David McCandless and Stefanie Posavec collaborated on created a nice infographic that showcases the differences between the US “Right” (Conservative) & “Left” (Liberal), shown now on Information is Beautiful.
This kind of visual approach to mapping concepts really excites me. I like the way it coaxes me to entertain two apparently contradictory value systems at the same time. Or, in other words, I like the way it f**ks with my head.
His site is suffering a bit under the load, so click on the image above to see it.
Excellent! What’s most interesting is the “seemingly”
contradictory(although accurate) attitudes within each side that you
might expect on the other side. For instance “Liberal” on the “Left”
sounds very “Right” as in “FREEDOM” however it is ones’ definition of
FREEDOM that matters and what that definition implies in terms of
society.
The diagram crystallizes how these beliefs are developed in
the transition between the family and the adult which might not
otherwise be obvious. And that ever so subtle distinction between
ETHICS(rules) and MORALS(principles) which again can seem a bit
contradictory given the pacifism and strictness on the opposite sides.
It
also clearly explains why I am a moderate and in my opinion why a
balance between the two is what works in the real the world.
This should be discussed as part of every school curriculum to stimulate some badly needed critical thinking.
How can I get a copy of this?