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The right wing prefers to use government coercion to force the poor to work, strive, achieve and stay poor while the left want to apply the coercion to the rich to even out the wealth and provide a higher minimum for the poor.
As the wealthy control our government, the latter is not likely to happen.
I would personally prefer a system where I could always count on minimal economic safety net so I could indulge my entrepreneurial streak without the risk of having to sleep outside in a freezing rain when my less well thought out ideas don’t work. If I had to sacrifice most of the profit if I was really successful that would be a fair trade.
Almost every great social evil resulted from either a "government" or "society" dictating how one should live/be. Hitler spoke to great lengths as to how he wanted a "Better Society", little to anyone's knowledge it wouldn't include most everyone not blonde. Mao's "Cultural Revolution" is another. Jim Crow was an attempt by White Southerners to preserve their "Society".
The point is that while on strictly economic terms, socialistic tendances seem nice, history has shown that our foolish beilef in race/nations/society/culture/collective is bull**** and dangerous. Not to mention, we are endowed with free will from God.
In the end however, it's really about taking from those who have to those who don't to appease themselves. Hatred and Mob violence at it's best.
Why do so many conservatives seem to think that all liberals/progressives or "left-wingers" are Marxists who are too ashamed to admit it, or something? It's always "you liberals want everyone to be equal," "you liberals think that a doctor should make the same as a cashier," "you liberals think that people on welfare should have big screen TVs and mansions."
Why is it impossible to say that inequality above a certain level may be unhealthy for an economy (and especially for the poor) without being accused of wanting all inequality to be completely removed? Don't you people that I'm describing above understand that there are shades of grey between Ayn Rand and Karl Marx? I guess not. Everything always has to be this big, good vs. evil black and white battle, aka "capitalist freedom" vs "socialist oppression," "the productive vs. the nonproductive," "the noble Bush vs. the Iranian Hitler," "blessed Israel vs. the savage Palestinians," the "traditionalists vs. the secular progressives," "the Real Americans vs. the Europe libs," etc. I meandered, sorry...
Also, why does every conservative who veers even slightly from right-wing orthodoxy get labeled "liberal" by various right-wing pundits and personalities for not passing the 100% purity test? Pro-life Fair-Taxer Mike Huckabee, who wants to amend the constitution to make it more like the Bible, is a "liberal" because he displays insufficient hatred towards illegal immigrants... anti-spending crusader and ultrahawk Terror Warrior John McCain is a "lib" because he doesn't want Guantanamo detainees to go through what he went through and displays insufficient hatred towards illegal immigrants... neocon supply-sider George W Bush is a "liberal" because he displays insufficient hatred toward illegal immigrants and didn't abolish every last social program during his tenure, etc. It seems like the only way one could become a "true conservative" in the minds of many influential people would be to walk around constantly staring at and obeying your WWRD (What Would Reagan Do?) bracelet on one wrist and your "Speak English or Get Out" watch on the other.
Also, if you are wondering whether I know how bad all of the grammar and wording of the above is, I in fact do.
Good post. As you know, there is no "confusion" about equating liberalism to communism; rather, it is a well-planned, deliberate, smear tactic that is meant to discredit a group of people. People like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have made a well-paying career of it.
Why do so many conservatives seem to think that all liberals/progressives or "left-wingers" are Marxists who are too ashamed to admit it, or something?
Because liberals, communists and socialists all embrace economic egalitarianism as a philosophy.
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Why is it impossible to say that inequality above a certain level may be unhealthy for an economy (and especially for the poor) without being accused of wanting all inequality to be completely removed?
Because
a. That "certain level" is disagreed upon among liberals. The philosophical difference between 1% and 0% redistribution is clear. The philosophical difference between 1% and 97% redistribution is not clear.
and
b. It is a slippery slope. Give 'em what they want, and they'll want more. We had a thread the other day where someone was saying that people need air conditioning and automobiles "to survive." That's the sort of thinking that disgusts me, and makes me far more right wing. I'm ok with paying for roads, police, nat'l defense, and education for the less fortunate. You know, the governmental framework that allows them to provide for themselves. I'm not ok with paying for their A/C, their medical bills, orthopedic shoes, housing, et cetera - the comforts that make their lives happier and longer.
