What is a leftist?

[DavidJames]

Ok, yet another tread about "leftists" has prompted me to ask. What is a leftist? My political and social views are mostly aligned with the "left wing" here in the U.S. (as opposed to the "right wing" of course). But almost every day I'm reading things about "leftists" that I don't agree with.

So what is a leftist? I would especially like to hear from those that are only to happy to use the term in a derogatory manner. I need to know whether I should be offended or not :)

[jj]

Originally posted by DavidJames
Ok, yet another tread about "leftists" has prompted me to ask. What is a leftist? My political and social views are mostly aligned with the "left wing" here in the U.S. (as opposed to the "right wing" of course). But almost every day I'm reading things about "leftists" that I don't agree with.

So what is a leftist? I would especially like to hear from those that are only to happy to use the term in a derogatory manner. I need to know whether I should be offended or not :)

Presently in the USA it means anyone who isnt' religious, who doens't believe in "the spoils to the strong", who doesn't think that large corporations should be allowed to buy the government outright, or who think that civil liberties should be conserved.

There are probably some other things it means.

To be clear, I'm not one of those who uses it in a derogatory manner, although I am one who points out the repeated misuses of the word to mean the above.

[JAR]

Here's some things leftists like:

1.Affirmative Action.
2.They want Israel to be given to the Palestinians.
3.Forced integrated education.
4.Socialism.
5.Communism.
6.They want the U.S. to never use its military.
7.They tend to sympathize with people of darker complexion.
8.Whenever they hear that people of darker complexion aren't doing well economically, they assume that it is due to racial persecution.
9.Anti-tobacco.
10.They sympathize with non-white racists more than they do with white racists.
11.Welfare.
12.Universal Health-Care.
13.Feminist movements.
14.Pro-Choice regarding Abortions(I'm not a leftist, but I agree with them on this point.).

[Tony]

Leftists want:

to re-distribute wealth
regulate and/or ban guns
regulate speech http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/freedom/aaup.html
increasewelfare
institute 'universal" health-care
higher taxes

they:
sympathize more with "minorities"
support institutionalized racism in the guise of "affirmative action"
want to legalize (some) drugs
want to ban smoking

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by JAR
Here's some things leftists like:

.....
14.Pro-Choice regarding Abortions(I'm not a leftist, but I agree with them on this point.).

About number 14..

Are they only pro choice with regard to dark skinned people?

[Dancing David]

Uh, it means that you sit on the left side of the center aisle in the old Congress Hall.

Not all leftists agree on all things at all times, there is no generic leftist package.

For example, I am far of the left but:
I believe in traffic laws and laws in general.
I believe that the Palestinians and the Israelis are equally messed up.
I believe that capitalism as a system is cool, I disagree with the way people with money get out of the laws more easily.
I believe in fiscal responsibility, I believe we need a military and social spending.
I believe that there is a problem with bigotry, I support affirmative action, I do not support reparations.
I believe that all humans are equal, I would never assume that someone was better or worse than I based upon race. Or the fact that they are 'rightist' or Republican. Shoot I have voted for enough Republicans when I wanted too.

So go ahead and continue to condem the left , I don't care, sometimes your right about what you say about the left sometimes your not.

Funk On