RationalWiki's article on the Theory

[JasonBlack]

(12-08-2022, 01:37 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: Brower may be right about this. These days left-wing idiotism does abound, I must admit. I don't know if I would say that far-left communism is idiocy though; it's just bad theory. But it could be said that arguments for it are as rational as for other ideologies. Any ideology can be suspect just because it's ideology. Communism is worse because it is bad ideology.
But there's lots of conspiracy theory that infects the left these days. Such folks as fanatical "Bernie Bro" supporters of Bernie Sanders (I am a non-fanatical supporter of Bernie Sanders, although I don't identify with any "socialist"label), or other left-wing candidates, subscribe to such conspiracy theories as those directed at Hillary Clinton and her campaign, most of which are false. They may also subscribe to the JFK theory, especially when his death is ascribed to the CIA, FBI, the LBJ administration, and such other government agencies that the Left often criticizes, especially regarding US war policies. Another false left theory is to blame the US for all wars, including especially the Syrian Civil War. Criticism of US support for Ukraine's war against the Russian invasion of their country tends to be wrong, but I would not consider it irrational idiocy; I just disagree with most of it. But I consider that other idiocy may involve looking upon all government officials except those whom they support as corporate stooges; that is just as bad as the Deep State theory on the right-wing. I also disagree with Israel's policies, as do many on the Left, but those who become antisemitic because of Israel's policies I would put under the heading of irrational idiocy.

I'm happy to hear you admit this. Tbh, I don't think the majority of our political differences have much to do with left vs right. Granted, we are drastically difference in terms of personal/emotional preferences (ex: you are a bleeding heart hippie, I'm an anti-feminist zealot), but our major differences in policy are basically
1) I am an ammosexual, you hate guns. Traditionally, leftists have loved guns going back to the works of Karl Marx. Being anti-gun is a recent, liberal development.
2) You're more of a universalist, I'm more in favor of deglobalization. This is probably more generational than based on right vs left. Boomers and Silent Gen tended to be more pro "spread democracy and make the world a better place" (conservatives being more hawkish, liberals more focused on foreign aid and global treaties), millennials on both the left and the right want to scale back overseas involvement and focus more on infrastructure and measures to improve the practical day to day standard of living for Americans.
3) We support fairly different strategies for tackling climate change.
4) You likely support somewhat higher taxes than I do, but nothing ridiculously extreme from what I've seen.