So FinnPM bubble-headed party girl Sanna Marin got tossed out of office over the weekend, which would be a Good Thing, except that — wait for it! — it portends Something Bad:
EU warned of far-right ‘domino effect’ after Sanna Marin’s defeat
Finland’s main conservative party claimed victory in parliamentary elections Sunday in a tight three-way race that saw right-wing populists take second place, leaving Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Social Democratic Party in third, dashing her reelection hopes. The results sparked worries in the EU over far-right The Finns party’s infamous anti-EU sentiments. Speaking to Express.co.uk, Dr Helena Ivanov, research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, pointed out that after the Italian and Swedish election results, the bloc is increasingly moving towards the right in a seeming “domino effect”.
Just so we’re all clear on the concept, being “anti-EU” is not congruent with “right-wing”, although to the EU they may appear the same.
What makes my nuts ache is that the European definition of “far-right”, in traditional American terms, would be the equivalent of “centrist Democrat” — e.g. John F. Kennedy — because they have veered so far to the left as to tilt the whole political table almost vertical.
I, and I suspect most of my Readers, would be considered “ultra-Right wing”, when in fact we’re just conservatives with a few libertarian tendencies. (And by “libertarian”, I really mean the “leave me the fuck alone” principle.)
Anyway, it looks like Finland is at least moving towards Italy and Hungary in the Eurosceptic sphere, and good for them, say I.
It used to be called Classical Liberalism
Funny how it works.
When I lived in NJ and worked I. NYC I was far right ultra conservative practically Hitler. Now that I’m in north eastern PA I’m actually quite moderate. Meaning I expect the Revolution but I’m not exactly looking forward to it.
Mark D
Grew up in Southern Appalachia (Tennessee and Kentucky). Spent 10 years in the Army, mostly posted in the South. I took a job in New Jersey after leaving the Army. It really was like living in another, mostly communist, country. Just the basic assumptions about the way the world works were so far out of alignment with my own that I never felt remotely at home. I moved to the free state of Florida in 2006 and never looked back.
> Just so we’re all clear on the concept, being “anti-EU” is not
> congruent with “right-wing”, although to the EU they may appear the same.
Of course it is. Just like the NAZIS went from being “left wing” to being “right wing” on 22 June 1941, *right wing is anything in opposition to what the left wants*.
And what the left wants is International Socialism and one world government.
> What makes my nuts ache is that the European definition of “far-right”,
> in traditional American terms, would be the equivalent…
Leaving aside the corruption of the terms (which, again, is what Socialists always do), there is very, very little “far right” in the US.
American Nationalism is based on some sort of ideology around the constitution (sometimes misinformed or mis-uderstood, but hey, welcome to the bell curve). European Nationalism is usually based on some sort of blood and soil, with national socialism heaped on top for good measure.
Conservatism is similar across the pond, but since part of conservatism is respect for tradition, and here the tradition is lively debate, free speech, tolerance for those damn protestant/baptist/catholic et. al. fools and all of that, and their traditions involve a bit more respect for The State, it looks a little different.
Nazi = Socialism = Communism = Democrats
All of them will not “leave me the hell alone” even if that is what I would want.
Everything to the right of Stalin is considered “far right extreme” in Europe, and has been for at least 20 years.