Economic:
- Left: Equality, public control ✊
- Right: Free market, less regulation 🏭
Social:
- Authoritarian: Control, order 🚨
- Libertarian: Freedom, privacy 🌿
Country Examples:
- Auth Left:
- Stable: China 🇨🇳 – government controls economy and social life for equality.
- Not Stable: Venezuela 🇻🇪 – equality policies under authoritarianism led to economic collapse.
- Auth Right:
- Stable: Singapore 🇸🇬 – strong government with economic freedom for stability.
- Not Stable: Franco’s Spain 🇪🇸 (historical) – control for economic elite, social unrest.
- Lib Left:
- Stable: Denmark 🇩🇰 – promotes equality and personal freedoms with state intervention.
- Not Stable: Greece 🇬🇷 (pre-2010s) – liberal policies without economic stability.
- Lib Right:
- Stable: Switzerland 🇨🇭 – emphasizes personal and economic freedom via direct democracy.
- Not Stable: Russia 🇷🇺 (1990s) – rapid shift to free markets with social chaos.
Founding Fathers’ Stance:
- Alexander Hamilton: Would likely fall in the Authoritarian Right quadrant. He advocated for a strong, centralized government to stabilize the economy, which aligns with more authoritarian control and economic right-wing policies.
- Thomas Jefferson: More towards the Libertarian Left. Jefferson was a proponent of agrarian democracy, individual liberties, and was skeptical of centralized government power, favoring state rights and personal freedoms.
- James Madison: Could be placed in the Libertarian Center. His focus was on balancing power to protect individual rights, creating a government with checks and balances, which reflects a libertarian approach with a moderate economic stance.
- John Adams: Might be seen near the Authoritarian Center. Adams believed in a strong central government but with republican values; his stance on governance could lean authoritarian, though not strictly right or left economically.
- George Washington: His actions suggest a position in the Libertarian Right. He supported a strong but limited federal government, emphasizing unity and personal freedoms, particularly in economic matters like his advocacy for free trade.
Balancing Act:
- Checks & Balances: Prevents power concentration among government branches ⚖️.
- Federalism: States have autonomy, balancing local and national governance 🗺️.
- Constitution: Outlines government’s structure, rights, and powers 📜.
- Amendments: Allows for changes while protecting core freedoms 📝.
Note: Simplified, interpretations can vary. Political positions evolve.
Follow for more on X: [@JeremyMSparks]