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[–]ageingrockstar 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I'd been thinking of starting a thread along similar lines. I agree with you, Left and Right are not useful descriptors anymore (and I'm now starting to wonder if they ever were, even during the French Revolution, which is their origin, but that is a deeper discussion).

I would pose two question :

  1. Do you still identify, even in your head, as Left or Right ?

  2. Do you use these labels to describe others, in writing or in speech ?

My answer to question 1 is still a weak yes, but my identification continues to grow weaker. My answer to 2 is a definite No, and I haven't for some time now (although I probably am still guilty of applying the labels to others in my head still, particularly when they've self-identified to one of the labels).

[–]InumaGaming Socialist[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

That's actually something I've been meaning to point out: How those aligning with the monarchy and those aligning with other groups became left and right.

I finally... FINALLY... Got some time to actually do some research and get that working soon.

What I've come up with are factions and divisions which intensify do I'm getting into that when I write it all out.

[–]ageingrockstar 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Many who would call themselves 'monarchists' in the modern-day UK are only constitutional monarchists. I think very few would be absolute monarchists.

Constitutional monarchy is what France moved to after Louis XVI's failed Flight to Varennes. He was forced to sign a new constitution that made France a constitutional monarchy (but still with a royal veto). This constitutional monarchy only lasted a year (from September '91 to September '92) when, because of reaction to the Brunswick Manifesto and the Declaration of Pillnitz issued by France's war opponents, he was removed as monarch (and only months after executed). My point being that with a slightly different history (the Flight to Varennes succeeded, Louis XVI didn't get married to an Austrlan princess, etc), France could have stayed a constitutional monarchy, perhaps even up to the modern day (as the UK has). And so I don't even know if the French Revolution was so much about getting (completely) rid of the monarchy.

[–]InumaGaming Socialist[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

That's part of it and I'll acknowledge that it wasn't about preserving or getting rid of monarchy.

More that different groups found purchase and alignment as the revolution went on.

For example, Marquis de Sade got real popular by trying to get people sexually energized to not think and use sex as a release valve against the Church.

There's certainly more to it but all sorts of things popped up as a result

[–]ageingrockstar 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'd certainly be interested in reading your further thoughts