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I think I understand why conservatives fear liberals.

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posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 08:39 PM
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I'm a liberal, and, while I don't like the current political climate, I think it helps to be a neutral observer at times, and look back in history to understand where the right comes from. If you look at history as a whole you can see that people on the far right have ended up like Adolf Hitler, whereas, people on the far left have ended up being extreme-leftists, like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, and, Joseph Stalin in Soviet Russia.

I think it would lead me to conclude that the right dislikes us for that very reason, that they think we are rebels, and in a sense we are right, we know what we believe in, yet, they think it would make the country go in the wrong direction. I think this is because they've seen far-left socialist states around the world and they don't want what goes on there to happen here. I think all the right-winged people can be reassured that we aren't all that fanatic like the people in the rest of the world, but, I just read a book, and, I read that there are a lot of leftist movements around the world in which people resort to violence to prove their point, so, perhaps that's how the right associates with us.

I think that our nation can exist with the left and the right... that's what makes this nation work. I just realized this after I read a book about global policy... so... those are just my thoughts.

[edit on 23-10-2008 by Frankidealist35]



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 08:49 PM
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I believe both sides believe that they are rebels.. for one, liberals may think of themselves as rebels because they think they are breaking away from traditional way of looking at the role of society and the government. While conservatives may think of themselves as rebels because they think they're standing up to the forces of change within government and society. However, you're correct in assessing, that both sides are necessary, but it is also vital to include the ideologies of other political parties in the system: independents, libertarians, green party, and so forth...

[edit on 23-10-2008 by laiguana]



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:00 PM
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And also Castro, Mao, Pol Pot, Lenin...... It isn't that we dislike you personally it's just that you guys have a habit of supporting things that don't work and elected the most radical people to office.

Just like Barney Franks comments the other day, lets spend spend spend, and don't worry about it there are plenty of rich people to tax later on to get that money back. It's hair brained ideas like that - that get people like me all flustered.

I'm not really a conservative so to speak, but you can be liberal without tearing down the very ideas that America was built on. But it seems like the liberals that get elected are all about imposing a nanny state and that doesn't help anybody.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:00 PM
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reply to post by Frankidealist35
 


Many Conservatives fear change and cling to what is familiar and safe. Liberals need change and progress.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:00 PM
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From a right leaning libertarian point of view, I believe the right in this country have an ingrain contempt for socialism, semi socialistic views, and those who would trade their own personal freedom for the common good. I fall in that category.

Most true conservatives are libertarian by nature. We really don't care about what anyone does in their own personal lives. We care about the fiscal policies of this nation.

No fear here man. If anything, I'd say the real conservatives embrace the liberal's advocacy of privacy. Where liberals fall short is on the issues of individualism and self responsibility.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:10 PM
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From my point of view, I would say that conservatives like the status quo, while liberals crave change. So while liberals don't fear the status quo, conservatives do fear change, as it is an unknown. They feel it is better to stay with what you know than to try something new. However, if everyone was a conservative, we would still be living in mud huts and hunting our food with homemade spears. That is why the moderate point of view is the best one. Keep the things that are working, and change or improve those that don't. Just my .02!



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:21 PM
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Democrats or liberals? Which left? What are you talking about specifically? I just don't understand?

If you mean like Democrat = liberal and Republican = conservative...that is a base view. I am not attacking you, just the Idea that there is a black and white situation. BUT!

Perhaps the reason why R "fears" D is that D seems hell bent on giving away the R's money, I think. R also think of themselves as "christians"? And lots of policies that D wants in effect are against the ideology that R says "god/jesus" wants. Rs seem to think that USA is supposed to be a christian nation or some other blathering falsehood. Uhm, those thoughts are based on how I perceive the mainstream label of each case
.

I, for one, "fear" both ideologies and hold some scorn in my heart for social/economic right/left one/other type of thinking/policy. This is where I would start my crying rant about "other options" and my explanation for the "people don't like change!" but want to change things to their liking and how we are all products of whatever we allow to influence us - but, that is no avail
.

What book did you read?



