Truly Conservative

We need to help Jennifer connect the dots..

And just a note for Doug.. this is not about "divide and conquer". This is about just saying it like it is, and asking a person to decide which view point makes more sense.

I consider myself a conservative....or is it a wingnut to you? LOL But I don't consider myself a Christian freak and I am finding there is a huge difference.

I find the fact that he finds the poor lazy is appalling. I've had anxiety/syncope for the last 12 years and it has been a living HELL. I am on disability....does that make me lazy or any less of a person? About 4 years ago, I was doing a little better and went to school to be an EMT. I worked for about a year until, my anxiety made it impossible. How could I help someone else when I was passed out on the floor? Am I still considered lazy? This is not a conservative viewpoint, it is an ignorant one.

I don't abuse it, it is there to help us out on the bills. My husband works his ass off in a factory, does that make him any less of a person because he doesn't make 6 figures?

I am still hoping on McCain though!! :-)

Yes, it is conservative, and that's the whole point. This is what I've been trying to say for over 2 years now.

You don't really strike me as the "freak" type that I reference from time to time. The viewpoints of that type of person are immutable. However, if you don't trust your own reasoning abilities more then what somebody tells you the Bible says, then that's definitely an issue.

That's the million dollar question, Jennifer. Do you trust your own reasoning abilities more than what the Bible says? Do you believe human beings are born with an innate moral sense of right and wrong, or does it need to be taught? That is the difference between spiritual people and "religious freaks".

But, yes.. Doug thinks that you are irresponsible.. and he thinks that any "entitlement" you may rely on is "socialist" and should not be "forced" on the taxpayers. And yes, all government funding and social services or benefits should be cut off, because your illness is like being gay.. it's a choice.. and you have no incentive to get better, because you'd rather just stay sick and unable to work because it's easier than earning a living. You are abusing the system.

Let's just have Doug say it again;

For example, Church organizations and charities are wonderful ways to assist the poor and show our Christian love for our neighbors, but it is not Biblical for people to be forced to provide for the poor through taxation, nor to provide so many government sponsored entitlements that the poor ceases to work towards earning their way out of poverty, instead becoming dependent upon governmental assistance.

He thinks your husband is a "loser". That's a "natural consequence" of somebody else in society winning.. either by getting better grades.. being better looking.. working harder.. or whatever trait that allows somebody else to make more money than your husband. Your husband has less human worth than somebody else who... as Doug has said..

In a competitive world, success is naturally defined in the terms of money, power, and influence. These are fine things, and each individual has every right to attain such

He believes, and "conservative thought" holds that you should not receive any disability.. and if that leaves you homeless or hungry, that's just the "natural consequence".

Thing is Jennifer.. that's what "conservatism" is all about. You are not really a conservative. I don't think Doug really is either, except to the extent that his presonality type has him beholden to the movement. If some issue came up, you'd use a rational thought process to decide your point of view. Doug would adopt the conservative movement's point of view, regardless if it made any sense to him or not. You see that in his view on taxes.. on health care.. on any number of things.

I suggest you do a mental exercise. Throw out all labels, and start from nothing and rebuild your view point, one issue at a time.

The right wing has effectively demonized the word "liberal", so that liberalism is no longer about ideas or policies, it's a a symbol. The right has defined that symbol in ways that do not truly represent modern liberal/progressive thought.

I frequently.. complain about Doug arguing against straw men. He does that "liberals say" bullshit over and over, and I have to correct the record.. because that's the process the right wing uses to demonize liberalism.

Try the exercise, and just rebuild your point of view. I'm very well versed on modern liberal thinking, and it's not what you think it is, or have been told it is. Go through each issue, reason for yourself what you think the smartest policy is on any given topic. Then.. find out whether that's better represented by liberal or conservative politics.

I would virtually guarantee that the vast majority of your views on the issues are liberal. You've just bought into the false culture of "conservatism" as some kind of theme. You should get really deep into what "conservative" policy is, and not just adopt it because "conservative" sounds manly, and "liberal" sounds effete. You don't think Doug's view on your disability is "conservative". It's arch-typical conservative. It's not the only issue you'll be surprised to find you diverge from the conservative movement.

Because.. what I've shown you about Doug's values is just a small sliver of what is really there. It goes much deeper than that, and if you vote for John McCain, you're voting against your own self interest.