WILL HEADS ROLL?

The History of the Political “Left” and “Right”

The origins of the terms right and left in a political context go back to the French Revolution. After the monarchists fled, in the French Parliament, the radical revolutionary party, the Jacobins, sat on the left side of the chamber, while the moderate revolutionary party, the Girondins, sat on the right side of the chamber. (There were no “conservatives”--i.e., monarchists—left in Parliament.) Since that time, the term “left” or “leftist” has been used to describe “liberal” or “radical” parties and politics. Since WWII, “liberal” have been considered “moderate left”, while socialists, Communists, and other radicals have been considered “extreme” or “far” left. Traditionally, the Democratic party has been a coalition of centrists and moderate leftists. Today, most moderates have left the Democratic party, which has moved further to the left, and now includes many extreme leftists.

Similarly, the Republican party has traditionally been a coalition of centrists and moderate conservatives. It remains that today, although the centrists have lost a great deal of influence in the Republican party. “Far right” organizations have included fascists, Nazis, and others. The distinction in the US and most of the developed world is that the main “left” and “right” parties have favored democracy and regular elections. Far-left and far-right parties are anti-democratic and believe in one-man, one-vote, one time; once establishing themselves in power, they do not want new elections they could lose. Examples of extremist parties are the Communist party in Cuba (no elections), Hugo Chavez's socialist party in Venezuela (rigged elections), or (presumably) the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (remains to be seen, but most observers are skeptical they will ever allow honest elections).

I started by stating the original left and right using France where the term came from there have always been left and right in other societies. They were not called that in those times. What caused the French to become so radical? Poverty, unjust laws, bankruptcy of the French government, corruption in the government and inefficiency . False propaganda about the King and Queen by his cousin Duke of Orleans. While France was staving the Duke had plenty of stored grain. The King and Queen often came the people their own supplies. It was the perceptions created by the enemies of the King and Queen. The Duke had posted paper flyers everywhere reporting that the King had hidden storage of grains. I am not defending the King he was incompetent, juvenile, stubborn and indecisive. The Queen was much kinder she went to the gates everyday to give her food to the starving. She never stated “let them eat cake” she handed them bread. She adopted some of the children. Yet she was uninformed, uneducated, and kept isolated from the realities until it was at her gate. It was too late.

Comparing this to an administration that is isolated by Valerie Jarret at the helm making sure Obama is told yes. He does not like criticism in fact he cannot take it. Look at his recent hiring of Susan Rice who does not deserve the position of National Security Advisor. That was a slap in the face to anyone that disagrees with him. Similar to the French King and Queen who were isolated from the people. Surrounded by yes-men. Like King Louis XVI this President is stubborn, incompetent, and very jejune. He will not fend for the people instead he uses the ones that are not informed, easily led by liberal professors, the liberal media, and those dependent on the government to hand out money. I wonder will heads roll in Washington?