The Left vs Right Divide, How to Overcome it and Come Together?

I hear folks says occasionally and I say it myself at times. The Left vs Right paradigm is a distraction and keeps us divided and keeps TPTB in control while we all bicker and fight over whose ideology is better correct etc. fueled by media and politicians, and they continue to impose more controls and rob us blind while laughing all the way to the bank and thier thrones.

As we are in a so called election year the Republicans are licking thier chops poised to take back supposed control of congress etc. and many of us tear our hair out as we feel there is little difference in who has control whether dems or pubs. It's like playing a game of; pick your style of oppression and extortion.

So this thread is to figure out how to overcome the left vs right divide! There are decided differences and these are for real and not contrived, however they are exploited by TPTB some of which are irreconcilable. For example here on ATS we have seen many threads illustrate the divide and devolve into partisan bickering that of course gets us nowhere and only reinforces the divide and keeps us stuck on this political hamster wheel of the socialist democracy and the growing fascist police state.

I am sure that last line will get some folks hackles up and that is good but it is not to argue partisanship. however to pose the question how can we get along if we are diametrically opposed? For example I hate socialism and have gone toe to toe with some here over it. So can we coexist peacefully without one oppressing the other and if so how? And if we can, can we take back the power into the hands of the people?

I have thought about this long and hard and I believe there is a way we can coexist. And it is quite simple really. The answer is voluntarism! if you want to live in a socialist community you should be free to do that and if I don't want to participate I should be free to not do so. It really is that simple.

The problem is I feel that most socialist think it is OK to force people to participate against thier will. I also believe that big government socialism would die of attrition if force was not involved. What I would like to see is those who believe in socialism to prove me wrong. How? Well if you will promote Voluntarism then I will have no problem with you. It really is that simple, take the health care bill and all the opposition change one little thing and make it all voluntary and it would have been back page news with little opposition.

And when you think about it everything should be voluntary anyway. Expediency is no excuse to take peoples stuff against thier will. So what do you think can it be this easy and simple? Are you willing to make everything voluntary and really give people a choice?

Isn't it about time we do something different since what we have been doing for decades has led us to the brink of disaster? Voluntarism!

[edit on 1-5-2010 by hawkiye]

Originally posted by hawkiye
I have thought about this long and hard and I believe there is a way we can coexist. And it is quite simple really. The answer is voluntarism! if you want to live in a socialist community you should be free to do that and if I don't want to participate I should be free to not do so. It really is that simple.

If the federal government weren't as powerful as it is, like the founders had intended, then there would be a very distinct form of volunteer-ism in states' rights. That'd be the 10th amendment.

A state can be voted by its people into out-and-out communism, and that's just fine as long as people are free to come and go from the state at will, and the state itself is responsible for its own budget. People can come and go as they please, and "vote with their feet" as it is, to show everyone which systems work the best, which gain the most revenue, which are the most enjoyable to live in, all the while competing with every other state.

Everyone gets hung up on the small things (high taxes vs low taxes, pro-choice vs pro-life, etc) on a federal level, when those things shouldn't even be taken on at a federal level. The argument for cohesion is already lost, because the argument has been redefined.

reply to post by EsSeeEye


I see where you are coming from but have to disagree somewhat. States don't have rights people have rights! If all governments get their just powers from the consent of the governed then all power is in the people if they will exercise that power.

So why should we let the states individually oppress us also? What the founders had in mind was a union of republics with limited powers and all power inherent in the people. In other words even the states much less the federal government had no authority over the people to regulate thier daily lives or even thier commerce with things such as health care etc.

A good example of voluntarism is the Amish and Mennonites. They have a socialist system but it's all voluntary no one is forced to participate and can leave any time if they feel oppressed and many do.

You mention the federal government having so much power. That is the point of we the people coming together and taking our power back. We can't do that unless we overcome our left right divide. The problem is each side fears the other side having any power over the other. Making everything voluntary eliminates that fear. If I know the socialist are not going to try and force me to participate and take the fruits of my labors by force I will work with them to restore freedom. That is the only way it can work. Can you think of any other way we can reconcile our differences except by not oppressing each other and allowing each other to practice them as long as they do not oppress the other? I can't.

If we don't come together in this manner it will eventually come to civil war IMO which none of us want.



[edit on 1-5-2010 by hawkiye]

I wanted to add if we do this we need to respect each others freedom of choice fully. One of the things used to promote force or oppression is "for the good of the whole" or "for the good of society" if you study history this has been the watch cry of every tyrant in history.

If we stick to the simple principle that no one should be forced to do anything against thier will (as long as they are not harming or oppressing) then we can stay on track I believe.