On Mon, 18 Nov 1996 20:10:53 -0500 (EST), you wrote: : :Sandy, : :I always had trouble understanding what people meant when they used the :terms "extreme left" and "extreme right". Then, about 4 months ago, I :saw a guy define the "political spectrum" the way (he said) it used to be :defined before the definitions were corrupted (by whomever wants to :divide - and conquer - the people). It made sense to me. A spectrum :afterall, at least when we're talking about colors, starts with one type :of color and graduates to other, DIFFERENT colors. : :He defined the "political spectrum" as follows: : :< ------- LEFT RIGHT -------> : : Monarchy Oligarchy Democracy Republic Anarchy : :Rule by: ONE FEW MANY LAW NONE : :Examples: Dictator, Communist, Lynch Mob Constitutional : King Fascist State Govt (US before : 1930's) You forgot the property situation under each. Anarchy: (IMO belongs left of monarchy, just to keep it mathematical) Ownership and distribution of product of ownership controlled by the strongest mob. Monarchy: Ownership by the one. Privileged few allowed to make use of it. Oligarchy: Communist: No private ownership. Distribution of product by the state. Fascist: Private ownership allowed. Distribution of product by the state. Democracy: Ownership and distribution by the loudest mob. Republic: Private ownership and private determination of distribution. (Major paradigm shift in governance - away from whims of one/few/many *people* to *objective laws*.) NOTE: Key word here is *objective* - not law. Whims are subjective. -- Pat McCotter Finger patm@connix.com for PGP Public Key PGP Key Fingerprint PGP Key ID D437B2D9 D0 E7 C6 5A 9E EF 0D CF C7 10 88 2A 73 41 11 24