From: bedwarmer@gmail.com
On Sat, 20 Jan 2018 14:08:51 -0800 (PST), litewave
wrote:
>CONSERVATISM ---------- LIBERALISM
>
>Differentiation ------- Unification
>Individualism --------- Collectivism
>Justice --------------- Mercy
>
>Conservatives have a keen sense of differences, uphold them, emphasize them
and keep them in structures. Liberals look for similarities and commonalities,
try to reconcile, downplay or remove differences and relax structures.
>
>Conservatives emphasize individual differences, freedom and responsibility.
Liberals emphasize togetherness, mutual help and care.
>
>Conservatives focus on rules and consequences of one's actions and uphold
them even if they are painful; this is justice. Liberals focus on freedom from
rules and consequences and try to alleviate pain; this is mercy.
>
>Here are some specific areas:
>
>Economic policy: Conservatives prefer economic individualism - free market
and little redistribution of wealth; people get what they earn. Liberals
prefer a more collectivistic economy, with larger redistribution of wealth and
measures to help the needy
and disadvantaged. The conservative direction stimulates individual initiative
but can lead to reckless competition and suffering of the weaker people. The
liberal direction alleviates the suffering of the weak and, if possible, helps
them return to
economic activity, but may also suppress individual initiative of many.
>
>Abortion, death penalty, euthanasia: Conservatives feel strongly about the
unborn baby's personhood and innocence and so they reject abortion as murder.
The criminal on death row is a human being too, however he is guilty and
therefore deserves the
punishment. Liberals' preference for mercy will lead them to minimize
suffering: abortion is permissible because the unborn baby's undeveloped
consciousness limits its ability to suffer, at least in earlier stages of
pregnancy, and anaesthetics can be
used to remove possible pain to the baby during the procedure. In the liberal
view, this can be better than having the baby suffering later when it is born
unwanted or having the parents, particularly the woman, suffering as a result
of pregnancy and
having a child they don't want or can't take care of. Death penalty is less
supported by liberals because of the criminal's capacity of suffering before
or during the execution. On the other hand, liberals are more willing to
support euthanasia
>("mercy killing") if the patient wants it in order to end their suffering.
For conservatives euthanasia undermines the value of the individual and the
rule that an innocent person should not be killed.
>
>Homosexual rights: Conservatives defend the differences between a man and a
woman, heterosexual union and existing family structure. Liberals are less
likely to stick to these differences and structures. Their support for
homosexual unions is also
influenced by the fact that change of sexual orientation is difficult, if not
impossible, and discrimination against homosexual people causes them much
suffering.
>
>Illegal immigration: Conservatives are less likely to forgive law-breakers
and are concerned about the impact that illegal immigration may have on their
personal wealth, employment and on existing ideological structures. Liberals
are more likely to
emphasize the humanness of the illegal immigrants and include them in society.
>
>Foreign policy: Conservatives tend to be more hawkish (militant and
uncompromising) to the enemies and in defense of the national interest, which
may lead to arrogance. Liberals are more dovish (conciliatory and empathetic),
which may lead to
appeasement.
>
>Environment: Conservatives are more likely to see the natural world as
separate from and inferior to man and available for man to use freely in order
to secure his needs and interests. Liberals feel not only greater connection
between people but also
between people and nature, and strive for a better protection of nature.
>
>Religion: Conservatives prefer rule-based religions while liberals loose
spirituality. Conservatives tend to interpret religious scriptures in a more
literal way, preferring clear definitions and structure and noting the
differences from other religions.
Liberals' interpretation of scriptures is more metaphorical and ambiguous and
less dogmatic, giving them more flexibility in applying them in their life and
reconciling them with people of different religions.
>
>Summarizing with the following parallels:
>
>CONSERVATISM ---------- LIBERALISM
>
>Masculinity ----------- Femininity
>Ego ------------------- Soul
"I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and
that is this: God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.
"God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle aged male, a stern fellow,
patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and
regulations. He holds men accountable for their actions. He has little
apparent concern for the material well being of the disadvantaged. He
is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on
literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is
unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God's heavenly country
club.
"Santa Claus is another matter. He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's
always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who's been naughty
and who's been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives
everyone everything they want without the thought of quid pro quo. He
works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor.
Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no
such thing as Santa Claus." -- P.J. O'Rourke
Bedwarmer
--
DNC issues are presented as equivalent to criminal allegations
against Donny and friends. The problem is nothing in the Democrat
kertuffle is alleged to be illegal. However unsavoury it
sounds, it's Democrats fighting with Democrats and doesn't
involve the general public. The allegations against Donny
and friends do involve crimes against the people of the
republic. - Siri Cruise
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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