Far right v far left

It would be conducive to your understanding of the far right if you looked them up. I would be very interested in your opinion.

Political terminology is confused terribly by the use of left and right to describe both economic AND socio-cultural beliefs, on the assumption that they automatically go together when often they don't.

So left wing was originally an economic term meaning in favour of wealth redistribution, working towards greater economic equality, a role for the state in reducing the effects of capitalism in causing vast inequality, potentially supporting full socialism or even communism. Then it started being used for being pro social equality: gay rights, women's right etc. but also (confusingly) for a kind of social libertarianism: favouring legalisation of drugs, relaxing of gender roles etc.

Right wing was originally an economic term meaning favouring free market capitalism and a small state with minimal intervention. Then it started being used for social positions often put forward by people alongside this: conservative attitudes to societal norms like family structure, heteronormativity, community cohesion through similar attitudes to religion, social behaviour etc. And when taking that to extremes, racism and bigotry.

What's particularly confusing in relation to the OP is that people tend to use the term "far left" to mean economically extreme (socialist or communist), but "far right" to mean socially extreme (racist, fascist).

I believe Reform is the party currently favoured by the far right in the UK. Its leader admires Putin, an authoritarian, and their core message is anti immigration and anti Islam

They are supported by people like Musk who openly backs parties like the AfD. Their MPs seem to have very dubious views. I believe some candidates were dropped for blatant racism and far right affiliations. One was on the campaign trail talking about shooting asylum seekers.

I think one of their MPs is currently being investigated for his pro Russian links.

Far left hate women but pretend they don’t
Far right hate women but don’t pretend they like them

My other favourite is the right will stab you in the front, the left will stab you in the back.

In simplistic terms that sums it all up for me.

@Maitri108 so seeing as you completely agree with the official definitions of what is far right and left on Google...presumably you wouldn't agree Reform UK are far right then?

No not necessarily - if you said that you believed Jews were not integrating into British society and are making British customs and religions disappears then that would be far right thinking (not my personal opinion imo) - now of course some groups may suggest that this is not an unreasonable stance. The difference would be for me If you said explicitly that Jews or other groups were not welcome in this country because of the colour of their skin, that they should go home, that explicit discrimination and physical violence is shown towards them - then to me that’s more extreme right as its overt. It’s a subtle distinction but where a lot of the hyperbole comes about because of the far right - because we assume they are both the same

Nope, misleading point there.
Far Right and Far left are both very authoritarian and believe in a big state
Far right are authoritarian but not in the cause of a big state - they want a weakened, smaller state and power for big corporations instead, who they argue will do better for everyone (ie rich people). On this point I'd like to know what Reform will do to rein in the power of the tech bros and wealthy businesses owners in the interests of the ordinary folk they claim to speak for.

OP, what 'traditional conservative values' do you feel the current or recent Tories have thrown under the bus?

I'm a good old centrist, suspicious of all extremes.

Read my posts where I've engaged. If there's something you don't understand, I'm happy to explain.

Ok, apology accepted.

If you are able to give a clear and straightforward explanation to the question then please do. What is it you think the OP is 'attempting to do' exactly? Tie you up in knots over definitions? I can see why that might be tricky and you'd rather avoid it.

Yes, I apologise as I had intended to quote the Oap's response to your post, rather than your post itself. My mistake. My comments were supposed to be addressed to the OP and not to you, as it seems that her actual motivations for the thread may be slightly different from what she initially presented.

Another specimen who finds basic comprehension difficult. It's strangely prevalent amongst Reform voters. Brexit voter?

I think you have just illustrated by whole post very nicely. Anything right of centre is 'far right' and 'just look around you' to see them everywhere. And as for far left, what far left? They are too small to worry about.

Priceless.

I think the 'real purpose' of the thread, I think, was for the OP to enhance her understanding of political terminology and to find out how other people think. Hence why she asked the question:

The description ‘ far right’ is banded about quite a bit these days; less so ‘far left’. So I was wondering what do those phrases mean to you?
What in your opinion makes someone far right or far left?

And in fairly generic and simplistic terms I answered the question. That was all that was required of me, I believe?

I wasn't aware I could only comment on the basis that I must also work to enhance my own understanding and learn about what other people think. The OP asked for my opinion. She didn't insist that I 'educate myself' by listening to other people's. You sound quite sanctimonious.

In western world at present it could be argued that the biggest threat is the massive increase in inequality. It's a fact that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

It may be assumed that increasing inequality leads to increasing support for left wing ideas and that increasing equality - trickle down meaning that the poor get richer - leads to support of right wing ideas.

Actually, the reverse is the case. Increasing economic inequality leads to increased support for right wing ideology. The previous high point in inequality was in the 1930s and we all know the ideological consequence.

The analogy of rats fighting in a cage whilst ignoring the experimentor outside the cage is apt.

At its core right wing ideology is divisive, it pits white against black, male against female, straight against gay, indigenous against immigrant, able bodied against disabled, gentile against Jew etc. But not poor against rich. As a supposed explanation for inequality that leaves the rich and powerful untouched if not increasing wealth and power.

So poor people get in a froth about immigrants stealing jobs, houses, benefits - remember when it was about teenage women getting pregnant for a council house? - so much so they are willing to try and burn them alive - but think they are justified and not like the people influenced by right wing ideology that preceded them.

No one but the influenced care about definitions. 'I am not a fascist'. Methinks you protest too much.

They all are. There's been countless similar threads - it's very tiresome.

So the real purpose of this thread is not to enhance your understanding of the terminology or to find out how other people what they really think, but rather to tell us why you don't want us to call Reform far right?

Do you think the AfD is far right?

Far right to me is those groups who suggest they are not racist against people of colour but are ‘concerned’ about the dilution of British norms and values - so it’s a form of indirect racism (but still is the same in all but name) - for me nazis, EDL etc are not far right their extreme right as their racism is explicit and obvious - the far right and extreme right are intertwined so much now that I’m not surprised people are not sure what it is

I'm not sure how useful Left v Right is anymore. I prefer this model.