[_s]

Not at all wanting to be confrontational- genuinely curious; if they’re not on the far right then where are they? The Democrats seem fairly centrist, and it’s the more wayward independents (eg Greens) that seem to be on the Left.

My perspective is European & Australian, so I wonder if that skews it.

[archagon]

They are absolutely far right, they just hate it when you call them that.

[stogot]

Because it’s illogical. Far right implies there is an edge to a majority “right”. Calling the entire majority “far right” is just lazy adhominem attacks. Calling the entire the democrat party far left is equally stupid.

[slightwinder]

> Because it’s illogical. Far right implies there is an edge to a majority “right”.

"far right" and "far left" are terms for contextualizing a political stance, based on the world view and actions. It's doesn't matter where the majority of people stands, they can be all far right or far left or in the center, it wouldn't change the definitions.

[56w4574]

In America you generally only see "Far X" used as a slur to basically imply extremism. I'm sure a lot of people will have strong feelings about whether that's accurate or not but my point is mainly that I think it's weird when people in places like Europe go by the academic definition with regard to American politics.

[NotYourLawyer]

No, they’re relative terms. “Far right” doesn’t mean anything in a vacuum.

[simiones]

The nazi government of Germany was "far right" even when a majority of the population supported it. The political left-right spectrum is roughly defined with socialism, communism on the far left, social democracy on the left, classical liberalism on the center-right, conservatism on the right, and ultra-nationalism, fascism on the far right.

[dns_snek]

Calling the democratic party "far left" is stupid for a different reason, viewed from a global perspective, they're probably best positioned as centre-right.

[potato3732842]

Depends what you care about. Broadly speaking the entire developed world is further left than the US on workplace/business/union policy issues.

The US left (federally, not talking Alabama dems here) is generally more left on immigration, abortion and LGBTQ+ and affirmative action type policies than Europe, broadly speaking. Drug policy is a wash IMO. There's a lot more variation in Europe because the EU doesn't arbitrate social issues the way the US federal government does.

[selfmodruntime]

> Broadly speaking the entire developed world is further left than the US on workplace/business/union policy issues

This is what's crippling them. We initially built the social security net to counter this issue. Then we increased employee rights to maximum levels. I think one of either would be beneficial, but not both.

[ilikecakeandpie]

> not talking Alabama dems here

As an Alabama Dem, this is something that is just so disappointing to see when we're assumed to be not "generally more left"

There are so many here supporting and doing good, hard work with things like the Yellowhammer Fund, ¡HICA!, and Magic City Acceptance Center and Academy but we have to fight for any acknowledgement. We had more people vote for Kamala than several states but they amount to nothing in the public eye. It's so deflating and discouraging

[potato3732842]

I think you have to acknowledge that the democratic politicians that rise to prominence in your state are not exactly the left of the left when it comes to policy in the same way that Christ Christie and Charlier Baker aren't hardline republicans. It's just a reflection of the electorate, not a personal slight.

[selfmodruntime]

This is not true. Their identity politics stances are widely unpopular across the globe, and you won't find another country where they are represented in political discourse.

[weberer]

Can you give some examples of what a far left country or government would be?

[cryptonym]

Far-right is well defined globally. Few core values: nationalism, authoritarianism, anti-socialism, economic libertarianism, racial and gender hierarchies, anti-establishment sentiments.

If you think a party is ticking many boxes, you may label it as "far-right".

[ImJamal]

Maybe I am missing something but Trump doesn't support much of that?

> nationalism, authoritarianism

Sure, you could say he supports this.

> anti-socialism

Not a fair right position. This I'd what anybody who is right of the center left position thinks.

> economic libertarianism

Trump doesn't support this. He wants all sorts of tariffs and the like.

> racial and gender hierarchies

I haven't seen any proof he supports such a thing.

> anti-establishment sentiments.

This is not a far right position. This is a populist position.

[cryptonym]

> tariffs and the like

Protectionism also is a value associated with "far-right". It may sound like it conflicts with libertarianism but in my understanding that's applied nationally, while closing borders.

I won't argue on positions of a specific candidate or party.

> This is not a far right position. This is a populist position.

