5 ms·
It's one point CS missed in this otherwise excellent article: the redefinition of words robs the public of the ability to discuss certain concepts. In this cas
by Udo 14y ago
It's one point CS missed in this otherwise excellent article: the redefinition of words robs the public of the ability to discuss certain concepts.
In this case, the label "leftist" (= meaning "bad") is now commonly applied to people worried about issues of social and civil justice, people who engage in political dissent, criticizing corporations and their influence, being non-conformant with the all-pervading religious undertow, being wary of "law & order", or applying scientific methods and solutions to political problems.
As such, the leftist label is in common usage as a curse word that automatically taints dissidents, but from what I can tell it's happening in American lingo only.
I believe you can also tell public overexposure to Fox News by looking at the frequent invokation of Sharia law, as shown in this sentence which is somewhat resistant to semantic analysis:
> Instead of the laws being "inspired" by Sharia, now they are "inspired" by Sharia according to sunni islam.
It's ironic though that Sharia law is often portrayed as one of the main threats to freedom by people who actually favor the western equivalent of Sharia in the sense that they, just like islamic extremists, want a justice system that closely resembles a religiously infused small-town court system with broad powers to regulate everyday personal affairs, such as who you are allowed to have sex with and many other "morality"-based legal decisions.
- humanrebar 14y agoI don't know. I think left-of-center types could take back "leftist" and similar labels if they wanted to. See "queer", "geek", the mascots of both American parties, etc. It's confusing why you would be complaining about left-of-center being outcast when America has just re-elected a left-of-center president and when the media is awash with "whither the Republican Party?" features. It seems to me that the left is doing fine (if not better) right now.
- JonnieCache 14y ago>America has just re-elected a left-of-center president This is exactly the problem. Everywhere except in the US political bubble he is solidly right wing. The redefinition of people like Obama as left wing is exactly what Udo and others here are talking about.
- humanrebar 14y agoWhat about Obama would put him in the right-wing "everywhere except the US" (meaning Europe, I take it)? He has moved the U.S. to the left as much as was possible in his first term. He would have moved it farther if it were feasible but the U.S. government is large ship and it takes a while to turn.
- svachalek 14y agoWhat specifically has he done to make the US government more "left" other than health care reform (based on Republican proposals but for the sake of argument lets allow that as a liberal cause)?
- humanrebar 14y agoI'm surprised it's not obvious that Obama is leftist, but... He supports raising taxes over cutting spending. He placed two leftist justices on the supreme court. He has cut military spending significantly. Supports gun control. Repealed don't ask don't tell. Supports gay marriage. Supports carbon taxes. Favors expanding social welfare programs. Favors debt and inflation over balanced budgets. Raised the minimum wage. Conversely, issues where he falls on the right side of the spectrum are few and I would challenge someone to come up with a list. Also, don't confuse his accomplishments with his political alignment. For example, I'm sure he would have created a single payer healthcare system if he could.
- speeder 14y agoObama is center-right, for now it seems. He is taking several of Gramsci positions in social issues. But I won't say he will become a communist or anything close to it. Also I say "leftish" because it IS "leftish", not because I deride the left or something (I am a former socialist actually)