tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post112601019546821742..comments2023-12-01T16:56:04.415+11:00Comments on Peak Energy: Random NotesBig Gavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-1126096842864243492005-09-07T22:40:00.000+10:002005-09-07T22:40:00.000+10:00Admittedly, if you put me in a room full of mainst...Admittedly, if you put me in a room full of mainstream 2005 American right wingers there would most likely be harsh words and I'd probably end up beating them all up. <BR/><BR/>It depends how brainwashed they are and how willing they are to face reality though - I've never yet had any trouble convincing people here about the reality of peak oil for example (admittedly we're far less "conservative" than the US is), and that includes a number of thoroughly conservative people.<BR/><BR/>My definition of right wing is what I grew up with in the 1970's - in favour of free markets rather than socialism and against totalitarian style thinking and big government in general - essentially a cookie cutter Libertarian (though I'm willing to face the limits of this approach and I've come to quite understand the benefit of things like universal healthcare and schooling in building a strong and stable society - as do people like Warren Buffett I might add). <BR/><BR/>My background is in engineering and I've spent most of my life working in defence, energy and banking - none of which are known for attracting lefties.<BR/><BR/>As I've said repeatedly the modern day republican party is by and large a toxic brew of fascists, religious fundamentalists and what Libertarians would call "militant mercantilists". To me these are the evil fringes of right wing politics and I still fail to understand how such extremists have come to dominate - which is why I quoted that American Conservative piece that noted they'll discredit conservatism for gnerations, which mirrors my thoughts exactly. I guess its a testament to the power of fear, hate and greed.<BR/><BR/>Of course, how far the definition of "right wing" has drifted is illustrated by the fact that the Australian right wing party is the "Liberal Party" - in the wake of World War 2, Liberalism was right wing, and the alternative was socialism. Now it seems that liberal is used as a synonym for "commie" by these brownshirt nuts of the right and genuine left wing politics are almost completely suppressed.<BR/><BR/>In American terms I think people should ask themself what George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Dwight Eisenhower would say if they were resurrected and taken to Washington. I suspect George would start fomenting a revolution, Abraham would wonder how the South won and Dwight would say "fools - I warned you about the military industrial complex"...Big Gavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00682404837426502876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9864176.post-1126053715735806772005-09-07T10:41:00.000+10:002005-09-07T10:41:00.000+10:00You, a right winger? (albeit disgruntled) Given th...You, a right winger? (albeit disgruntled) Given that I no longer know what the term even means.@whuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297101284358849575noreply@blogger.com