What does being "far left" actually mean?

[Heathblue]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

What family unit?

A group of happy people mostly, is this a question and answers thread ?

[Wash DC Blue]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

I think that there are a fair few on here that I would consider far left.
Jon59 is open about his beliefs and fair play to him about it.

My question of how left somebody is, come down to if they would like to see renationalization of utilities, railways etc..

Or if they just hate their counties, heritage and seeing everything wrong that their ancestors did as being wrong.

Brexit was a great yardstick.

Many people on here decided that they would all of a sudden become Welsh Nationalists as long as they could rejoin the European Union.

I used to listen to Billy Bragg a LOT.
Songs like “Between The Wars” meant so much to me, living in London then and proud of being working class.

I still stand by those values and no matter how my particular dice fall…
I will always be working class.

The working class are irrelevant now though to modern Marxism as Colour, Creed, Islam, Gender are their way to take the fight forward once the working class was defeated. Then the working class became enemies of Modern Marxism, because they still held on to their values.

I think I’ve mentioned it on here several times but the likes of Foucault and Derrida are to blame. Their ideology has has festered and is now prospering.

Initially Post Modernism…through to intentional destruction of the West.

Ask me questions about their philosophy by all means…but please read about their views first.

I want a fair shake for all people.
The far left doesn’t.
They want to break things down and start again.

[jon1959]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

I'm curious. Occasionally I read about the threat of the political "far left" on social media, usually from Tommy Robinson supporters etc, but I have no idea what that actually means. Who are the "far left"? What is their damaging agenda?

I suppose ‘far left’ means whatever the person using the term wants it to mean. For large parts of the media (not just the western media) and political, business and financial capitalist castes it means vaguely liberal or social democratic. For others it is a meaningless label of abuse - ‘those over there’!

To my mind if it has any meaning it should describe people who want to build a better, fairer society. Those who put their trust in other people and believe in collective decision making and community. Those who fight every form of exploitation and abuse. Those who have an understanding of class conflict and the real interests of working people. Opponents of imperialism. Supporters of participatory democracy and governments (until governments are no longer needed) of the people who create the wealth and those dependent on them. It is about stopping obscene concentrations of wealth and power - and putting the means of production, distribution and exchange into the hands of the public, not a few individuals.

It also encompasses some socially liberal views and aspirations - especially when trying to overcome centuries of entrenched discrimination and marginalisation around issues of race, sex, gender and disability.

In my view communists are people who give their lives to building communist parties - not fellow travellers who share some of their ideas and analysis. But ‘far left’ as a label for people who are to the left of mainstream social democracy (managed capitalism, modified exploitation, a little bit of public ownership - all wrapped up in the symbols of the oppressor state) is maybe a useful catch all for those who want to change the world for the better and are prepared to break physical and mental chains to do it.

Not really a fan of ‘far left’ as a description though. It makes sensible and principled ideas sound extreme when they are not. ‘Socialist’ works better for me.

[JamesWales]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

I think that there are a fair few on here that I would consider far left.
Jon59 is open about his beliefs and fair play to him about it.

My question of how left somebody is, come down to if they would like to see renationalization of utilities, railways etc..

Or if they just hate their counties, heritage and seeing everything wrong that their ancestors did as being wrong.

Brexit was a great yardstick.

Many people on here decided that they would all of a sudden become Welsh Nationalists as long as they could rejoin the European Union.

I used to listen to Billy Bragg a LOT.
Songs like “Between The Wars” meant so much to me, living in London then and proud of being working class.

I still stand by those values and no matter how my particular dice fall…
I will always be working class.

The working class are irrelevant now though to modern Marxism as Colour, Creed, Islam, Gender are their way to take the fight forward once the working class was defeated. Then the working class became enemies of Modern Marxism, because they still held on to their values.

I think I’ve mentioned it on here several times but the likes of Foucault and Derrida are to blame. Their ideology has has festered and is now prospering.

Initially Post Modernism…through to intentional destruction of the West.

