Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Political Definitions


In the current political climate the meaning of words has become corrupted by those that would attempt to confuse the populace. Following is my attempt to clear the confusion by using standard dictionary definitions. Definitions may vary somewhat depending on source.

A communist is: A member of a political party that supports communism.
Communism is, in theory: A classless, moneyless, and stateless social order structured upon common ownership of the means of production, as well as a social, political and economic ideology and movement that aims at the establishment of this social order.

A socialist is: A person who advocates or practices socialism.
Socialism is, in theory: The stage in Marxist-Leninist [communist] theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.

A (small d) democrat is: a person who believes in the political or social equality of all people.
Democracy is, in theory: A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

A liberal: Believes that government should be active in supporting social and political change.

A conservative: Holds to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, in relation to politics.

A libertarian is: One who advocates maximizing individual rights and minimizing the role of the state.
Libertarianism is. An extreme laissez-faire* political philosophy advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.
* the theory or system of government that upholds the autonomous character of the economic order, believing that government should intervene as little as possible in the direction of economic affairs

Dictatorship: A form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations. [Poster's note: most if not all communist states suffered arrested development and never progressed beyond this point.]

A plutocrat is: A person whose power derives from their wealth.
A plutocracy is: A government by the richest people.

An oligarch is: A member of a small group that runs a country or large organization.
Oligarchy is: A form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class.

An anarchist is: A person who believes that government and laws are not necessary.
Anarchy is: A state of society without government or law.

Paul Hunter

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