Is it really possible to compare the European and US political spectrums and what is the difference?

The field of politics has as many perspectives as it has people discussing it. However, in order for us to be able to sit down an actually discuss the current issues bothering us there has to be some kind of previously agreed upon standard for judgement. If this doen't exist we can't really get to the point of understanding that is necessary in order for us to improve anything at all.

This kind of understanding of the standards involved is exactly what's lacking in the political discourse between Europe and the US, and it's the reason for the constant mistakes both sides tend to make when assessing loyalties. However what I'm curious about is the real extent of the differences. What do you guys think?

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hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

Europeans are very far left compared to the US.

KioCo · M

@hippyjoe1955 That's Western Europe,Eastern Europe is completely different, they might be even more conservative than the avarage Republican

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

@KioCo Conservative and republican is too often an oxymoron.

KioCo · M

@hippyjoe1955 True, however those that don't overlap are still the exeption rather than the rule, same as with democrats and liberals. Am I wrong?

hippyjoe1955 · 61-69, M

@KioCo The biggest mistake anyone can make is to assign political leanings to political parties. The perception is the republicans are the party of the rich. Not true the democrats are. Republicans are racists. Not true the republicans freed the slaves and brought in all the civil rights laws presently on the books. Etc etc etc.

KioCo · M

I agree, however I've never atributed anything that is primarely a historical aspect. Republicans and conservatives are generally the group(s) calling for a ban on abortions, the lowering of government spending and taxes, the maintanance of the original cluture and so on... This is a current characteristic of that group, which is why I believe it to be valid.