LEFT-RIGHT CONFUSION
How our Intellectuals Screwed-up!
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
What is a republic?
There is, in a sense, a point halfway between totalitarianism on the right and democracy on the left — classic republicanism.
A republic draws its power from “those entitled to vote”. When the
Is the
or a democracy?
It is both. Since the masses have ultimate power — through free elections, freedom of speech, press and assembly — it is a democracy. Since the people, through these elections, give power to a select few — senators, representatives, Presidents, governors, judges and the like — it is a republic. The argument about whether we are a democracy or a republic is therefore irrelevant. We are both.
Countries generally are too large to use direct or participatory democracy — where everyone would debate and vote on all issues. Therefore, they use representative democracies of some sort. The masses vote in free elections and thus wield ultimate power — an activity that makes a country a democracy. By electing representatives, they give power to a select few. That placing of power in the hands of a few makes a country a republic.
Historically these two terms have been uses synonymously. More accurately, they identify two aspects of a government we tend to call democratic. Several communist nations call themselves democratic republics. The two terms have tremendous
Since the masses have ultimate power…it is a democracy. Since the people…give power to a select few…it is a republic.
appeal to people seeking political freedom. Possibly that explains why the words are used by some governments which are neither democratic nor republican.
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About the Book
What is liberal, conservative, left, right, socialism, capitalism, and all the other words writers use to explain and describe the world in our time. Students, as well as adults, deserve to know.
Left-Right Confusion explains how these important words are used by historians and recognized writers the world over. It also explains how writers have often misused these words to mislead and confuse readers and to defend their own personal biases.
Other important words students and readers should know and use are included in this book as well. Words such as objective, subjective, connotation, denotation, logic, deductive and inductive thinking, and truth are some other very important words explained in this book.
There are also definitions of many of the isms used by writers: such as Marxism, fascism, despotism, elitism, Nazism, feudalism, etc. Explained too are many of the words used to identify various types of governments that exist now or have existed in the past: such as aristocracy, autocracy, monarchy, oligarchy, theocracy and of course democracy.
Brief but helpful answers are given to some very important questions: such as What is a republic?, is the
About the Author
Since Paul Aamot is a decorated veteran of World War II—he received three Air Medals for combat missions as a radioman-gunner on carrier based planes—he has had an intense interest in how that war preserved and expanded freedom in the world.
In his writing classes, in a small college, his students often wrote about World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War. He was often shocked by how confused students were about such words as freedom, democracy, socialism, capitalism, totalitarianism, left, right, liberal, conservative and all the other words writers use to explain the governments, economies, social orders, etc. of all the countries in the world.
But he did not blame students for their confusion and lack of knowledge and understanding about, for instance, the free vs the non-free world during the Cold War—about which students, understandably, liked to write. He felt that writers of articles and books—very often learned intellectuals—have not done a very good job of informing readers and students about governments and economies in the world.
Consequently, he wrote Left-Right Confusion to help students better understand the governments and economies of the world. He also cites examples of how some writers have misused words over the years and how that misuse has served to confuse readers and students alike. That is why the sub-title of Left-Right Confusion is How our Intellectuals Screwed-up!