[llamabeast]

That was actually a naughtily provocative post by me, but it does bring up the issue of the fundamental differences between the left and right wings.

My understanding was something like this. The left wing believe everyone should be as equal as possible. Hence they try to help those who are not fortunate enough to look after themselves, improve public services and so on. This seems very laudable.

The right wing would argue that laudable as it might be, such socialism is flawed and doomed to misery. People will always sponge off a welfare state, and most people who are poor are poor through their own lack of enterprise. Better to encourage business and entrepreneurship to produce money which will ultimately make the whole country richer, as well as providing jobs. By making things easier for the very rich, you end up helping everyone. Also by encouraging enterprise people have an enhanced sense of freedom and opportunity.

Would people say this is a roughly correct view of things?

As far as Americans are concerned by the way, I'm inclined to the left-wing side of things. But I think you wouldn't guess that from the way I wrote the above.