>>In US even left foot looks politcally suspicious. {g}
>>
>>Srdjan, there are certainly those in the United States who get worked up merely for the left being "the left".
>>
>>I look at issues from the standpoint of whether the govt is protecting freedoms or interfering in lives. That is my fundamental criteria.
>>
>>There are specific issues where I agree with many from the "left" - I think politics and religion shouldn't be mixed AT ALL, I disagree with any laws that would prohibit abortion, and I'm a firm believer in the first Amendment and the PRACTICE of a color-blind society. Ironically, some of the worst inconsistencies across these issues comes from members of the "left".
>
>When I say 'left' or 'center left' I have in mind European social-democrat parties as center left and (why not) even far left which are various political flavours that evolved from genuine communists parties of the past. Take Italian or Greek communists for instance; None of them are advocating violent overthrowes of regimes, expropriation of private property etc. Their very existence along with (more important) center left create necessary balance in political life, where workers and middle class are much better protected then it is the case in US.
>
>Nobody is denying market economy, but price of doing business in any country must calculate for deacent life for both workers and qualified profesionals. Fighting for those rights is the political role of (credible) leftist parties.
>
>What is the real difference between US Democrats and US Republicans if you exclude abortion, immigration, environment, human rights,
>protection of the whales, kittens etc. Which of these two parties is left ? How do you define what is political left and what is political right ? If you skin them off (REP / DEM), to me they both look (surprise surprise!) - harsh right!
>
>So being that you are employee (or self employed) who have to earn your living rather then large capital owner, who is there (any party?) to protect your political (and economical) interests against the later ?

Déjà vu:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Europe/Clash_Civilizations.html
:o)