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:25 PM
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Goodness, Liberals tried for years to ban my guns, using every last heartstring, from sad little girls with puupy dog eyes to rows of selected Police officers. Every- to them- absolutely logical reason, Like, Duh, More guns will equal more shooting over parking spots" And "If it will save just one child" To "Only criminals and lunatics have guns" Has been a sappy ploy to get their way. When proven wrong on any given point, they weasel, re direct and shift blame. Just like you did to excuse the murder and starvation of millions who swallowed thier bunk. They are naieve idealists at best, and at worse, deliberate liars, trying to get you to vote for socialism. Further, they have been wrong about nearly everything they have proposed.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:41 PM
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This is a humorous subject to me. I am conservative and I am not afraid of liberals. Where do you get this idea? And where do I get the idea that liberals are afraid of conservatives? Hmmmmmmmmm.....maybe some PTB is playing two sides against the other.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 09:42 PM
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Why oh why is Socialism being mentioned in threads about the United States? This country is in no way NEAR a Socialist nation! Lenin actually was a genius and Socialism does work. Burkina Faso is a great example and so is the Soviet Union. It's hard to be a Socialist nation when surrounded by extreme capitalist nations.

But back to the point, this nation will never turn to Socialism through a president or any other bourgesie leader. It will come from the people, which will most likely never happen. The United States is leaning towards a more FASCIST nation than a Socialist one.

Get it straight people and learn what Socialism is.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 10:10 PM
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reply to post by SolarSeaman
 


I read The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of the World Order. It's really good. It explains that Islamofacists don't hate us for our freedoms but they doubt it. It's a really good book.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 10:16 PM
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I think you sell yourself short by classifying yourself as a liberal. I refuse to be classified as a conservative, even though you may consider me as such. I am really freedom loving and respectful of individualism. Sometimes "liberals" are on that side and sometimes "conservatives" are on that side.

A new paradigm is long overdue. It is time to recognize that both major parties are statist in nature and that many of us, perhaps even a majority, are primarily anti-statist. The division between D and R merely allows the statists to divide us and keep us powerless.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 10:24 PM
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Well, it looks like several people are using the OP's post as an opportunity to express their own political opinions in general, so I guess I'll jump on the bandwagon.

My political views are the same as my religious views, which are the same as my attitude toward pretty much everything in life. And that is:

Chill out! Research, discuss, find a logical conclusion you can stand by for each individual scenario. Always be willing to concede to a different viewpoint--yes, even if it's the direct opposite of yours--if you find reason to do so. Never assume that such a reason does not exist, and never make it a matter of personal pride. Logic, logic, logic.

As you might have guessed by now, I consider myself a moderate independent in politics and an agnostic in religion. Yes, I ride the fence, and I'm proud of it. The way I see it, if it's a fence dividing the land of fools from the land of bigots, I'll just settle in right here on this fence, thank you very much.

P.S.- OP, if there is one thing I can say I believe in most strongly, it's tolerance. Your post suggests to me that you are the type to step back and look at the big picture before reaching a conclusion. Hats off to you.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 10:27 PM
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The way I see it, liberals are like a constantly nagging wife that will never be happy about anything and conservatives are like the insensitive husband that doesn't have a clue as to how his spouse is feeling.
The pendulum has to swing because too much of one party is dangerous, but then again so is a pendulum that swings back too fast.



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 10:53 PM
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reply to post by Frankidealist35
 

