What’s the deal with left and right in politics? | Politics Explained (Easily) | ABC News

Summary

The script explores the concepts of 'left-wing' and 'right-wing' ideologies, explaining their implications on government roles and societal issues. It distinguishes between progressive (left-wing) values, which advocate for government intervention to address inequality and social issues, and conservative (right-wing) values, which prefer minimal government involvement. The script highlights the complexity of political beliefs, noting that individuals may align with different wings on various issues. It also addresses the security concerns related to far-right extremism and suggests using ABC's Vote Compass to determine one's political alignment.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The terms 'left-wing' and 'right-wing' describe broad attitudes and beliefs about societal issues, such as wealth distribution and government service provision.
• 📊 'Left-wing' parties typically advocate for government intervention to create a fairer society, including higher taxes on the wealthy to fund public services.
• 🌱 'Progressive' is synonymous with 'left-wing', emphasizing change and government action on issues like gender equality and climate change.
• 🏛 'Right-wing' historically favors minimal government interference, leaving societal changes to businesses and societal norms, often aligning with conservative values.
• 🕊 The script emphasizes that political beliefs are not static and can vary across different issues, with individuals holding left or right views on different topics.
• 🌳 'The Greens' are mentioned as the major party furthest to the left, with 'Labour' closer to the center, and 'Liberals' partnered with 'Nationals' on the right, focusing on regional interests.
• 🚨 There is a security concern regarding individuals or groups on the far-right, who are monitored by intelligence organizations due to potential threats to society.
• 🌐 The rise of right-wing populism is a global phenomenon, often emerging during times of uncertainty and hardship, with a tendency to offer simple solutions and blame migrants.
• 🤔 Determining one's political stance involves considering government's role in supporting low-income individuals and addressing climate change.
• 🗳️ ABC's Vote Compass is recommended as a tool to help individuals find out their political alignment and identify the political party that best represents their priorities.

Q & A

What do the terms 'left-wing' and 'right-wing' generally describe in terms of political beliefs?

The terms 'left-wing' and 'right-wing' are broad descriptors for someone's attitudes and beliefs towards key societal challenges, such as the gap between the rich and the poor or the role of government in providing services like health and education.

How does the script define 'progressive' and 'conservative' in the context of political ideologies?

In the script, 'progressive' is defined as pushing for change, while 'conservative' means maintaining the status quo.

What is the general stance of left-wing parties on government involvement and taxation?

Left-wing parties typically believe in the government's role in making laws and spending money to make society fairer, which includes increasing taxes, especially for wealthier individuals, to fund services for those who cannot afford them.

What progressive causes are often associated with the left-wing of politics?

The left-wing of politics is usually associated with progressive causes such as gender equality and climate change policy.

What is the historical stance of right-wing ideologies on government involvement in people's lives?

Right-wing ideologies have historically been about keeping government out of people's lives and leaving change to be driven by businesses and society.

What values are usually associated with right-wing politics?

Right-wing politics is usually associated with conservative values and sees a bigger role for religion and traditions in people's behavior.

How can an individual's stance on various issues help determine their position on the political spectrum?

An individual's stance on issues such as government assistance for low-income individuals, climate change, and social equality can help determine whether they lean more towards left-wing, right-wing, or are somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum.

What is the script's view on the rigidity of the terms 'left' and 'right' in politics?

The script suggests that while the terms 'left' and 'right' have been around for a long time, they are not set in stone and are better thought of as sitting on a spectrum.

According to the script, which political party is considered the furthest to the left in Australia?

The Greens are mentioned as the major party furthest to the left in Australia.

What is the script's mention of the 'far right' in relation to security concerns?

The script notes that while the far left exists, it is people who align with the far right that are considered a security concern and are the focus of some of the biggest intelligence organizations.

How does the script describe the rise of right-wing populism and its connection to societal issues?

The script describes the rise of right-wing populism as occurring during times of uncertainty and hardship, where people are drawn to strong authoritarian leaders offering simple answers to complex problems, often blaming migrants and combining with a backlash against gender and racial equality movements.