What is worth your anger?

I was googling life expectancy for African Americans (it is, of course, lower than that of white Americans) but I was interested to see that now I have reached 72 I can expect to carry on for another 20 years!

Yes, I know people are much worse in third-world countries, but America is ultra rich so the disparity is more obvious. I guess the lowest economic groups in some African and Asian countries do not have access to TV or internet, so possibly they are not as aware of how wide the gulf is between the richest and the poorest. I don't think telling poor Americans 'Some people are worse off than you' will be much comfort to them. And I believe it is still possible to die in the USA simply because you cannot afford appropriate treatment. That makes me angry.

Leap-frogging back to previous comments, I was thinking further on perceptions of right wing and left wing as regards political outlook, I find it fascinating that there is a recognised biological term for a similar thing that happens between apparently distinct species. The species affected are called ring species and we all know two gulls that belong to such a ring: herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls.

I refer you to Richard Dawkins very clear explanation in The Ancestor's Tale (my copy's isbn is 0-75381-996-1), as part of The Salamander's Tale, pp308-320. The bit about the gulls is on p311.

Those who insist on distinguishing between right wing fascism and left wing fascism ("the obsession with discrete names") are suffering, in my view, from what Dawkins eloquently calls "the tyranny of the discontinuous mind".

bags you are right. left and right wing are both bad in their extremes. I find it hard to label myself with any political party in the UK as I agree with bits of all of them and disagree with bits of all of them! I have to think very hard at every election and would sometimes like the option to abstain.

You can always cross every candidate (spoil the paper). That's counted as an abstention, but still a vote – a dissatisfied one!

Bags done that more than once but I did rather more than cross each candidate, I made my feeling felt!

It is hardly necessary to state that extremism of any kind is wrong - it is like those surveys that ask 'Is too much.....bad for you?' The answer is in the question.
I am another disenfranchised voter - there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in 1997, soon extinguished, and then again with the resurgence of the LibDems. Now, a plague on all their houses, and my heartfelt sympathy for those MPs who are honest, hardworking and dedicated. Whatever their party allegiance, they must feel totally betrayed.

My post actually referred to the fact that right wing in Australia is nowhere near as far right as the republican/tea party right wing in America. However, I do agree that right and left politics, when extremes are added to both sides, can form a circle and meet in a repressive authoritarian middle.

In Australia and England, at least we don't have all that religiosity that seems to be dominating the far right of the USA.

Actually, that reminds me of Romney's VP candidate who loves the writings of Ayn Rand. Rand was an ultra right wing writer, probably the original 'greed is good' advocate who rejected all social services, help for the poor, and altruism based politics, taxation, and any constraints at all, on business. But he doesn't like Rand any more, he says, 'cos she was an atheist!

I mean, really, her atheism was the only acceptable part of her!! Oh, by the way, Rand ended her days on Social Security. I guess hypocrisy goes with the territory.

And, back to the thread question, the extreme right of politics makes me angry.

DH thinks the US Democrats are about the same as our Tories

He"s right

Hypocrites
Smugness
People who think they are superior to others
Bullies
Gang Leaders
Micky Takers
People in denile
People who don't think others see through them
Bigots
Homophobia
Paedophiles
Despots
Dog mess

I abhor extremism whether political or religious - and the two often go together. Have you noticed that extremists almost always have a sense of humour by-pass? Wasn't that the message of 'The Name of the Rose'?

older rude people that try to push in front of little uns (children) in a que !