Honest Question? Is Liberalism Slowly Eroding American Culture?

a reply to: luthier

I agree with your perspective politically. I'm just pointing out that Alabama can indeed be fantastic. lol Even my worse situation in Alabama was an interesting adventure in retrospect.

originally posted by: Annee
It's always been done that way. Really?

EVOLVE!

What have you evolved into?

Can you still interbreed with us regular Neanderthal derp Humans? If so, then you are still human and haven't actually "evolved" at all.

a reply to: enlightenedservant

People are people. I lived in South Carolina for two years and wasn't a fan of the culture. I was treated horribly for being catholic. Which is really more my wife. I found people to be incredibly fake.

I loved living in Texas. I found people to be extremely genuine.

But these are anecdotal situations.

My wife is also a research professor and the on campus stuff that happens in the deep south is under reported. Again there are great people everywhere and I also don't feel comfortable with intellectual snobs.

originally posted by: shawmanfromny
a reply to: Bluntone22

I'm OK with the United States accepting a variety of nationalities and cultures. I'm not OK with a movement wanting to eliminate traditional values in order to be "politically correct" and not offend anyone.

I agree with you to the extent that competition pushes innovation. In competition there are winners and losers. It's always been this way. There's no reason to change it other than stifling innovation. Losing is supposed to feel bad. It's supposed to make us try harder, to work harder to try and achieve something other than a "participation" trophy.

But is liberalism destroying the fabric of America's culture? You could say yes...But America's culture has always been changing. That's what culture does...it moves and flows. Culture has never been static in any large society, unless repressed by agencies of power. Culture, like language, changes over time. Sometimes the effects are fast moving, sometimes slow. Values are also a demonstrable ideal of that culture. Are our values changing? I'd say yes they are, right alongside of our changing culture.

Some of the value and culture changes seem to me to be a detriment to moving forward and moving onward. But are they destroying America? Not really. Americans are alot more resilient. What IS changing the US of A is the lack of teaching of critical thinking and the lack of real parents. But that's just my opinion.

Liberalism is often the only thing that has the potential to protect less fortunate people from the cold cruelty of those who have been more fortunate.

a reply to: Blue Shift

Are Conservatives attacking the poverty programs, or are they attacking the poor? Are they attacking entitlement programs, or are they worried where the future money will come from to support these programs? Our population is getting older and seniors rely on government programs to survive. Liberalism won't protect the less fortunate, unless both Democrats and Republicans come together to find a way to curb spending on the elderly and reducing our nation's debt.

Through 2050, the Social Security trustees estimate that the number of seniors will rise from 48 million to 86 million. The Congressional Budget Office projects that, as a result, by 2047 Social Security and the major federal health-care programs, principally Medicare and Medicaid, will consume two-thirds of all federal spending (except for interest on the national debt). That’s up from 54 percent now.

Conservatives have decried that future most vociferously, but it should concern Democrats, too. Increased spending on the elderly is already squeezing the resources available for investment in the productivity of future generations, such as education, scientific research, and infrastructure. The CBO projects that as spending grows on seniors, as well as on health care, federal discretionary spending—the portions of the budget that invest in future generations—will shrink relative to the economy.

www.theatlantic.com...

a reply to: kelbtalfenek

Have parenting skills decreased because of Liberalism? Has Liberalism destroyed the concept of critical thinking? Liberalism wants all cultures and beliefs to be equal and deserving of equal respect. Liberalism wants to impose neutral standards for everything. Liberals don't want to debate...they want to enforce and protest. Example) A gay couple is politely told that a owner of a bakery, won't bake a cake because it would go against his faith. Does this gay couple use "critical thinking" to realize that a) there are other bakeries they could go to and b) the owner has the freedom to refuse service(aren't there businesses that refuse service if you enter without a shirt or shoes?) Not anymore. Instead they complain to the local LGBT chapter, who in turn protests the business, by implying the owner is homophobic. This is just one instance, of Liberalism forcing "inclusiveness" down our throats, by policing our freedoms, while maintaining that Liberals are tolerant. Liberals want diversity, but aren't smart enough to realize that "differences" creates diversity.

