Political Right And Left

[Coldicote]

What do you understand by political far right and far left? There are many references to right and left on the internet, but these seem only to add to confusion of one's understanding. Is there such a thing as a simple definition?

[VHG]

Left is normally socialist (Labour in our case).

Far Left becomes extreme socialist, or communist, like Russia was.

Right is capitalist (Tory in our case)

Far right is dictatorship (Hitler in Germany, Franco in Spain etc.)

Of course when you get far left with people like Stalin in Russia then that sort of wraps round and becomes a dictatorship, so it is a bit confusing.

[VHG]

A bit more.

In simple terms the "Left" socialist (Labour in UK) is about the state spending more looking after people. The Labour party came out of the trade unions and so it tends to be more from the "working class" supporter.

They tend to increase spending on social issues: benefits, hospitals, schools etc, but this often increases our countries debt.

The Right capitalist (Tory in UK) is about making sure the business people are able to run successful businesses and make the country rich, which helps the whole population.

They tend to try to reduce state spending and reduce our national debt, but this is often seen as uncaring and callous when benefits are reduced..

However the Tories often need to sort out our finances after Labour have managed to bankrupt the country.

[Coldicote]

Two good answers here - thank you VHG. I hope many people read them.

[sevenOP]

"... or communist, like Russia was."

The USSR was a totalitarian state and contemporary Russia is claimed to be a 'Federal semi-presidential constitutional republic' and 'far left'.