Populism also is often associated with far-right.

[ImJamal]

> Protectionism also is a value associated with "far-right".

While it may be associated with the "far right", it is held by others as well. Many unions, in the past, supported protectionism for example.

Regardless, the argument was not about Trump holding protectionist views, but libertarian views which he clearly doesn't hold to.

> It may sound like it conflicts with libertarianism but in my understanding that's applied nationally, while closing borders.

Closing the borders has nothing to do with libertarian economics or protectionism.

If you go back 15 years ago plenty of people on the left supported restricting immigration. Bernie Sanders famously called open borders a Koch Brothers plan to get cheap labor and harm workers in the US.

> Populism also is often associated with far-right.

While most populist politicians, at the moment, are on the right, it is not a right wing position. Bernie Sanders is often referred to as a populist as well.

Regardless, it is not a far right position to be anti-establishment or whatever somebody defines populist as.

[loup-vaillant]

By that reasoning Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy weren't far right, because a very significant portion of their population actually voted for that. Or France now, our "Rassemblement National" used to be far right, but now enough people (about a third) vote for them that they no longer are.

Sorry if that feels like a strawman, but I find the idea of using popularity to determining what counts as "far" stupid and dangerous.

[spiderfarmer]

Yeah, you’re mixing up a couple facts with opinions here.

[stogot]

What opinions?

[fastball]

Maybe the problem is with all of you trying to reduce this to one dimension.

[blindriver]

Democrats believe a man who thinks he is a woman is scientifically a woman. They believe in censorship. They believe in supporting and growing the military industrial complex. They believe in a discrimination campaign against whites and Asians, and meanwhile allowing unfettered illegal immigration with the intent of giving amnesty to the millions that entered through the forcibly unguarded border.

They are not centrist by any stretch of the imagination.

[loup-vaillant]

> Democrats believe a man who thinks he is a woman is scientifically a woman

It's a bit more complicated than that. Gender is a social construct, mostly determined by genes & genitalia. It's not quite enough to believe you're a woman, other people have to believe it too. Another issue at play is that there are far more "intersex" people (who have some characteristics of the opposite sex, sometimes to the point doctors don't quite know whether to list them as male or female), and from what I've heard trans people often (possibly generally) are "intersex" in a way that wasn't visible at birth. The idea of a female's brain in a male's body isn't that far fetched.

> They believe in censorship.

I believe this one is more popular in the far right (when in power) than in the far left (when in power)

> They believe in supporting and growing the military industrial complex.

Militarism sounds like it's more popular on the right. Though it can be more complicated: military backed imperialism can indeed support stuff like welfare at home.

---

Now the elephant in the room: last time I checked, democrats were firmly capitalists: they believe the means of production should be owned privately. Even if you exclude actual communism from acceptable discourse, they're fairly poor at public services and keeping inequality in check.

[jimininy]

> The idea of a female's brain in a male's body isn't that far fetched.

How could it possibly be a female brain if it's part of a male body?

[loup-vaillant]

Oh come on, don't pretend you don't know what I mean.

[jimininy]

If you mean what you say, then please define it in a way that holds up to logical and empirical scrutiny.

[loup-vaillant]

Just look up "intersex". Or don't. It's your time. Mine is up.

[jzackpete]

Can you name a policy of today's republican party that is further right than the republican party of 20 years ago? From my perspective they've ceded ground on many social issues. They had a porn star speak at the RNC convention this year. Dick Cheney, one of the people responsible for the "War on Terror", endorsed Kamala Harris. The idea that federal politics in the US has shifted right, not left, is baffling to me.

[shadowfacts]

> Can you name a policy of today's republican party that is further right than the republican party of 20 years ago?

Sure I can: "mass deportation now"

[jzackpete]

Nope. When I worked in a factory as a teenager, ICE came in and presumably deported all of the illegals, because they didn't show up the next day. A big reason Trump got elected is because they stopped doing that, and "mass deportation now" is effectively enforcement of the same policy as it was back then.

[YetAnotherNick]

Can you define far right?

[gorgoiler]

That some people are born better than others and they deserve more in life. It’s an incredibly appealing message.

