Julian Assange to stay in Ecuadorian embassy to avoid US extradition

[LiberalLovinLug]

13. What is your definition of "far left" and "far right" that they can be the same thing?

I can see what the "far right" is. They are represented by the Freedom Caucus, and other member of the GOP. Steve Bannon, and members of the Trump inner circle. They hold real power. (And they did so even with Obama in office)

Who is the "far left" in your eyes? Sanders and Warren? Politicians that just want to give Americans what every other western democracies have? Because I don't see many further left than that having a lot of influence in positions of power.

Julian Assange is more about freedom of information. I doubt he considers himself right or left. Its also been clear from his statements that he agrees with Princeton University in their assessment that the US is already an oligarchy. And he most likely despises both parties in the US. I would surmise that he would have released GOP insider emails as well if someone had leaked them to him. He is an idealist about that "the truth will set you free" And more information is better than no information, even if its not the information you wanted to hear.

As far as I'm concerned, fake news is much more dangerous than honest truthful revelations that you don't want to hear. That decades long fake news assault on the Clintons is what did her in, not the Podesa emails. Now did they help? No, and I wish he hadn't released them, but holding back secrets that authorities don't want us to hear is not his shtick.

Now I do think he got used by Putin and is too arrogant to admit it. He isn't the most likable person I grant that. But my gawd, the vitriol spewed out in DU against him, as if he was largely responsible for the Democrat loss is laughable. and worse, the idea pushed around that "the left" who represent people coming together, pooling taxes to help everyone have heathcare, making a fairer society, treating the elderly with respect by assuring them of SS, paying workers a decent minimum wage, freedom of choice for women, on and on....that if we are not careful we will want these things a little too too much and suddenly are transformed into RWers who blame minorities, hate gays and womens rights, and generally approach life as "I'm alright Jack".

"Far left" to me is Leninist / Stalinist / Moaist thinking from the last century. (Even then I'd argue that they devolved into power hungry elitists and never did establish a true "far left" government) But every party, the world over, other than a few exceptions, has been steadily moving right including both the Democratic and the Republican parties. Increased corporate donations and control. Whomever that regards themselves as "far left" holds zero power and is in such a tiny minority that they are insignificant. The idea of putting them on the same position of influence in the country is laughable.

And even though IMO the whole left/right meme is not applicable in Assange;s case, I have to say that I am also sick of this insinuation that there is this single giant ouroboros of political beliefs out there, and that one must be careful because if you travel a little too far around the circle, you may think you are more left but suddenly you have become a raving tea bagger. It makes no sense at all.