The founding fathers were radical Leftists

The term Left-Right politics began after the French Revolution when the Republic was established. On the left sat the Republicans, those who support a Republican form of government, and on the right sat the Monarchists, those who support a Monarchy.

The right strongly opposed the French revolution and the establishment of Liberalism, Republicanism and Secularism. The left was strongly opposed to Monarchy, Established church and Collectivity. When the American revolution occurred the founding father were, at the time, considered radically left when they wanted a minimal Republican government, with freedom of religion and a free economy.

Unlike in France, America never reverted back to monarchy and was never again forced to fight a revolution, only a civil war. France spent the next century(19th) under a Republic, a monarchy and an empire. In 1848 the Left in France attempted to assert its dominance and establish a Republic again, this revolution was known as ‘June Days Uprising’, but they were quickly stopped as very few still supported the left(Republicans).

Eventually the French left began to unify again, except this time they brought in new members to their movement for freedom, democracy and a Republic. They became an alliance of Nationalists, Socialists, Democrats and Secularists. At the same time the left in the United States began to shift as well, as the right was virtually destroyed after the American revolution and the left had no opposition, unlike in France. The torch bearers of Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republicans was the Democratic Party which shifted itself in the mid to late 19th century to become a new left movement centered around the works of Thomas Paine, who introduced asset-based egalitarianism, which believed equality was possible by a redistribution of resources.

The Left in the United States began to unite Social liberals, Progressives and Trade Unionists. Eventually, what started off as a radical left-wing movement turned into a modern day center-right movement. This concludes that our founding fathers, all of them, were far-left. The left eventually began to shift as time went on and the effects of free-market capitalism began to affect negatively affect certain segments of the population. This created the divide that lasted for a century in modern American and French politics. The left, the descendants of the Revolutionaries became Socialists, Communists and Secularists. The Right, the ones that clung to historical positions and ideals maintained their beliefs of Conservatism, Nationalism and Religious.

If you consider yourself a conservative of any kind then at the time of the founding fathers you would have been strongly against them. I guess different times call for different ideals, but just remember the current left are the descendants of the founders in both France and USA.

[edit on 5/31/10 by Misoir]

I for one am all for reinforcing this false left right paradigm. Please note i am at my computer desk pounding my fist shouting NAY NAY NAY as i throw grapes and my finest silver at some serving peasents in retort to your communist rhetoric.

The Founding Fathers were radicals and were left of King George.... so you are correct. Times and circumstances do change things, yes indeed.

It wasn't that long ago that Democrats were the ones in the KKK, holding back the Negro, voting in Jim Crow Laws, and pushing segregation. The Republicans were progressive and willing to empower the poor black man.... heck, even free him...ie Abe Lincoln.

Now, 150 years later, things has sho' changed again, yessah, they sho' have.

Got to admit that this is some very fine spin.

Originally posted by Johnze
I for one am all for reinforcing this false left right paradigm. Please note i am at my computer desk pounding my fist shouting NAY NAY NAY as i throw grapes and my finest silver at some serving peasents in retort to your communist rhetoric.

Communist rhetoric? I'm not a communist. I am just clearly stating that they were radical leftists for their time. What use to be considered far-left is now considered traditional and neither left nor right oppose it generally. The descendants of the left became todays Socialists, Communsits and Secularists while today's right maintained the belief of the founding fathers and did not want anything to change, that is why it is called Conservatism.

This has got to be one of the most mis-informed, asinine threads ever started on ATS!!!!!!!!

I can't even see how you could have come up with this drivel from watching the now out of control leftist History Channel.

Get a clue...below is a link depicting the REAL "left -right paradigm" as it pertains to the founding fathers and The U.S. The left has ALWAYS been about oligarchical control, be it kings, marxists, fascists, etc.

www.shtfplan.com...

[edit on 31-5-2010 by I_am_Spartacus]

reply to post by Misoir


Edit: Misread the OP


Okay . . . yes, they were hard left of the monarchy. They are hard right of the left of today.

But to say that their descendants are the Socialists and Commies of the right is a blasphemy against them and the ideals that this country was founded on.

[edit on 5/31/2010 by Lemon.Fresh]

reply to post by Lemon.Fresh


Blasphemy?

I'm convinced that the next several years will see the literal deification of the Founding Fathers.