If you think you’re exceptional, vote Gorgoiler ‘28!

[CapricornNoble]

> That some people are born better than others and they deserve more in life.

Isn't that simply factual human nature? If someone is tall, attractive, physically fit, hardworking, and intelligent, isn't it meritocratic for that person to accrue overall greater benefits/utility to their societal contributions compared to someone who is ugly, unfit, lazy, and stupid?

I wouldn't categorize that position as "far right" at all. I think the position you are trying to express is that the ugly/unfit/lazy/stupid should not be punished or abused by the government/laws/society just for existing. I would be surprised if you walked into an average MAGA rally and found a plurality of people who disagree with that.

[spiderfarmer]

Why would you ask someone to define a known concept that has been around for decades? It’s not like definitions are based on someone’s opinion.

[iinnPP]

Definitions are often based on opinion. Definitions differ depending on many things.

Some definitions are not opinions.

The definition of "far right" is an opinion. Failing to define it in discourse will inevitably result in a lack of positive outcome.

[stego-tech]

Because they’re trolling, knowingly or unknowingly. There’s a presumption here that HN commenters can operate a search engine and read pages of text, and are therefore capable of basic research.

If they’re asking for a definition, it’s likely because they already know it and just want you to fall into a “gotcha” they can then divert discussion toward in their favor. It’s cheap theatrics.

[iinnPP]

You can't be unknowingly trolling as it requires intent. You could argue wilfull ignorance I guess?

At a quick glance, I found 10 definitions of far right that differ slightly. An assumption of malice here fails. Remarkably so.

[stego-tech]

You can miss me with that last part, because I have to assume malice on the part of those who try to steer discourse around vocabulary or policy nuance rather than acknowledge the binary reality of the question.

[iinnPP]

Vocabulary is what we have for textual discourse lacking other inputs, and clarification on terms is a basic and actual necessity of such. You say you "have to assume malice" and, in line with what I already alluded to, that requires malice.

It's not pedantic to ask that your statements be taken clearly and in the right context.

It's worth noting as well that in the context of inclusion, pointing out pedantry at all is going to exclude a group in the "common" understanding of exclusion.

Most importantly, this person is trying to understand your perspective and instead of trying to sway their opinion, you criticize them. One thing that the "far right" has accomplished recently is an understanding that everyone is a person and worth respect and voice. Which is evidenced by the countless videos displaying such behaviour and the ubiquitous response of blessing attributed to people with such inquisition in comment sections everywhere.

In stark contrast is the term uneducated and it's supposed link to intelligence. Don't they teach logical fallacies in college anymore?

[YetAnotherNick]

I am actually not. I just don't know of any policies or promises of Trump that I would genuinely categorize as far right. Border control is not far right according to me.

First of all I dislike Trump and for sure have liberal views in lot of aspects. And say even if I have malice intent and I am a hardcore Trump supporter, comments like yours wouldn't have changed my mind. Assuming you want to change people's side, it is not the reply that would change it.

[n4r9]

According to Wikipedia, "Far-right politics ... are typically marked by radical conservatism, authoritarianism, ultra-nationalism, and nativism"

Digging into the page for radical conservatism, "Elements of ultraconservatism typically rely on cultural crisis; they frequently support anti-globalism – adopting stances of anti-immigration, nationalism, and sovereignty – use populism and political polarization, with in-group and out-group practices.[3][4][5][6] The primary economic ideology for most ultraconservatives is neoliberalism.[6] The use of conspiracy theories is also common amongst ultraconservatives.".

Trump is well-known for his populist, anti-globalist, anti-immigration, and pro-nationalist rhetoric. He has also promulgated conspiarcy theories such as the Obama birther conspiracy and claims of stolen elections.

As for authoritarian, Trump forms a textbook example of a personality cult. He frequently attacks existing institutions and an independent media, undermining trust in a free democratic process. He frequently issues positive messages about authoritarian dictators in other countries such as Bolsonaro, Orban and Putin.

[gadders]

Ah, yes. That well know impartial source of political facts, wikipedia.

