The Left- Right Spectrum Myth

In the fevered brains of political theorists, party members and commentators generally, there exists this comforting fantasy.

We've all heard of it.

The Left-Right political spectrum.

The idea is that all our views can be placed conveniently on a simple sliding scale. Do you want to change everything, or live in the past?
And apparently, it's that simple.

Or it is, if you like to believe that we all fit in to nice little boxes. It would certainly make it easier for politicians if we did.

If you think about it sensibly, you realise that it's got to be a daft theory, and one that only serves political organisations who desire to streamline voting patterns.

Here's a couple of easy proofs that it's just not that clear cut.
Most Irish Catholics resident in this country vote Labour.
This might lead you to think that a country full of Irish Catholics, was quite a left wing country.
But no.
The Irish Labour party, traditionally to the right of it's UK counterpart, has never moved above third place. Both main parties in the Republic are practically indistinguishable on a simple Left-Right spectrum, yet the gulf betwen them, and between their supporters is as great, if not greater, than between Thatcher and Foot.
Irish Catholics in Britain don't actually vote FOR Labour, they vote AGAINST the Pro-Unionist, traditionally Anglican Tories.

Which is sometimes quite ironic.

The other problem with the Left-Right spectrum is in it's attempts to work in two dimensions, we find this nebulous concept of 'far right', which is usually taken to have its paradigm in National Socialism.
To say that large parts of the Nazi agenda WEREN'T Socialist, is clearly deluded. Yet here we have it placed at the opposite end to other forms of Socialism, with completely NON socialist ideas placed in between.

To compare conservative groups in America with conservative groups in Iran is likewise bizarre. They are conserving different cultures.

Yet we are asked to define our politics as being one label or another.

I am sure I am not alone in holding a plethora of different opinions, some of which would be defined as conservative, some liberal, some ultra-left.
What's wrong with that?

What's wrong with treating each issue on it's own merits?

OK, I'm going to share with you ten important beliefs of mine, each of which can determine my vote.
You guess where I usually cast my vote.

1. I think too little attention is paid to investing in Arts and Science.
2. I think EU membership is not beneficial to the UK.
3. I support Irish Unity and Scottish Independence.
4. I believe in full drugs legalisation.
5. I oppose ANY moves to increase police powers, introduce ID cards, or otherwise use this largely imaginary terror threat to take away fundamental civil liberties.
6. I oppose abortion for social reasons.
7. I think when this Queen has gone, we should consider becoming a Republic.
8. I think general taxation is far too high.
9. I believe Nuclear power to be the way forward.
10. I think any society that uses Absolute poverty as opposed to Relative poverty as a social indicator, creates problems for itself.

So who do I vote for?
Am a Fascist or a Trot?

You tell me.