blivet radio
The Radio weblog of Hal Rager

Monday, June 24, 2002

Political Compass Stuff "What's left of the right and what's right on the left: EPO ratings, v2.0. We call ourselves and others "left-wing" or "right-wing" all the time. Yet these are two of the most abused terms in political speech. What do they mean, really? Are liberals left-wing, as Americans would say, or extreme right-wing as Austrians would tend to think about them? Was Stalin left-wing or right-wing? How about Tony Blair? Bill Clinton? Left/right doesn't really make sense. Here's an attempt at an alternative way of labelling political beliefs. [note: This is a re-write of the story by the same title. Thanks for all the comments.]" [kuro5hin.org] 7:50:13 PM    comment   trackback []

For Rafé's title, if nothing else "John Ashcroft, American Taliban. Salon Premium has an article today about a last minute blockade of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which includes outrageous mandates things like a ban on forced marriage and full legal and property rights for women. The treaty has already been signed by 169 countries, and awaits ratification by countries like Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and the United States. Apparently right wingers oppose the treaty for some reason that I don't comprehend, so John Ashcroft (perhaps at the behest of the White House), is blocking the treaty by requesting postponements so that the Justice Department can "review" it (despite the fact that the treaty was originally submitted to the Senate in 1980). (more ...)" [rc3.org] Obviously, there is a lot more than the truth (IMO) in Rafé's title. The fact that Missouri elected Ashcroft to public office, but then failed to reelect him three times because once elected, he pushed his own agenda rather than his constituent's. The third time they elected a challenger who died during the campaign rather than reelect Ashcroft. Because, like the Talban, he knows how you should be living, and is willing to use the power of the government and courts to coerce you to comply with his vision. And because he is an intolerant, narrow-minded twit - unfit for the task he has been given. Unless, of course, that task is dismantling the Constitution of the United States. If so, he is most assuredly a key player. I also think he is set up as a early warning device, in case power on the hill begins to shift. He will be an early target for removal, protecting the even more odious villains who are the architects of this governmental debacle. 7:46:27 PM    comment   trackback []