I once stopped listening to one well-known radio talk show host. The reason ? He wrote a book which I didnt like (I was still in my semi-liberal years)
Yet , in 2008 or so I made a complete reversal on that book . And even more so in the recent past.

"Liberalism is a mental disorder"

originally posted by: shawmanfromny
Liberalism won't protect the less fortunate, unless both Democrats and Republicans come together to find a way to curb spending on the elderly and reducing our nation's debt.

That's why I said "potentially." Unfortunately, conservatives tend to blame the less fortunate for being in the situation they are in. And also unfortunately, liberals tend to blame the fortunate for blocking or eliminating opportunities that the less fortunate do not have.

I understand that redistributing wealth is a de-motivator, and that if you're lucky enough to be born into relatively wealthy circumstances it's a lot easier to keep and build wealth. And if you're born into a poor family gaining wealth is a lot more challenging, particularly if your parents know nothing about wealth accumulation, choosing a high-paying profession, or college, or where to even start.

I'm not sure reducing spending on the elderly is the key. I would much rather reduce the military budget a tiny bit and make sure most of the population gets a good, solid education -- an education that tells the truth to students about how the world runs on money, how to get it, and what to do with it after you get it. Not so much about recognizing someone else's "right" to feel good about their ethnic or cultural background. Money is the great equalizer. That's what I think should be taught.

Conservatism has issues too, but it supports traditional values and ideas, which I feel is a good thing

How can you say that with the current "conservatives" in our country who are unbelievbly immoral people who support crime and criminals all the way up to the White House??

What is the real blame for destroying "culture" is capitalism which is based almost entirely on disregarding morality and community.

The current two party system is eating away at American Culture.

All of our politicians are bought by corporations and lobbyists for specific industries and they stay in power for decades because we don't have any term limits for anyone except the potus. That's the problem right there.

Add to that our media which plays into our two party system and makes you take a label. you're either a liberal or a conservative.

Real Americans are independent and don't need any of the idiots from Fox News or MSNBC Telling us what to think.

originally posted by: CB328
What is the real blame for destroying "culture" is capitalism which is based almost entirely on disregarding morality and community.

I don't believe that is true. Capitalism is based on the notion that a single individual doesn't have much power, however, if everyone gets together and invests in a company that can turn a profit, they can all be rewarded proportionally to what they put into it.

In certain ways, it's not all that much different than socialism, except that people are investing in a company that produces things, rather than just a country, which should essentially stick to regulation and protection. Unfortunately, the United States is in the business of military expansion.

originally posted by: CB328

Conservatism has issues too, but it supports traditional values and ideas, which I feel is a good thing

How can you say that with the current "conservatives" in our country who are unbelievbly immoral people who support crime and criminals all the way up to the White House??

What is the real blame for destroying "culture" is capitalism which is based almost entirely on disregarding morality and community.

I think you have to have some capitalism. It's a pay off for hard work and it's hope that you can make a better life for yourself. And what is socialism or social programs when we're talking about America? Besides all the dictionary definitions what we really mean is where we want our tax money to go.

a reply to: CB328

That's just nonsensical talk. How the heck can you possibly say, that all conservatives are immoral people, who support crime and criminals? Over 57% of Americans feel the country is on the right path, according to a poll conducted by CNN. That doesn't mean we approve of criminality or immorality....we approve of an improvement in our every day lives. I didn't imply that all Liberals supported the erosion of traditional values, nor did I state that they were all "immoral." But I guess it's OK with YOU to paint all conservatives with the same brush, huh? By the way, where would this country be without capitalism?

a reply to: amazing

I agree with you! It makes more sense to vote for a person based on their integrity, accomplishments and experience, NOT because of their party affiliation. That's why I belong to NO PARTY. However, I still strongly believe in traditional, conservative values.

a reply to: shawmanfromny

True Liberalism itself is the support and protection of individual liberties and Constitutional rights. This is not a bad thing. But the current bastardization of liberalism, "State-ism" or statist, yes IMO is absolutely detrimental.

originally posted by: PurpleFox
Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes Liberalism is Slowly Eroding American Culture.

a reply to: shawmanfromny

Well, look at the Cultural Revolution in China. Their stance was that every thing old and traditional was holding them back. They were basically the Progressives Liberals in America, if they had no leash or anything stopping them and in fact were encouraged. They destroyed statues and all that jazz, punished those who resisted the changes, and the youth was the main energy source...

originally posted by: CB328

Conservatism has issues too, but it supports traditional values and ideas, which I feel is a good thing

How can you say that with the current "conservatives" in our country who are unbelievbly immoral people who support crime and criminals all the way up to the White House??

