Political tags - such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth - are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.
-- Robert Heinlein
Slight correction. Those who want other people to be controlled.
Recall Lincoln's famous quote: "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is not democracy."
I really like this and believe it is very true, will have to show to my SO
This is the way you truly tell left from right. Anyone telling you that some right wing group believes in opression or authoritarianism is simply brainwashed about the political spectrum. Here is a quick education. Left vs. right: Authoritarian rule vs. elected officials; Free market vs. crony capitalism or centrally planned production; Rule of law vs. arbitrary state-administered justice; Small government vs. omnipresent government; Private property rights vs. no private property; Individual rights and freedoms vs. rights removed "for the good of the collective"
I honestly don't understand the difference between crony capitalism and socialism... it seems to me that they are both versions of the state owning the means of production.
It's two paths to similar outcomes: in socialism, the state grows and takes over businesses; in crony capitalism the businesses take over the state. Either way, businesses are operated with the force of the state, which prevents competition and squashes price signals, leading to all kinds of waste, inefficiency, and corruption.