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An honest question for the right-wing

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Comments

  • #102
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    murphaph wrote: »
    They couldn't be classified in any way as fiscally conservative, having been in bed with FF during all those giveaway budgets and massive public sector expansion.
    I never suggested they were fiscally or otherwise conservative. The question was asked what party would fit the criteria of "socially progressive (socially-left) but fiscally right-wing (libertarian-right)", and in this regard the PD's fit the bill, within the context of political spectrum in Ireland.

    The link between conservative and 'right-wing' is a troublesome one because it can result in paradoxes. For example, the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt was initiated by 'conservatives' who wanted to protect not a 'right-wing' but 'left-wing' system. Does that make them 'right-wing' or 'left-wing' as a result?

    If you accept my earlier definition of left and right as theoretically representing forces for or against social and economic change, then the PD's was almost certainly 'left-wing', but as libertarian capitalism is typically considered a 'right-wing' ideology, the classification becomes more fuzzy.

    It's why I think the whole need to classify things as left or right is pointless.


  • #103
    matthew8
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    That is a really tough question. Fine Gael's Peter Mathews or Ming Flanagan for me. If both were to write a budget I would probably prefer Mathews budget, but Ming is more anti-bank bailout and wants to legalise drugs. Stephen Donnelly is good too.


  • #104
    murphaph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,050 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    I never suggested they were fiscally or otherwise conservative. The question was asked what party would fit the criteria of "socially progressive (socially-left) but fiscally right-wing (libertarian-right)", and in this regard the PD's fit the bill, within the context of political spectrum in Ireland.
    They don't fit that bill though. The PD's were a coalition partner in a government that oversaw a massive increase in public sector spending in all areas. These are not the actions of a fiscally conservative party. They may claim (or have claimed) to be a fiscally conservative party, but their actions tell a different story.


  • #105
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    murphaph wrote: »
    They don't fit that bill though. The PD's were a coalition partner in a government that oversaw a massive increase in public sector spending in all areas. These are not the actions of a fiscally conservative party. They may claim (or have claimed) to be a fiscally conservative party, but their actions tell a different story.
    Did you not read my reply? I never said they were a fiscally conservative party, and reiterated this in my reply; you're the only one talking about fiscally conservative parties.


  • #106
    murphaph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,050 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    Did you not read my reply? I never said they were a fiscally conservative party, and reiterated this in my reply; you're the only one talking about fiscally conservative parties.
    What do you consider fiscally right wing to mean then? Would a fiscally right wing party (in your opinion) have supported the expansion of public sector spend in the way the PD's did during their time in office?


  • #107
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    murphaph wrote: »
    What do you consider fiscally right wing to mean then? Would a fiscally right wing party (in your opinion) have supported the expansion of public sector spend in the way the PD's did during their time in office?
    Supported is the key word there, because in any kind of coalition, you're going to have a trade off, where parties will have to compromise and accept things that they don't like if they expect to get things that they do like. That's not left or right wing, but Realpolitik.


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