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Comment by hunterpayne

5 hours ago

Terms like left and right only have meaning in one place at one time. So just because European conservatives 100 years ago believed something doesn't mean American conservatives today believe in that thing. That's why political scientists have terms like socialist, fascists, libertarian, etc. That's how US right (libertarian) is basically nothing like the right in Europe (conservative). That's because the basic axis of differences in the US is larger vs smaller government and in Europe it is completely different as both sides like larger government. I have tried to explain this to many Europeans over the years; somehow you are all allergic to understanding it. Its probably the only thing you all have in common.

The French Revolution, when left and right started, was 237 years ago by the way.

I agree about the scale being different across countries. The american politics would be only right on a common European left/right scale.

If everyone doesn’t understand, have you considered that another thing in common is what you try to explain?