What is the real blame for destroying "culture" is capitalism which is based almost entirely on disregarding morality and community.

I believe he said "conservatism", and not "the conservatives we have today"...

Wow...the liberalism entity is so symbiotically entangled in your brain, that you will literally read things in a way that allows you to take a jab at your perceived political enemies... Like a sort of dyslexia that is powered entirely on hatred and negativity... Fascinating. Man, I would love to have a look at your brain under laboratory conditions, you should consider donating your body to science after you die, they could learn a lot about the alien virus known as liberalism.

I'm still amazed, how it actually controls your mind so you only see what it wants you to see. Can you even see this right now? Or does it all just switch in realtime into something you can easily criticize and feel self righteous about?

Conservatives are the ones dumbing down our children by taking away their God-given right to use reason and science to determine what is best for themselves and society. Conservatives are the ones that deny the reality of God's creation by believing in certain ideas such as creationism and not others, like evolution, which goes against what we learn when we study the universe, which is God's creation.

So how come conservatives fail to grasp what God himself has made? It is because they listen to prophets and charlatans that think they are talking to God, who does not, in fact, talk to anyone. Instead of looking at what is in front of their own faces, they believe things just because it is what they are told. not realizing that even if someone happened to talk to God, that there could be human error involved in interpreting the message, and at least some prophets (think of Joseph Smith) were probably not even talking to God in the first place, and knew it. In addition, messages that are thousands of years old would not only have this human error but would not be appropriate for use as our society and technology advances. In other words, if God ever did talk to anyone, he would be about due to come back and explain to Christians why they are doing things wrong. An update.

It is not as scary as you think to not be a Christian. "Gentiles" still have values. Believe it or not, it makes sense to treat others with respect and to be altruistic. Hitler tried doing things a different way and failed. Even if he did succeed, his society would have fallen. People would have seen its flaws and rebelled or it would have fallen to corruption.

I see a lot of people have the fear that not believing in God somehow makes people lose morals. In fact, the opposite is the case. Clearing ones mind of the false prophets and instead studying God's creation without speaking to him (as I said, I don't think he talks to anyone, and therefore those who do speak to him are going to actually be coming up with ideas based on their own emotions, which can be dangerous) - this is the way to have clear morals. Using logic and reason results in morals that not only work for the individual and society but are clear about why they exist and how they benefit us all. So fear not, morals still exist without Christianity. People can still be good parents without being Christian. People can still be altruistic and treat others with respect. It is still wrong to murder, etc.

These days, the scientific study of God's creation and reason-based philosophy have come such a long way that there is not any need for prophets and channelers. Not only that, the ones that do exist these days are less likely to figure out what God wants than those who study His creation using science and reason. This is the safest route to take if you want a real shot at understanding God's divine nature.

There are still good points to be made in Christianity and other religions as these are philosophies as well, and parts of them are, in fact, based on reason and logic. Just not all. These parts that work and make sense are not going to go away. The parts that might go away are those that fail to stand the test of reason and logic and critical thinking.

Just take a minute to think if you are still with me - are there any leaders in the U.S. who take their orders from God Himself? Probably not. We are smart enough to know that if someone says they are talking to God and make laws for our nation based on that, that this is not a good idea. Thousands of years ago, even less than that, people did not understand this. That means that they were ripe for being manipulated by people that claimed to have talked to God.

Now don't get me wrong, as a philosophy and way to bring people together, different religions do have their use. But for them to remain useful, they have to be open to criticism and adapting to new information and advances in philosophy and science.

Do you know what happens when people cling to outdated religious beliefs as society moves on? They become violent and engage in terrorism. That is what the extremist Muslims are doing, and that could be what extremist Christians do, too, as they get frustrated and can't deal with change.