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Beautiful post. Your statements very well illustrate how out of touch many conservatives are with those who are poor and don't have the advantages that they do. Sadly, even if you point this out to them, many of them will say, "Well, too bad. Go get a better job, loser."
I know this is not the topic of this thread so I want to be careful not to go too far afield, but my problem as a conservative who grew up poor is that I often see too much encouragement for victimhood coming from the left. That doesn't help poor people either and I feel i can speak on this from personal experience. But when my friends did this, it did open my eyes to how coldhearted some conservatives appear to liberals. Obviously there needs to be a balance between compassion for the poor and an expectation of personal responsibility. If liberals and conservatives could blend their philosophies a little bit and meet in the middle, that would be ideal. I did tell my friends that they were perpetuating a stereotype of the "out of touch, well-to-do conservative." That didn't sit well . . .
I know this is not the topic of this thread so I want to be careful not to go too far afield, but my problem as a conservative who grew up poor is that I often see too much encouragement for victimhood coming from the left. That doesn't help poor people either and I feel i can speak on this from personal experience. But when my friends did this, it did open my eyes to how coldhearted some conservatives appear to liberals. Obviously there needs to be a balance between compassion for the poor and an expectation of personal responsibility.
It appears coldhearted to independents as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chattypatty
If liberals and conservatives could blend their philosophies a little bit and meet in the middle, that would be ideal. I did tell my friends that they were perpetuating a stereotype of the "out of touch, well-to-do conservative." That didn't sit well . . .
Agreed. When I hear either side of the political spectrum saying that they are either not far enough left or far enough right the first thing I do is...
I know this is not the topic of this thread so I want to be careful not to go too far afield, but my problem as a conservative who grew up poor is that I often see too much encouragement for victimhood coming from the left. That doesn't help poor people either and I feel i can speak on this from personal experience. But when my friends did this, it did open my eyes to how coldhearted some conservatives appear to liberals. Obviously there needs to be a balance between compassion for the poor and an expectation of personal responsibility. If liberals and conservatives could blend their philosophies a little bit and meet in the middle, that would be ideal. I did tell my friends that they were perpetuating a stereotype of the "out of touch, well-to-do conservative." That didn't sit well . . .
I wonder sometimes if there are any conservatives left who believe that the government can do anything worthwhile. It wasn't that long ago that the term "good government conservative" wouldn't have been an oxymoron; today, I'm not so sure. The mentality now seems to be: All government is bad. It's a very cynical attitude, and I think it breeds a great distrust and lack of respect for our fellow citizens.
I can accept whatever station a person is at in life so long as he is interested in moving toward self-improvement. Libraries are emblematic of that personal struggle for self improvement. I can't think of anything more important to a society that claims to offer every citizen an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And librarians are the stewards of libraries; as such, they should be respected and appreciated!
I wonder sometimes if there are any conservatives left who believe that the government can do anything worthwhile. It wasn't that long ago that the term "good government conservative" wouldn't have been an oxymoron; today, I'm not so sure. The mentality now seems to be: All government is bad.
Under Bush, my conservative friends actually thought he wasn't going far enough. Eventually, I spent more time around my liberal friends under that administration.
I'm really glad to see other moderates on these forums. Listening to discussion digress into name calling as administrations moved through Reagan, Clinton, the Bushes, and Obama, and Congress did its little dance of favors and contempt, it really starts to feel like we're going extinct. I'm just thankful each time I'm reminded that many of my fellow American citizens aren't thinking at all like the crapshoot bloviating I see on TV.
I can accept whatever station a person is at in life so long as he is interested in moving toward self-improvement. Libraries are emblematic of that personal struggle for self improvement. I can't think of anything more important to a society that claims to offer every citizen an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And librarians are the stewards of libraries; as such, they should be respected and appreciated!
Very true. If Fresh is going silent all of a sudden out of embarrassment, more power to him/her. We all say and do dumb things, but the difference is those who can realize it and take a step toward changing attitudes and actions that make us fall short, not just as individuals, but as a society.
I wonder sometimes if there are any conservatives left who believe that the government can do anything worthwhile. It wasn't that long ago that the term "good government conservative" wouldn't have been an oxymoron; today, I'm not so sure. The mentality now seems to be: All government is bad. It's a very cynical attitude, and I think it breeds a great distrust and lack of respect for our fellow citizens.
Yep.
For the most part a lot of people have made me see Conservatives as cold hearted people who could care less about their fellow citizens.
I know not ALL of them are like that but these tea parties and "Buy your own health care! GET A JOB!!" makes them all look like a bunch of cold-hearted....well....that's all I'll say.
No waaay!!!...nothing like going to the library with your kids. The internet will never replace that. Its a parent thing, you won't understand unless you have kids.
No waaay!!!...nothing like going to the library with your kids. The internet will never replace that. Its a parent thing, you won't understand unless you have kids.
It's a surrogate parent or community parent thing, too. Few things match the enthrall of watching lights come on in a mind that's known nothing but the drama/trauma of negligent/abusive jerks who were supposed to be known as mom and dad.
I think not all librarians have that masters in the field. Those that have that degree usually do not work with the public, and work in archival catagorizing type stuff for larger companies or the government. You never see them.
The person average joe talks to when they go to the library probably has a random Bachelors, or is working part time, and at best has some degree in Teaching or Education.
They may be annoying, but they are necessary.
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