Ask me questions about their philosophy by all means…but please read about their views first.

I want a fair shake for all people.
The far left doesn’t.
They want to break things down and start again.

Yeah the identity over class thing is very strong I think. Ironically though I would say that's more a "left" or "centre left" thing more than "far left". It's the centre left who preach all that stuff normally.

[JamesWales]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

I suppose ‘far left’ means whatever the person using the term wants it to mean. For large parts of the media (not just the western media) and political, business and financial capitalist castes it means vaguely liberal or social democratic. For others it is a meaningless label of abuse - ‘those over there’!

To my mind if it has any meaning it should describe people who want to build a better, fairer society. Those who put their trust in other people and believe in collective decision making and community. Those who fight every form of exploitation and abuse. Those who have an understanding of class conflict and the real interests of working people. Opponents of imperialism. Supporters of participatory democracy and governments (until governments are no longer needed) of the people who create the wealth and those dependent on them. It is about stopping obscene concentrations of wealth and power - and putting the means of production, distribution and exchange into the hands of the public, not a few individuals.

It also encompasses some socially liberal views and aspirations - especially when trying to overcome centuries of entrenched discrimination and marginalisation around issues of race, sex, gender and disability.

In my view communists are people who give their lives to building communist parties - not fellow travellers who share some of their ideas and analysis. But ‘far left’ as a label for people who are to the left of mainstream social democracy (managed capitalism, modified exploitation, a little bit of public ownership - all wrapped up in the symbols of the oppressor state) is maybe a useful catch all for those who want to change the world for the better and are prepared to break physical and mental chains to do it.

Not really a fan of ‘far left’ as a description though. It makes sensible and principled ideas sound extreme when they are not. ‘Socialist’ works better for me.

Interesting answer although I don't think wanting a better or fairer society is the preserve of the far left, certainly not the better society part. Every ideology wants a better society, it just varies in their vision of it. If the far-left really do want a better society then they are stunningly bad at implementing it when they have an opportunity to do so!

Same with liberal opinions. Liberalism is typically a trait of the right or centre-right, albeit primarily in an economic sense.

It is so difficult to define these things though. Even the word socialist literally spans the spectrum from far-right to far-left and everything inbetween. I would personally call (democratic) socialism "left wing" not "far-left"

[jon1959]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

More 'far left' (aka rational, sane and reasonable) sense, optimism and fight from Bernie Sanders:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/19/trumpism-bernie-sanders

This bit really struck home:

While Trump moves us away from democracy, while the middle class continues to decline, the wealthiest people in the country have never ever had it so good. Today, the three major oligarchs, Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, are worth $905bn – that is more wealth than the bottom half of American society – 170 million people. And, incredibly, since Trump’s election their wealth has grown by $217bn.

And this:

Trumpism has significant control over large parts of the media from which millions of Americans get their information. Fox and Musk’s platform X, among others, are not normal media outlets. Their basic function is not to cover the “news” but to spread rightwing extremist ideology.

Trumpism is utilizing the concept of the “big lie” in a way that has never, in this country, been seen. Day after day, blatantly dishonest statements and conspiracy theories are propagated – and repeated over and over and over again.

Trumpism does not believe in democracy or the rule of law. Trump recently posted: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” In other words, Trump believes that he can do anything he wants for any reason. He can ignore Congress or the courts. He is above the law.

But, while Trump consolidates power into his own hands, there is another reality going on.

Today, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; millions are earning starvation wages; 85 million are uninsured or under-insured; young people are unable to afford the cost of college; 25% of seniors live on $15,000 a year or less; we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth, and we have a major shortage in low-income and affordable housing.

Oh, and by the way, we’re losing the struggle against the climate crisis – an existential threat to the future of the planet.

[JamesWales]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

Lot of that is quite questionable, but Bernie is a pretty consistent and compelling politician and does so in a dignified way normally.

More to the point though, I don't think people would label Bernie Sanders 'far-left' would they? Again, he would be firmly in the 'left-wing' camp for me.

