Concerned about the surge of right-wing governments

[Tasaio]

First, Gore lost to Bush (or rather, had the election stolen).

Then, Germany switches to a Conservative government.

Then, Canada.

Then, France.

Now, Australia.

And soon, it seems the UK will elect Cameron (!).

...

What's going on?

For the past 8 years, we've heard nothing but how people of the above countries have a negative view of Bush. And yet, people of the same countries have gone ahead and elected leaders who greatly admire Bush.

Harper, Cameron, Sarkozy...they all want to reducte separation of church and state.

It seems to me that people are willing to ditch kind, competent leaders (Paul Martin, Gordon Brown) over a single scandal. Yet multiple scandals in Conservative governments (Iraq, torture, Brian Mulroney) are completely ignored.

How do we deal with worry over the surge in right-wing governments? I intend, on a daily basis, for the liberal governments to be reelected.

I know that the world will pull through. We always have. But why such a dramatic shift to the right...when people seem to have such a negative view?

[cdn2wheeler]

Ummm... actually, our good Aussie friends just voted in a moderate, centrist government that's pledged to remove troops from Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol.

I can't speak for waht took place in Germany or France as I don't know the players involved other than Merkel (sp?) or Sarozky. Sure, she's more to the right than the left, but she's still far more centrist than, say, Bush or ex-PM Thatcher.

As far as Harper, I'm not that conservative politically and certainly not conservative socially (though I've been accused of being a financial conservative and tend to agree with that) but unless there's something I've missed I don't see Harper and his people hell-bent on merging church and state.

Also, in October the province of Ontario soundly rejected the Conservative agenda and their leader, John Tory (yea, tha's really his name... talk about truth in advertising!). From where I sit, the conservative watershed that started with Reagan and Thatcher has pretty much run its course, and voters now can plainly see that the myth of conservative fiscal restraint is just that; a myth.

[Amadeus]

George W. Bush is the furtherest thing from a conservative as you can get. Are you kidding me? Just because conservative Christians voted him in doesn't mean HE is a conservative. He has doubled the size of the government which is the furthest thing from Reaganomics. He has not vetoed one spending bill yet, except in the past 2 weeks. He has done NOTHING to stop illegal immigration in Mexico. He has invaded 2 countries, had conversations with Mexico's last president Fox about a North American currency and one transportation system that would threaten the US's sovereignty. Remember, conservatives are xenophobic, so why would we want to partner with other countries and be involved with nation building?

If anything other countries want to be the furthest thing from socialism and that is the reason they are electing REAL conservatives. Don't be confused by the little (D) or (R) beside the politician’s name, it has nothing to do with their real politics. Bill Clinton and George Bush Senior are best of friends.

Oh, and there are plenty of liberal governments if you look around. Cuba, Venezuela, China, Russia (starting to go back to their old ways), and North Korea. Karl Marx would be proud of these great nations that deny independent wealth and the belief that everyone should have the same amount of assets and money regardless of what you contribute to society. Every extra value or income you make should be handed over to the government to spend as they choose because we know how well they do spending our money like over here in the US and the wonderful things they did with our social security money the last several decades. We should also hand over more taxes to the government and make our health care system socialized too like in Canada and England because we also know how well the government schools are run over here in the US. No more As or Fs, now it is colors. If you bring pencils or crayons, it is everyone's. Individuality is a sin! Everyone gets a trophy because there is no such thing as first and last place in the "real world". And how many people here has heard their government taught child say, "that's not fair"? Because life is fair in the real world isn’t it? Yea, liberal socialized government is the only way to go.

[Brutha]

Then, Germany switches to a Conservative government.

Germany didn't switch to a Conservative government.
It a big coalition. The left and the right are at the same time at the government. It unfortunately isn't very effective but its far better than having a completely Conservative government.

Politics is a group sport, not a solo sport, even when the top players get most of the media coverage.

Oh, and there are plenty of liberal governments if you look around. Cuba, Venezuela, China, Russia (starting to go back to their old ways), and North Korea. Karl Marx would be proud of these great nations that deny independent wealth and the belief that everyone should have the same amount of assets and money regardless of what you contribute to society.

The meaning of some words is very funny. In europe you call someone who is for free markets a liberal.
Adam Smith was a liberal in his time. Even Milton Friedman considered himself a classical liberal.
But the meaning of labels chances with the political landscape and liberal got another meaning in the USA.
The same thing happend with the "conservative"-label.

And soon, it seems the UK will elect Cameron (!).

It's could be worse. You see the Brits didn't like Blair going into Iraq so they want another government.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Germany didn't switch to a Conservative government.
It a big coalition. The left and the right are at the same time at the goverment. It unfortunatly isn't very effective but its far better than having a completly Conervative goverment.

You mean the left right and the right right are at the same time at the government?

(Just kidding, but I find the german left quite conservative too.)

[Michael Chui]

Presentism is so annoying, heh.

More seriously, I'm going to ask how it is (the general) you feel it is possible to categorize a government into "right-wing" and "left-wing". I mean, was Nero more or less to the right than Augustus?

[Brutha]

(Just kidding, but I find the german left quite conservative too.)

Is always a matter of perspective. I would think that Merkel would make a good Democrat in America.

More seriously, I'm going to ask how it is (the general) you feel it is possible to categorize a government into "right-wing" and "left-wing". I mean, was Nero more or less to the right than Augustus?

Nero probably was more right than Augustus, but my knowledge of ancient roman politics isn't that deep.

But in general right and left are relative terms. You can see where different countries are heading, when you look at the governments they elect.