The Difference Between The Right and The Left

[robob8706]

Would it be accurate to sum up the differences between the two wing spectrums because of the concept of property? I mean here's how i see it.

The Right- Believes in the right to property and that whatever and however you make your fortunes is just and the property that you have is yours and yours alone.

The Left- Believes that the the right to property is determined by honest honorable work without exploiting anyone else in the process. Strongly believes in community charity and anti-materialism.

Are these accurate destinctions between the two?

[monkeydust]

Are these accurate destinctions between the two?

Well, in a way, yes, but not really (if we're getting pedantic about things).

First I'd like to make the point that you should not think in Left-Right terms. The political spectrum is useful when referring to different groups with opposing views, but as a means by which to articulate one's own thought, it imposes oversimplified constraints and boundaries on the definitions of traditional ideologies. Which can lead to some silly assertions such as "the right wants the opposite of the left" which is not necessarily always the case).

Aside from this, I think that your definitions might be fairly accurate when applied to the moderate left and right.

For example, Libertarians and Conservatives would tend to uphold the "right to property" that you rightly emphasize. Likewise, Social-democrats might be more willing to promote honest work (as they see it) by offering minimum wages and limiting working hours for employees. By imposing heavy progressive taxation they would probably also cripple the potential for the rich to buy as much property as they get their hands on.

Your conceptions of property, for the left-right divide, however, fall down at the extremes. Fascists care little for the individuals right to property, hardly holding it as a paramount value. Similarly, Communists don't usually talk about the "right to property" in terms other than abolishing private property in any shape or form.