| > Superficial differences exist between factions, but their fundamental core moral position remains the same. The differences are significant, but you're correct they share fundamental core moral positions, namely a resignation to the human condition and skepticism about efforts to fundamentally change it. > Conservatives believe in a hierarchical society with the elite at the top who must be pampered, and the bottom feeders who must be ignored and kept quiet lest they try to upset the apple cart. No, conservatives recognize that society is inherently hierarchical and believe that efforts to engage in social engineering are typically counterproductive. > Conservative factions differ in only who they think should be at the bottom. Social conservatives think it should be gays and other minorities. No, social conservatives believe that "culture" is fragile and difficult to engineer, and we should hesitate to change longstanding institutions like marriage to address the needs of minorities. Case in point, social liberals are literally failing to perpetuate their societies--North America has become wholly dependent on immigration from socially conservative Latin America, while Europe has become wholly dependent on immigration from socially conservative Muslim countries. > Economic conservatives believe it should obviously be poor people. Economic conservatives acknowledge poor people will always exist and are skeptical of efforts to "fix" it. Case in point, the mixed results of Great Society programs. > Defense hawks believe it should be people of other countries because the home country is racially and culturally superior. Defense hawks acknowledge that great powers will exist on the international stage, and believe that the world is better off with America being the one in charge. > 1. Small government folks against cheap food stamps but for expensive wars Food stamps aren't in the Constitution but defense is. > 2. Railing against cheap universal health care to support an expensive insurance industry Even Elizabeth Warren doesn't believe you can make our healthcare system significantly cheaper than what we have now. Universal healthcare in other countries may be cheap, but so are lots of other public functions that are extremely expensive in the U.S. > 3. Republican devout christians opposed to helping the poor and immigrants The Bible doesn't say anything about using government coercion to help the poor and immigrants. Conservatives give more and religious organizations are the main "boots on the ground" entities working on refugee resettlement. You're confusing "want" with "accept." Liberals, more strongly than conservatives, want an egalitarian society. Conservatives, more strongly than liberals, are resigned to the idea that you can't have one and trying will probably make things worse. And I don't know if you've looked around lately, but the liberal world is vastly more hierarchical than the conservative world. NYC and SF are incredibly hierarchical, while Iowa is incredibly flat. Liberals have embraced hierarchy economically, culturally, socially, etc. |
A lot of your responses are simple yes-no with nothing really to back it up. This is your belief system, not a reality. This is analogous to a Muslim complaining about a statement "Muslims believe Mohammed is a prophet" and counter claiming "NO, Muslims RECOGNIZE Mohammed is a prophet".
The only folks who are going to swap "belief" for "recognize" are other conservatives, which is not surprising.
In most of your responses you are basically just agreeing with me - simply providing unsubstantiated justifications for your belief system. I recognize your belief system- I simply disagree with it.
> The Bible doesn't say anything about using government coercion to help the poor and immigrants.
I am talking about the conservative Christian's asking for a Christian nation.
> Conservatives, more strongly than liberals, are resigned to the idea that you can't have one
They absolutely are not RESIGNED to the idea. They love it, want it and will spend enormous amounts of time, energy and money to defend and reinforce it - for example on tech discussion boards :)
> NYC and SF are incredibly hierarchical, while Iowa is incredibly flat.
Good for Iowa because federal tax dollars flow out of liberal NYC and SF to pay for the upkeep of conservative, fiscally responsible flat Iowa.
https://www.moneygeek.com/living/states-most-reliant-federal...
Also, liberals recognize that society will be hierarchical. But justice and fairness are important principles for liberals - not expendable burdens. Liberals "recognize" that conservativism is an inherent malaise of society and has repeatedly tried (unsuccessfully for the most part) to hold back progress in favor of parochialism.
In the United states conservatives fought to preserve slavery and prevent civil rights. I was able to immigrate here because the conservatives failed.
In India, they fought to preserve caste system, child marriages and sati and now are attempting to strip muslims of citizenship.
In Burma, they carried out a Rohingya genocide.
In the ISIS Islamic state, they butchered all non Abrahamic peoples they could find.
In Germany, there was this great nationalist chancellor who believed in a hierarchy of human ethnicities. And at the bottom were the Jews. Conservative jewish immigration expert Stephen Miller seems to be seized by similar ideas. Certainly, a gem of a man.
Conservatism is a platform for the likes of Stephen Miller, Bannon, KKK, white nationalists, motley crew of conspiracy theorists, anti science numb nuts - who if they find themselves in power- will destroy the very fabric of society that has helped humanity progress so much, painfully, step by step to this day. A certain German chancellor with strong beliefs in human hierarchies and conspiracy theories of the Atlantis comes to mind. Nearly managed to wipe out Germany.
> and we should hesitate to change longstanding institutions like marriage to address the needs of minorities.
Ah classic conservatism. I hope these gays don't destroy America!