>>Trump is well-known for his populist, anti-globalist, anti-immigration, and pro-nationalist rhetoric. He has also promulgated conspiarcy theories such as the Obama birther conspiracy and claims of stolen elections.

You can be patriotic and anti-immigration without being far right. I think the claims of a stolen election are yet to be properly investigated. I'd welcome a truly impartial look into all the covid postal vote shenanigans last time.

>>As for authoritarian, Trump forms a textbook example of a personality cult. He frequently attacks existing institutions and an independent media, undermining trust in a free democratic process. He frequently issues positive messages about authoritarian dictators in other countries such as Bolsonaro, Orban and Putin.

You can criticise institutions now? And I'm sure he'd be in favour of an indepenndent media if America had one.

Putin is a obviously a dictator. Bolsonaro and Orban not so much (especially Bolsonaro as he was, er, voted out which would seem to automatically disqualify him from being a dictator).

[cglace]

Let me turn the question to you. At what point would a politician become far right? Have you ever seen a far-right politician?

[gadders]

I think if they actually advocate violence against minority groups, start genocidal wars, cancel elections etc.

[cglace]

I guess everyone is moderate in your book.

[n4r9]

Political ideologies are defined by a cluster of stances that collectively form a narrative. Those stances may individually have some debatable justifications, but it's when they're taken together that it becomes compelling.

It's not just

"there's something wrong in our society"

it's

"there's an insidious dark force at work, it's brought us down from our glorious past, these groups of people are involved, violence against this threat is understandable, only a few men are strong and capable enough to lead us out of this...".

In 1930s Germany and Italy the "groups of people" were marxists, jews, gypsies, homosexuals and a few others. In modern Russia it's LGBT, central Asians, objectors to the war, and various religious groups like Jehovah's Witnesses. For Trump and a lot of Europe's right-wing it's LGBT, immigrants, intellectuals, and liberals (though he calls them communists).

[gadders]

He's not said anything like this though:

"there's an insidious dark force at work, it's brought us down from our glorious past, these groups of people are involved, violence against this threat is understandable, only a few men are strong and capable enough to lead us out of this...".

[n4r9]

A few examples...

For insidious dark forces, he alludes to the "deep state", talks about an "enemy from within", and uses phrases like "poisoning the blood of the nation".

For glorious past, there's the MAGA motto, and his narrative that political correctness and lefty lunatics have destroyed American exceptionalism.

For violence, he's repeatedly threatened violence against protestors to his rallies, defended or refused to condemn violence by his own supporters, and suggested that political opponents deserve to have violence inflicted on them.

For only a few men, his prodigious hyperbole about how he's the best at everything, and he literally describes himself as "I am your retribution" who will usher in a "new golden age". And again, he's generally praising of strongman authoritarians around the world

[vergessenmir]

To give you a bit of perspective,the democrats are right of the Conservatives in the UK.

So they would kinda feel feel far-rightish to us only because the democrats are more conservative than ours

[3np]

That is one of infinite potential framings. It should be obvious it has served its usefulness and is no longer helpful and constructive.

[carom]

They are a corporate party, just like the democrats. Supporting secure borders is not far right. Republicans have support of every race, they are not racist despite the media repeating that they are. Trump is very hesitant about getting involved in wars. I see nothing far right about them, maybe they are somewhat nationalistic instead of globalist, but the US is a diverse nation. At the end of the day they are just another corporate party that appealed more to the American people.

[markus_zhang]

Non-American here too, but since your perspective is EU, what is Nazi party when the Republican party is far right? Like, far far far right?

[wiggidy]

Depends on how you define 'right'.

Were they conservative? No, they wanted to upend society and create one that is nothing like anything ever seen before. They were also anti-religion. In many ways, they were anti-tradition, and I wouldn't consider their obsession with bringing back dead traditions to be traditional.

Were they hateful, racist, etc.? Yes, up to you if that's considered 'right'.

Were they, like how American political parties are, friends of big business? Not really, they wanted to sponsor monopolies and whatnot but also wanted the businesses to have no influence over the state, rather the other way around, the state can force the big business to do what they want. As far as if it actually worked that way when they were in power, I'm not sure.