The Left-Right Divide No Longer Makes Sense

Traditionally, the left-right bifurcation of American politics is understood in reference to the federalist system. Conservatism upholds the sovereignty of individual’s judgments. Government it views as inherently limiting. To the limited degree government is a net positive, it is solely in its role as arbiter of disputes where one individual charges another’s actions have violated his rights. In all cases, organs of state and local governments as the superior means by which to rectify political problems. Here, the individuals whose affairs are most directly affected by the vacillating direction of public policy are most likely to be involved in the legislative process. Tying interests to outcomes is an effective check on power.

Liberalism takes exactly the opposite view. It sees federal power as an effective tool to distribute resources and iron out the iniquities of life. Individual interest and discretion create motives too powerful to prevent the strong from praying on the weak. The regulatory power of federal agencies is not a threat to individual liberties, but an aid to them. By insulating power from the self-interested power of individuals, the federal government can be used to create more fair social conditions, which insure that rights are not just held but can be exercised.