Where did the idea that small government is "rightism"

[the makeout hobo]

Where do people get the idea that minarchism equals rightism? I mean, the "right" was originally monarchists; the term started during the French Revolution. I can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement? But come on. Minarchism is NOT "right".

 

[Yossarian]

When combined with lassiez-faire capitalism, it is.

Although yes, originally anarchism was an anti-authoritarian product of the left.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Where do people get the idea that minarchism equals rightism? I mean, the "right" was originally monarchists; the term started during the French Revolution. I can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement? But come on. Minarchism is NOT "right".

It has to do with which party sits in the legislature, typically the Democrats tend to sit to the left and the GOP tends to sit more to the right, Democrats usually vote for bigger government and Republicans used to vote for minimal interference. Minarchism, then means right because the founding fathers wanted a restricted federal government with very minimal powers and states which for the most part could rule as they needed as long as the intent of our rights were not violated.

 

[PeteEU]

Where do people get the idea that minarchism equals rightism? I mean, the "right" was originally monarchists; the term started during the French Revolution. I can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement? But come on. Minarchism is NOT "right".

Monarchies at the time were small government. There was a king with a few advisor's who then delegated much of the running of the country to local warlords/nobles/land owners, who funny enough in just about every country were the ones behind the "right wing" parties formation.

So the idea of "small government" really means "small as me being in charge over you".. not really the size of the government it self.

 

[Jerry]

Where do people get the idea that minarchism equals rightism?

You spoke of small government in the title, but speak of different forms of government with the first sentence.

This doesn't follow.

I mean, the "right" was originally monarchists; the term started during the French Revolution.

The "right" refers to the literal right side of the House and has no relevance at all to the French revolution.

To answer your question, however, small government became associated with "the right" because "the right" was composed of mostly Conservatives for a long time. It is Conservatives who are for small government, not the GOP. As the GOP becomes more populated with Liberals you notice the GOP support big government more and more.

I can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement?

Are you asking me if you can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement? How am I supposed to know, you tell me.

 

[other]

Where do people get the idea that minarchism equals rightism? I mean, the "right" was originally monarchists; the term started during the French Revolution. I can understand how leftism grew out of the revolutionary movement? But come on. Minarchism is NOT "right".

Look at the process over time:

In the US, the founding fathers established a government that rejected monarchy, divine right to rule, etc. Its focus was federalism and a limited federal government. This was the 1780s

Over time, as some people became interested in altering this system, others resisted, hoping to conserve the system as it was. These are conservatives.

As Jerry pointed out, in general, conservatives are considered "right" because of the location of groups in the assemblies during the french revolution, where those on the right side (as conservatives) were opposed to republicanism (which they associated with the tumult of the English gov't under Cromwell) and favored a monarchy. Those on the "left" (especially in "the mountain") then were those who were populists and republicans who, when they gained power used the terror and the committee of public safety to behead thousands. The context is entirely different in America...first and foremost, the US has never had a king.

The terms "right" & "left" are applied in american politics out of convenience--they are simply distinctive labels, not because american conservatives are or have ever been the same as french conservatives in the 1790s. The same goes for the american left--they are not the same as the leftists of the french assemblies.

An american conservative is in favor of the repuclican government that was originally established under the constitution, whereas american liberals are in favor of extremely loose interpretations of the constitution, which expands the power of the federal government. Therefore, the conservative "right" in the US is in favor of conserving the authority of the constitution, our original form of government, which heavily restricts the power of government. The "left" tends to make moves to degrade the authority of the constitution, which expands the federal government.

 

[Agnapostate]

The economic aspects of liberalism were traditionally associated with rightism and libertarianism with leftism due to its outgrowth from the anti-capitalist anarchist movement, so it's difficult to say.