You imply that conservatives, and by extension, I, don't know what I believe. I know exactly what I believe. I believe that people work for what they recieve. I believe that those who are legitimately unable to work should recieve assistance from their community and their government. I believe that government should stay out of the business of citizens, unless they are breaking the law. I believe that government regulations should be kept to a minimum, the exceptions being investment banking, and companies who manufacture chemicals harmful to the environment. And even thouse should be monitored by true bipartisan committess who have the appropriate experts to advise them. (I know, I know, it sucks, but what you gonna do?)
I beleive taxes should be kept to a minimun on individuals and corporations. I believe that we should not go to war at the drop of a hat, but by the same token, I believe when someone pushes, we push back.
Basically, I believe the constitution says what it says. I have the freedom of speech, as do you. I have the right to keep and bear arms, meaning I have the right to protect myself and my family from anyone, including the police or the government, who seeks to harm me or mine.
Having said that, let me say that I am a peaceful person. I don't believe that we should be in Iraq. In the beginning, I did. But we had bad intel. We should have withdrawn at that point.
Unfortunately, we are now committed and cannot simply withdraw. We will be there for at least 50 years, if not longer. (Remember, we have been in Germany and South Korea for much longer.)
I don't look at myself as a rebel. But neither am I a conformist. I am my on man, making my decisons based on the information I am able to obtain from the various sources of news and intelligence that are available to the average citizen. I take the information that I have access to, and from that, I reach conclusions. If those conclusions don't agree with what I believe, then I have to question both my conclusions and my beliefs.
Unfortunately, my experience with liberals is much different. "My mind is made up. Don't try to swade me with facts." That is the attitude that I have run into time after time, when I have debated liberals regarding education, welfare, the national budget, the war on terror, (which is different from the war in Iraq). I also happen to believe in God, although I might choose to refer to Him/Her as The Universe, the Deity, The Supreme Being, or the Multiverses. I believe there is Intelligent Design behind the order in the Uninverse, and, although it is not always apparent, the order here on Earth.
In short, I know who I am, and what I stand for. There are a great many on this board who will take me to task for this. All I can say is, BRING IT ON!
I have don't have to prove anything to anyone. All I have to do is stand up for those things I believe.
Can those who would dispute what I believe stand and honestly swear to defend those beliefs with "their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor?"
I can make this pledge. Can you?



posted on Oct, 23 2008 @ 11:16 PM
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I disagree with many people here, especially the character who says that if conservatives had their way, we would be living in mud huts hunting with spears. I believe this to be the opposite. I think a more conservative approach to life allows for more competition, survival of the fittest, if you will. Conservatism got us to where we are, technologically speaking.

I think it comes down to the confusion of what each of these terms mean, not what they are twisted to be now.

Conservative = smaller government, lower taxes, no government intervention in business, people take care of themselves and each other without the government telling them how to do it and with what to do it with

In my eyes, this is the proper way to grow technology. It forces competition, and competition is what drives mankind. Mankind's biggest driver in life is greed, that's my opinion btw, not fact. But I think greed is a huge factor in life. And when we think we can achieve something greater than the guy next door by working hard, we will do it, invent something awesome to get rich.

Liberal = more social plans, using tax money to spread the wealth to the poor, government looks out for every human and tells them the proper way to live so that they may remain alive and healthy

This to me, is what should be implemented as we grow to a certain level of technology. Eventually, technology would need to grow at much slower rate, but we must be able to feed all people, because people will forget how to live off of the land. Everyone will need electricity, so why pay for it. It should be given to all people, just as food and water. There are enough resources on this planet for all to share, so share it already. We can all live comfortably and allow technology to do most of the work for us.

Some common misconceptions are ... people think that conservatives automotically want everything illegal. Most of us more libertarian leaning conservatives think that the government should remain out of our business. I am pro legalization of drugs, all of them, prostitution and abortion. Now hear me out on the abortion. I am completely against abortion, I just think that the approach should be, "Let's create a world where people will not want to abort their children". Otherwise, let the Creator, whoever he/she may be, decide the fate of those who abort their children. I am against banning of weapons and any of our rights being taken away by Patriot Acts, etc. You see, not all conservatives are what the Republican Party has become.

I am not afraid of Liberals, I find that to be the next stage of life, we're just not there yet. We need better forms of energy and space travel first.

[edit on 23-10-2008 by AHostileMe]



