In the spirit of change and cooperation, let's have a little respect.
This is why I don’t blog. What was a pithy one liner a few days ago took way too long to repeat in the comment below, and the attempt at context didn’t work either. Now it’s sitting there as the most recent representative of my so called “wit” because I don't have the time or inclination to update this stuff or specifically to edit it.
I have been dwelling on a new definition of conservative versus liberal that isn’t critical of either: Liberals are trying to find what they love. Conservatives are trying to protect what they love.
That is why liberals want more of things. More new art, more cultures to be surrounded by, and they want things that they aren’t yet supporting to be supported somehow, often by government. Conservatives don’t want resources to be drained from things they value, especially for vague reasons, such as a liberal expressing support for something he or she really doesn’t understand or isn't vested in – the liberal doesn’t want something diminished before he or she has a chance to see if it’s what he or she loves. An example: A conservative wants to watch his favorite show; a liberal wants to see what else is on TV. Note: a self description isn't necessarily accurate, and neither is an affiliation.
posted by NJWT at
3:37 AM
4 Comments:
Hell Dave, you are one of the few bloggers in our little cesspool that has any real integrity. You are a very talented writer. For sake of this wretched world. You need to be blogging more, not less.
Oh there are many good writers to be sure, but few who dare to write from the heart, in the way that you do. Maybe I should be your agent.
12:24 PM, March 15, 2008
Thanks Walt. You should definitely be my agent.
6:54 AM, March 16, 2008
In my opinion, a liberal believes we're all in this together. A conservative believes it's every person for him/herself. But that's just my opinion.
2:26 PM, March 16, 2008
TAB, I think you're thinking of a libertarian, or simply echoing a lefty's stereotype of a conservative. A conservative certianly would make sacrifices for his own family, and by some extension, his community. A religously active conservative would have a concern for the well being of the poor or disenfranchised - every social service organization I've been involved with has been religous.
If we are going to point to select elements of an ideology, I'd like to ask how some french-speaking-poetry-writing-hippie-communist from the east village contributes to the well being of the community? But he's certianly a liberal. But I think it would be disingenuous to characterize liberals as such - many liberals take it upon themselves to take leadership positions and contribute.
Are the leaders of a religous vs. a government run homeless shelter really so different in their goals? Is a liberal who thinks anyone should be able to do drugs really thinking of togetherness so much more than a conservative who would just as soon make it illegal than turn a blind eye to someone's potential addiction before it happens?
Certianly, there are elements of both parties that could serve the country better. But what would really serve the country better is for people to converse without regard for affiliation or ideologism (not to be confused with ideology - will explain in a future entry, but to be short, an ideologist doesn't care about the results as long as the ideological construct he or she champions is intact.)
I've met many liberals and conservatives whom I respect, and my ideology doesn't change from person to person.
5:05 PM, March 16, 2008
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