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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dale Baker who wrote (10140)	1/28/2006 8:10:01 AM
From: Mary Cluney	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 541320

Today anything that wasn't included in a Republican Party platform is a radical lefty idea. One thing about the American right wing, they are well coordinated. They stay on message. They stand united. The American left is all over the map. They are fighting and marching against WalMart when Haliburton is running amok. Real smart.

To: Dale Baker who wrote (10140)	1/28/2006 8:52:32 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541320

Just so you know, if you are talking about the American education system, it isn't true that they avoid talking about the different systems of governments. My daughter has gone through American history just recently- and it was amazingly in depth in its coverage of political thought. She learned about the communist movement in America, the grange movements, socialism (and how FDR bent socialism to fit the American system and thus short circuited our true socialist and communist movements) and some movements I can't even remember. I was interested, but I can't actually remember all the details- because so much was covered. Imagine how little people remember who are not interested. The problem is not with the history books, or with the teachers, but mostly within ourselves (to manhandle Shakespeare a bit). It is much easier to slip in to the prejudices that might be comfortable for our brain, than to remember, or look up, the true meanings of things. That goes for definitions, and history, and what happened in the news yesterday. Humans distort things to suit themselves, even where the education system functions well. Do you think the Nazis were all uneducated(to take an extreme example)? I think what isn't taught well enough in school is to look at oneself to be able to see one's prejudices. But that would be very hard to teach- because most parents do not want their children inoculated with skepticism, especially not when it threatens the ability to inculcate parental prejudice (and I am using prejudice here to mean pre-judgment, and the closing off of free inquiry in to matters a family may decide are off limits to free inquiry). It would be simple if it were all the schools fault- but I don't think it is.

To: Dale Baker who wrote (10140)	1/28/2006 10:05:39 AM
From: Suma	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541320

Terrific post Dale.. I think it is applicable to me. There is such a fine line between a lot of the beliefs.. How close is socialist to communist.. How close are some of the right wing ideas to fascism.... and I don't know whether or not I could give an informed definition of any.. Can you. One would really have to be up on political science..history and have read many books if not lived under a particular regime.

To: Dale Baker who wrote (10140)	1/28/2006 1:52:52 PM
From: KLP	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541320

Dale, since you said this: throw around the terms socialist and communist without really knowing what they mean could you explain what YOU think is a good definition of these words? Also, would appreciate your definition on this: fascist without really grasping what a fascist system entails I know it has been discussed in other places on SI, but I don't recall ever hearing your thoughts on this. I know BTW, you were trying to toss a spear my way with this, but so be it. I'm sorry that you feel that way. Looks like the center you talked about is a VERY LARGE center indeed if the folks who post here are any example of what you mean. I do agree with you here.... But our education system avoids controversial subjects like political science and comparative political philosophy, We have so little AMERICAN History in our schools, that it is a wonder some people even know what a vote is, let alone know what it is about.