posted on Oct, 24 2008 @ 06:06 PM
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You will assure us it won't be done as it always has, in every place, by every race? Who are you? Pol Pot, that you can give such assurances? Let me tell you they have already coined the term, and the punishment, for you when you finally reach your personal level of discomfprt with the regime you voted for- You'll be labeled a "reactionary" and mightily will you howl as your led off, What a loyal fellow traveler you've always been....Scared of us becoming like Hitler,Huh? A socialist he was, too, until the Russians crossed him. In Russia, they had the Gulag, Good leftist writers like Walter Duranty wrote glowing articles in the NYT about the wonderful things he saw, as millions were sysematically starved and throw off their lands.Really. In other places, and other races, they just shot them. Wholesale. On mere suspicion of political disagreement. Oh, the ploitical commissars in jungle camps and in euorpean coffehouses said the same silken assurances you just gave us. If you think only mild socialism, it always gets worse, eventually, and the truth is, it's a ponzi scheme that always eventaully, leads to the bankruptcy of the nation doing it. I'm quite sure the hundreds of thousands of Canadians coming down here for medical treatment, and the Brits with cameras everywhere and not even allowed a pocketknife, think we have something to offer....You never wondered why so many thousands risked life and property escape those places over the years? There's a squished Chinamen who just hoped to have the freedoms you now enjoy to disagree with the current government. Yes. I know Socialism, by any name it morphs itself into.



posted on Oct, 24 2008 @ 11:19 PM
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The simple answer for why conservatives reject liberal philosophy is that we just want the government to leave us alone. As someone earlier said, we mostly believe in individualism and self-responsibility. We do not need or want the government telling us how to live our lives. We don't need or want to have 20% of our check withheld to pay for socialized medicine. We accept full responsibility for that AR-15 we have, we know how to use it safely, and we teach our children the same. If we want to smoke a cigarette, we don't need the liberal health police chasing us down to tell us what horrible human beings we are for doing so (and I don't actually smoke).

In short, we want to be as self-sufficient as possible and we do not want or need the government chasing us around telling us what's good for us. We know what's in our best interests, both as individuals and how those individual best interests benefit society far greater than any government lawyer or beancounter could ever hope to do.

And while its a side issue, in the back of my mind, I do worry anytime I see a particularly radical liberal group gain any measure of power, because I do know the history of leftist and socialist regimes around the world and how they tend to greatly abuse all of the power at their disposal. I think that liberals in most cases have the best of intentions initially, but as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.



posted on Oct, 24 2008 @ 11:43 PM
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reply to post by QuetzalcoatlAlien
 


Actually Russia never was a socialist country, the socialist revolution there failed.


Reality says that State Capitalism would be a step forward for us; if we were able to bring about State Capitalism in a short time it would be a victory for us. How could they be so blind as not to see that our enemy is the small capitalist, the small owner? How could they see the chief enemy in State Capitalism? In the transition from Capitalism to Socialism our chief enemy is the small bourgeoisie, with its economic customs, habits and positions' Lenin (The Chief Tasks of Our Times, p11).


Just another form of State Capitalism, sold to the population as a step towards socialism. Just more lies from the worlds elite. Slavery wrapped in sheeps clothing.

Why does nobody mention Switzerland, or Norway? Far more socialist than Russia ever was. But I guess people are MSM educated
and Norway wasn't on the US governments hit list and so didn't make it into pop culture myth?

Socialism is the workers control of the means of production. Control from the bottom rather than the top, and that won't happen while we allow governments to control things for the wealthy.

Why Russia was never socialist



posted on Oct, 25 2008 @ 12:00 PM
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Originally posted by ANOK
reply to post by QuetzalcoatlAlien
 


Actually Russia never was a socialist country, the socialist revolution there failed.


Reality says that State Capitalism would be a step forward for us; if we were able to bring about State Capitalism in a short time it would be a victory for us. How could they be so blind as not to see that our enemy is the small capitalist, the small owner? How could they see the chief enemy in State Capitalism? In the transition from Capitalism to Socialism our chief enemy is the small bourgeoisie, with its economic customs, habits and positions' Lenin (The Chief Tasks of Our Times, p11).


Just another form of State Capitalism, sold to the population as a step towards socialism. Just more lies from the worlds elite. Slavery wrapped in sheeps clothing.

Why does nobody mention Switzerland, or Norway? Far more socialist than Russia ever was. But I guess people are MSM educated
and Norway wasn't on the US governments hit list and so didn't make it into pop culture myth?

Socialism is the workers control of the means of production. Control from the bottom rather than the top, and that won't happen while we allow governments to control things for the wealthy.

Why Russia was never socialist

Completely false.

I'm guessing you are an anarchist of somesort?




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