Left Spectrum Politics

 

Don’t add to the problem.

Please stop steeping yourself in self-affirming commentary. If you fancy yourself a left-leaning liberal progressive, please resist the urge to loiter here in the familiar.

Do yourself a favor and step out of the box. You would be much better served exploring the many curiosities of conservatism.

If you are still working out your own political philosophy, there is a ton of information in this post. Beware of getting bogged down in the vast array of apparent contradictions.

If you are looking to dig a little deeper into the language and ideals of progressive politics, you just hit the jackpot.

Rather than pontificate my own perspective, here you will find a variety of links to left-spectrum resources. There are also resources to help you evaluate the pros and cons of each perspective.

It goes without saying that you could simply Google “liberal principles” or “liberal lies” or something along those lines. The problem is, very few people are keen to research opposition to their own personal preference.

Those that do are still left sifting through a whole lotta fluff, having to wade through endless contradictions to sort out facts from fiction. Which brings up a good point: Most sources suck.

“But what about–” … Yes, they suck…

“But surely not–” … Yeah, they probably suck too.

Wisdom says be skeptical of your sources. It is essential to scour every source for slant and bias. What’s their angle? How do they skew the information being presented?

As a side note, academic types love to point out our unconscious, implicit bias. Apparently we are helplessly ensnared in our own humanity. We are destined to be judgmental and prejudice, and only entertain self-serving perspectives. So be it.

Still, it would be foolish to flog human perspective entirely. There are many great thinkers in the world. Some established the precedents of logic and pillars of rational thinking. Others continue to explore the nuance of existential experience and profound natural enigma.

The point is, clear thinking deserves healthy respect, regardless of political affiliation. Contemplating perspectives that offend our own requires a good measure of mental discipline. To do so is an enriching exercise that is certain to cultivate wisdom.

With that in mind, let’s move to the links.

Are you familiar with the difference between classical and modern liberalism? Wanna buff up on some history? You might start by reading this informative article from Britannica.com

Keep in mind, just because it’s an encyclopedia, doesn’t mean it’s not bias, slanted, and promoting an agenda. It is impossible to remove the human element from any source.

If you want to get acquainted or fully immerse yourself in liberal ideology, you could dig into the left-leaning propaganda of some left-spectrum think-tanks, such as:

• The Brookings Institutes
• The Center for American Progress
• The Institute for America’s Future
• MoveOn.org

Word of caution: NEVER trust the words “non-partisan.” That’s code lingo for “Come on in sucker.” You’re about to be duped.

Now, having perused the history and the intellectual pillars of left-spectrum politics, you might be ready for some juicy progressive commentary on current events.

Or, you may have had all your stomach and take. Don’t gag. Breathe deep. Keep your eyes on the prize.

If you need a breather, and some alternate perspective to prop up your emotional well-being, check out the post on right-spectrum politics. Balance is the key to happiness.

But for now, we are trying to understand the thinking of progress politics, and why millions of people align with the liberal perspective. Right, wrong, or indifferent, there must be reasons.

To get your finger on the pulse of current progressive chatter, you should check out several different liberal blogs. Among the most popular are:

• The Huffington Post
• Slate.com
• Politico
• Democratic Underground
• And several quasi-news sources like NPR, CNN, and the NYT.

Please keep in mind, when left-leaning outlets claim to be “news” they are lying through their teeth. It’s pure propaganda. Proceed with caution and all the critical thinking skills you can muster.

You can check the slant of many sources at Media Bias Ratings.

When attempting to evaluate articles from any source, make sure you understand the terminology. To try and wrap your head around the scope of conflicting definitions, poke around on these sites:

• The RedBlue Dictionary – This is a nice source, which along with AllSides.com, is about as central as they come.
• For liberal definitions of their own terminology, you might check out the Liberal Activist Toolkit, or the ever-thorough Encyclopedia of Marxism.
• For right-spectrum interpretations of liberal terminology check out here and here. These are wonderfully offensive critiques of politically correct terms.

Obviously this could go on and on and on.

If you want to help shift the political paradigm, you’ve got to be equip for intelligent debate. That means understanding where your political opponents are coming from.

If you are right-leaning, this section should have provided links to many challenging perspectives. I commend your courage for embracing open-minded consideration. Thank you.

If you are left-leaning, you probably got all giddy reading the well articulated support for your personal convictions. Now, are you ready for a challenge?

Now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in the curious world of right-spectrum politics. Go ahead. Be brave. Are the neo-cons really a bunch of crazy racists? Take the time to find out.