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Also, why does every conservative who veers even slightly from right-wing orthodoxy get labeled "liberal" by various right-wing pundits and personalities for not passing the 100% purity test?
I suppose the right-wing orthodoxy is acting in its political interests by applying this sort of pressure.
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Pro-life Fair-Taxer Mike Huckabee, who wants to amend the constitution to make it more like the Bible, is a "liberal" because he displays insufficient hatred towards illegal immigrants... anti-spending crusader and ultrahawk Terror Warrior John McCain is a "lib" because he doesn't want Guantanamo detainees to go through what he went through and displays insufficient hatred towards illegal immigrants... neocon supply-sider George W Bush is a "liberal" because he displays insufficient hatred toward illegal immigrants and didn't abolish every last social program during his tenure, etc.
And the fact that all these men are all electable Republicans should indicate that you shouldn't listen to Fox News so much In determining the "true face" of the GOP, voters supercede whatever drivel you hear on TV.
Good post. As you know, there is no "confusion" about equating liberalism to communism; rather, it is a well-planned, deliberate, smear tactic that is meant to discredit a group of people. People like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have made a well-paying career of it.
And, of course, liberals do not do any of the same things you accuse conservatives of doing - liberals are above all of that - right?
Everything always has to be this big, good vs. evil black and white battle, aka "capitalist freedom" vs "socialist oppression," "the productive vs. the nonproductive," "the noble Bush vs. the Iranian Hitler," "blessed Israel vs. the savage Palestinians," the "traditionalists vs. the secular progressives," "the Real Americans vs. the Europe libs," etc. I meandered, sorry...
.
I think it's possible that sometimes, conservatives see LIBERALS as having a SIMILAR battle, as in "socialist caring" vs "capitalist coldness", the "laid-back, generous, unemployed" vs the "stressed, selfish employed"...the "violent western invaders" vs the "peace-loving Iraqi population"....the "cold, racist American attitude toward immigrants" vs. the "open-arms welcome for immigrants in the REST of the world"...."America's lack of any defining culture" vs the "vibrant cultures of the third world".
I'm not big on conservatism OR liberalism--I prefer case-by-case common sense. But I DO get the feeling of "Liberal vs Conservative" debates as SOMETIMES sounding like an eager, idealistic teenager arguing with a grumpy, world-weary 50-year old. Nothing WRONG with either, they just have profoundly different viewpoints (and the "old guy" is probably paying most of the bills)...
Good post. As you know, there is no "confusion" about equating liberalism to communism; rather, it is a well-planned, deliberate, smear tactic that is meant to discredit a group of people. People like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have made a well-paying career of it.
That's true, of course. But recall that some folks also equate conservativism with Naziism....Bush has been compared to Hitler, and any faint mention of ever slowing DOWN illegal immigration produces "howls" of "racism, xenophobia, hatred of Hispanics". etc etc. Rationality DOES seem in short supply, just about everywhere...
The right wing prefers to use government coercion to force the poor to work, strive, achieve and stay poor while the left want to apply the coercion to the rich to even out the wealth and provide a higher minimum for the poor.
As the wealthy control our government, the latter is not likely to happen.
That's a joke right? Coercing the poor to work. Yeah, I get it.
Quote:
I would personally prefer a system where I could always count on minimal economic safety net so I could indulge my entrepreneurial streak without the risk of having to sleep outside in a freezing rain when my less well thought out ideas don’t work. If I had to sacrifice most of the profit if I was really successful that would be a fair trade.
I've got a novel idea. How about saving back a little so that you have created your own safety net, if you ideas don't work, instead of depending upon others? Doesn't it make you feel bad to have to depend upon others so much?
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Confusing liberals with communists
In determining the "true face" of the GOP, voters supercede whatever drivel you hear on TV.
