Ron Paul sent out a tweet today.

Interestingly enough I was just talking about this yesterday.   It is quite possible to be so far in one direction on the “Freedom Continuum” that you circle back around to the complete opposite side.

To understand the concept of a freedom continuum you must a.) know history, and b.) understand the goals of both the political left and political right.

Think of the political approaches toward society governance as a continuum, a single line beginning from the middle with points of definition along the way in both directions.  As you proceed in either direction you pass points of distinction or reference  for individual freedom.

On the far left you have the absence of individual freedom, and total governmental control, known as Communism or Totalitarianism.   The sum total of individual freedom is nil, and the value is placed upon the collective government to make all determinations in the life of the individual.

On the far right you have the absence of governmental control and individual liberty reigns supreme.  Unfortunately, at this extreme right side anarchy is the standard and survival of the fittest, biggest or strongest is the only determinative factor in life.

When you travel to both the extreme left and the extreme right you find a system where only a few people are in control of the structure of society and making all the decisions the individual person is forced to live with.   On the left it is the “State” party, on the right you find the Lords of the Flies.

In either direction “everyone might be made, or start out equal, but some are more equal than others”.

Communism => Socialism => Fascism => On the far left

Democracy <=  A Republic <=  Anarchy <= On the far right

Communism => Socialism => Fascism => * <= Democracy <= A Republic <= Anarchy 

The United States was formed as a Constitutional Republic by our founders.  To the right of a Democracy; because the rights of the individual trump the rights of the hoard, or majority.   A system of limited government where the individual states form bodies of representation (House of Representatives) to tell the Federal Government what rights they are permitted to hold over the individual.

All rights not specifically outlined (hence the constitution) as belonging to the Federal Government are retained by the States.

right_wing_extremist

Share