Okay, now some theory.
First, let me introduce you to a very useful tool – the Political Compass:
politicalcompass.org/analysis2 Please follow the link and have a look at the graph. (You can also take the test on the website, to see where YOU are on the graph).
This approach breaks the political views into two axes.
One axis (left-right) is views on ECONOMY: collectivism (communism) is to the left, individualism (capitalism) is to the right.
The other axis (up-down) is views on SOCIETY. This axis is labeled libertarianism/authoritarianism and basically looks at how much one’s social behavior should be regulated. On this axis, being pro-choice and pro-gay is down (individual should have moral freedom), pro-life and anti-gay is up (morality should be legislated). Unfortunately, this axis also takes into account how much a politican is willing to use force – non-violence moves down, while advocating military solutions to problems moves up. But we will correct for that later.
Having that explained, scroll down and have a look at the last graph on the page I linked. Please note the position of following individuals: Pope Benedict 16, Robert Mugabe, Romano Prodi, Jose Zapatero and George W. Bush.
First thing, we note that the Pope is WAAAAY to the left. This is because he advocates
sharing wealth. Robet Mugabe however, is more to the left. Now, the difference between Robert Mugabe and the Pope is that Robert Mugabe confiscated property, while the Church says that this is not allowed:
The civil power cannot reach this end by taking away from the rich in order to give to the poor, for “this would be at bottom a denial of private property”;
but by regulating the titles of income in strict accordance with the demands of public welfare."
Translation: we accept progressive taxation, but not nationalization of private property.
The latter is, in essence, while the Church orignially condemned socialism. Early socialists wanted to take industry from its private owners – a direct violation of the 7th Commandment. Later, that position has been adopted by the
communists, while modern socialists focused on passing legislation protecting worker’s rights. Thus quoting
Rerum Novarum out of context against 21st century socialism is inappropriate; no socialist politician in Europe today supports that.
Robert Mugabe is also up from the Pope, because he used force to achieve the redistribution on wealth, and the Church condemns violence.
Okay, let’s now look at Romano Prodi and Jose Zapatero. Romano Prodi is an Italian
christan democrat, and, as you can see, he is quite close to the Pope’s position, both up/down and left/right. Zapatero, on the other hand, is a Spanish
social democrat, known mainly for the gay marriage legislation. Because of that, Zapatero is
down from Prodi (neither is pro-war, so the difference is due to social outlook). But on the economy axis (left/right) they are virtually in the same place.
Now, compare Prodi and Zapatero to George W. Bush on the horizontal (economy) axis. You can see that, compared to Bush, both Prodi and Zapatero look like hardcore socialists.
After all, our current Pontiff seems quite amenable to democratic socialism.
