What is the “left-right” or “liberal-conservative” line, and whats wrong with it?
Fifteen years ago the standard view of politics — the mental “map” almost everyone used when thinking of political positions — was the old “left-right” line. It is still widely used today. You’ve probably seen it in textbooks and newspapers. It looks something like this: <-------------- left ------------ center ------------- right --------------> Or, when expanded a bit: <--- crazies -- communist/socialist -- far left -- liberal -- centrist -- conservative -- far right -- fascist -- crazies ---> This model is misleading and fatally flawed. It doesn’t have a place for many millions of people who don’t fit neatly into some variant of liberal or conservative. In effect, it disenfranchises the millions of Americans who don’t feel that “left,” “right,” “liberal,” “conservative” etc. accurately describe their views. Thomas Jefferson, for example, wouldn’t fit comfortably on that chart under any of those labels. Neither would Jesse Ventura or Huey Long or Pat Buchanan. America’s real politi
