry, Biden...etc, they voted for the war in spite of their reservations and the millions of protesters. They thought that since Bush had already been authorized to start wars whenever he wanted to in order to fight terrorism after 9-11, he had enough votes in the Senate, and he had a majority of the country's approval, they voted for the war as a display of unity and strength going into the war. They truly felt that they were representing the American people when voting for it because they were in support of it according to their polling data. They feel that they are doing their best trying to hold the President accountable and trying to prevent him from doing further damage in a House and Senate dominated by Republicans. Plus, they are under a microscope and constantly under fire in the MSM because the Republican attack machine. They have to be extremely careful when picking their battles because they have a lot more people to answer to than any Democrats in the country. They also represent Republicans in their states and districts and have to answer to them.

The present day "far left" (Kucinich supporters)would consider themelves to be principled and well informed. They are idealistic in their hopes that they can change the world. They strongly believe that US policy in the Middle East, and the world for that matter, is the direct cause of terrorism. They oppose war in most or all circumstances. They are a very well informed group who are not big on compromising any of their beliefs. They are consistent. They demand fairness and equity. They are not interested in waging a "cold war" so to speak with the right. They want to eliminate the right by trying to convince the rest of the country that the Bush administration are a bunch of greedy criminals trying to take over the world.

Then, there is a group in the center of those two groups - Dean Supporters. They had the same strong principles as the "far left" and also get every frustrated with the "mainstream Democrats." They are mildly left of center largely because they are principled pragmatists. They are a combination of the mainstream Dems and far left. These people want to see an end to the killing and exploitation of the environment and other humans. They also understand the degree of control, power and influence that "these people" have over the country and the world. Change can only happen when we use our voices to hold our elected officials accountable, donate money to progressive minded candidates, write letters, make phone calls, knock on doors, and run for office ourselves.