Hmm... what is the difference between people and individuals? The distinction is central government planning and/or ownership vs. free market and/or private ownership. Most economies are a mix with certain economic sectors under more government control than others.
There is a difference.
An economy controlled by a strong man or company is clearly right wing. This exists quite a few places.. Russia comes to mind. Nothing goes on in that country without the approval of Putin and his people. Or Iran.. same deal. Uzbekistan.. same deal. The reasoning is, that the wish to dominate other people is a human urge going back to the dawn of man. It is a basic principle of greed, which is a core belief of right wing economic theory and politics.
An economy controlled by government that is of the people by the people is clearly left wing. This exists very few places now and in history, as the government part always has been taken over by a strong man and not run by the people. China and Cuba came close, but never managed it as the human nature to dominate others sprang out among the leadership and their lackeys.
Free market, capitalism, freedom/liberty and all that is not right wing nor left wing really.. because both sides abuse both to gain political power. Time and time again right wingers claim freedom and liberty, free market as a manifesto but when you look at their actions it more than often goes against it. Freedom for all, except Muslims, blacks, Latinos, and other minorities is a classic. Free market, as long as we control it and not others. The biggest backers of monopolies in the US, the right wing. Look at your banking, healthcare, telecommunications and so on.. there is nothing "free market" about those,... more like the opposite.
Now the question is, was the USSR, China, Cuba in reality just right wing in sheeps clothing? There is an argument for this.
And for the record, I believe communism is the ultimate economic system on paper (for everyone)... but it is also unattainable because it goes against some human nature. By this, I mean there will always be someone who wants to dominate someone else and have more than others. Greed is bad when it hurts others. On top of that the technology is simply not there (logistically) to make it viable. If we had the ability to link consumer needs to production so there was no waste.. then well it would be perfect, but that at the moment is impossible. Still waiting for replicators and teleportation technology!
So because of this a controlled free market and capitalism is our best bet.. if we can control it and let it run amok... and that is where modern day "right and left" wing politics and economic theory comes in, in the free world. But once one side or the other starts to manipulate the "free market" so much that it turns into something else, then we are over in something totally different that more represents the right than the left.
It is hard to label countries these days. Iran for example, many Americans think it is a religious nutjob place and in many ways it is.. but in reality not much different than the US bible belt. The economy is much the same as the US on so many levels, with private/government companies dominating individual industries.. sound familiar Comcast and Time Warner? The only difference for many of these places, is that some offer universal healthcare and others dont.. but should that really define them as left wing? of course not.
