[quote=pri_dk]History shows no clear relationship between left/right politics and oppressive governments. Despots just use any system of government to gain power, and then there is no system other than dictatorship.
Attempting to associate oppression with any particular “ism” is the wrong approach.
[/quote]
Pri: I find myself agreeing with you more times than not, but this is one of those times where I have to disagree.
History can show at least one clear instance of Leftism leading to oppression and that is under Communism. You’re looking at some of the worst repression and oppression in modern history and tied to Communist regimes. This is a system of government that has killed nearly 100MM people.
Using Soviet Russia and Communist China only, you can find someone of the most egregious human rights violations ever, and, in the case of China, they continue to this day.
Sorry, but that particular “ism” remains one of the most virulent strains and it unfortunately continues to this day.