[Heathblue]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

More 'far left' (aka rational, sane and reasonable) sense, optimism and fight from Bernie Sanders:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/19/trumpism-bernie-sanders

This bit really struck home:

While Trump moves us away from democracy, while the middle class continues to decline, the wealthiest people in the country have never ever had it so good. Today, the three major oligarchs, Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, are worth $905bn – that is more wealth than the bottom half of American society – 170 million people. And, incredibly, since Trump’s election their wealth has grown by $217bn.

And this:

Trumpism has significant control over large parts of the media from which millions of Americans get their information. Fox and Musk’s platform X, among others, are not normal media outlets. Their basic function is not to cover the “news” but to spread rightwing extremist ideology.

Trumpism is utilizing the concept of the “big lie” in a way that has never, in this country, been seen. Day after day, blatantly dishonest statements and conspiracy theories are propagated – and repeated over and over and over again.

Trumpism does not believe in democracy or the rule of law. Trump recently posted: “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” In other words, Trump believes that he can do anything he wants for any reason. He can ignore Congress or the courts. He is above the law.

But, while Trump consolidates power into his own hands, there is another reality going on.

Today, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck; millions are earning starvation wages; 85 million are uninsured or under-insured; young people are unable to afford the cost of college; 25% of seniors live on $15,000 a year or less; we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth, and we have a major shortage in low-income and affordable housing.

Oh, and by the way, we’re losing the struggle against the climate crisis – an existential threat to the future of the planet.

Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has faced scrutiny over his personal assets and campaign contributions.

Personal Residences: Sanders owns three homes:

A primary residence in Chittenden County, Vermont.
A townhouse in Washington, D.C., facilitating his duties as a U.S. Senator.
A vacation home on Lake Champlain in Vermont, purchased in 2016.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has faced scrutiny over his personal assets and campaign contributions.

Personal Residences: Sanders owns three homes:

A primary residence in Chittenden County, Vermont.
A townhouse in Washington, D.C., facilitating his duties as a U.S. Senator.
A vacation home on Lake Champlain in Vermont, purchased in 2016.

With some tight budgeting it's fairly trivial to turn a government salary into 3 luxury homes.

[jon1959]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

Lot of that is quite questionable, but Bernie is a pretty consistent and compelling politician and does so in a dignified way normally.

More to the point though, I don't think people would label Bernie Sanders 'far-left' would they? Again, he would be firmly in the 'left-wing' camp for me.

I don’t think Sanders is ‘far left’ at all - which is why I used inverted commas. But he is frequently described that way in US media and social media. Mind you, those same people think Hillary Clinton is a communist and Donald Trump believes in democracy!

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: What does being "far left" actually mean?

I think that there are a fair few on here that I would consider far left.
Jon59 is open about his beliefs and fair play to him about it.

My question of how left somebody is, come down to if they would like to see renationalization of utilities, railways etc..

Or if they just hate their counties, heritage and seeing everything wrong that their ancestors did as being wrong.

Brexit was a great yardstick.

Many people on here decided that they would all of a sudden become Welsh Nationalists as long as they could rejoin the European Union.

I used to listen to Billy Bragg a LOT.
Songs like “Between The Wars” meant so much to me, living in London then and proud of being working class.

I still stand by those values and no matter how my particular dice fall…
I will always be working class.

The working class are irrelevant now though to modern Marxism as Colour, Creed, Islam, Gender are their way to take the fight forward once the working class was defeated. Then the working class became enemies of Modern Marxism, because they still held on to their values.

I think I’ve mentioned it on here several times but the likes of Foucault and Derrida are to blame. Their ideology has has festered and is now prospering.

Initially Post Modernism…through to intentional destruction of the West.

Ask me questions about their philosophy by all means…but please read about their views first.

I want a fair shake for all people.
The far left doesn’t.
They want to break things down and start again.

That's far too academic

It's interesting if political analysis is your thing

I am not far left I will never ever vote Tory though