Left/right

[Bob McBobson]

I was just wondering if it is possible, or even worth a thought, to change the progressive-conservative political spectrum, to a left-right spectrum? Because surely it is possible to be a progressive conservative if you look at what conservative really means. The two terms represent left and right, just like in real life, but wouldn't it be better to simply add left and right instead? Or if left/right isn't specific enough, how about radical/conservative? But then again it is possible to be a radical right-winger. Well, erm...how about only left-right as I said? Or if it is supposed to be an ideology, how about adding others as well, like socialism or capitalism? But that wouldn't make much sense if a party called Socialist Party is labeled capitalist, that would kind of ruin the fun for him/her. Now I'm just coming up with suggestions, before repeatedly arguing with them, so I'll shut up now, but couldn't you at least think about it? Thanks

[SelucianCrusader]

You can be left (economically interventionist) but still social conservative (like many nationalists and religious parties) and right (economically liberal) but social libertarian. (like libertarians) I think the terms are best separate.

[Hrafn]

See, we can't even agree on a common definition of the left-right distinction.

[Bob McBobson]

Haha
But I'm pretty sure progressivism is supposed to represent left, and conservatism right in the game, or at least there could be left/right in addition to progressive/conservative

[Siggon Kristov]

There is Conservative Socialism practised in North Korea and Burma.

Left and Right mean many different things, but there's actually an up/down spectrum as well, where up is Autocracy and down is Liberalism.

There's the Liberal Left, the Liberal Right, the Autocratic Left and the Autocratic Right, and some would even say Up is conservative and down is liberal.

To how I see it, the grid can go well with 2 diagonal lines...
A line from left-down to right-up can represent social policy, and a line from right-down to left-up can represent economic policy.

Where it comes to Progressive & Conservative, progressives usually prefer seeing a readiness for change, while conservatives like keeping everything a certain way, once a way is available to judge things on. Progressives tend to be more revolutionary and transitional, while conservatives tend to have a fixed stance on everything.

[Urien]

That spectrum is not really supposed to be the "Right/Left" spectrum. In essence it is somewhat of an "overall" measurement.

Anyways, the answer to your question is, no, it cannot be changed, but you are welcome to think of it as a left/right spectrum.

[UniSocAll]

The spectrum is about morality; how can that be a "left/right"? Conservative and Progressive seems appropriate enough when talking about morality.

[MaoChiX]

No, there is no such thing as a progressive conservative.

http://www.constitution.org/eb/rev_fran.htm
Edmund Burke speaking, the founder of modern day conservatism.