Left, Right and Centre: a graphic illustration of why these words do not give enough information

[miss_s_b]

Using the political compass model, I have made a picture of where the four parties I am somewhat familiar with are currently positioned in my view.



The large patches are the party membership. The small circles are the party leadership. I have added the names of some people to illustrate where I think they go; I'm sure they'll have arguments. Obviously this is just something I have knocked up in two minutes in the graphics prog and is subject to refinement, but I wanted to illustrate that

1. there are broad churches in all the major parties.
2. That all the parties have some areas of overlap.
3. That the leadership of all three parties is not necessarily in tune with the Mainstream of opinion in their party.
4. That the left is REALLY badly represented in the current iteration of the Westminster bubble

If I was any good at 3d graphics I'd be adding a third axis of Radical - conservative too.

As you can see, in terms of left and right I'm actually not that far away from, for example, Tony Blair. But in terms of liberal and authoritarian, we're poles apart. I don't wish to overcomplicate matters for our poor dear journalists, but I do think that linear descriptions of whether someone is left or right is not enough to describe someone's political position.

Also, if I get another email from Our Glorious Leader claiming that we "own the freehold on the centre ground" of british politics I may just scream. Sure, some of us are central on the left-right axis, but in all other respects we are nowhere near the bloody centre, and it's misrepresentation to claim that we are.

ETA: also neatly illustrating that Charlotte Gore is Not A Tory ;)

Comments

[strangecharm]

I was thinking that too; it's like why Australians put themselves at the top of their maps! ;)

[miss_s_b]

They have south at the top and north at the bottom? Cool!

[strangecharm]

I only learned this from the West Wing episode with the Cartographers for Social Equality on it. Which is will worth a watch :)

[strangecharm]

well worth, even. I'm sorry miss, I have a cold.

[miss_s_b]

That's awesome! It makes the planet look bottom heavy rather than top heavy, and thus more stable. I wonder if this feeds into australian pragmatism and No worries, she'll be right attitudes?

[strangecharm]

You know I love you, right?

[miss_s_b]

*blush*