I'm actually a little baffled that any politician mentioned so far can be described even as left-of-centre, still less far left.
Expansion of the state, at the expense of private enterprise?
A belief that in the long run, the state can plan and manage as well as or better than the private sector?
Preference to ownership of industry ('means of production') by the state, on behalf of the people?
Expressed desire to raise taxes on unearned wealth? (inherited land and shares, typically).
Favouring socialism over capitalism as the predominant ideology?
And that's just some social-democrat through to a mild socialist spectrum. Real far-left ideas (excluding the totalitarian or Communist 'left') might include
Mandated central economic direction by the state -"national champion" industries as agents of state power
Forced nationalisation with minimal compensation
State control of all services it provides (i.e., no private education, medicine, security etc).
State control of all officially approved media
I disagree with all of these, more or less strongly: hence I place myself politically on the centre-right.
Any speaker categorising as far left-wing someone who espouses none of the above, and indeed probably stand in active opposition to most of them, basically does not know the meaning of the abuse s/he is mouthing.
It's as meaningful, and as undeserving of notice, as the cries of "Fascist!" from a teenager required to be home before midnight. |
