Another liberal blind to reality.


This can go on forever and we have pretty much laid waste to this thread. These topics and posts should really be kept civil, and if we do not have a point to argue we should not resort to personal attacks.

 

Another ramble and babble from a liberal. Amazing how liberals need soooooo much space and volume to babble about nothing. Doesn't surprise me that liberal topics just seem to dwindle into nothing, for that's how they start.

 

It was just so necessary for you to start the argument over after it had sort of ended, wasn't it?

 

The Psychology of Liberalism vs.. Conservatism


Webster's dictionary defines the following:

Conservative - To preserve. The political view that advocates for the preservation of established beliefs, practices, and institutions

Liberal - To give openhandedly. Open minded. The political view that advocates for greater individual economic freedom, greater individual participation in government, and the advancement of civil rights.

Additionally, there are only two methods for a person to deal with a new piece of information.

1. The person can assimilate the information. This involves changing the information to fit one's existing belief system.

2. The person can accommodate the information. This involves changing ones belief system in light of the new information.

Putting it together

Conservative and liberal thinking can not be separated from conservative and liberal politics.

By definition, conservatives tend to attempt to preserve their belief systems. They do this by assimilating information. The information is distorted and not perceived accurately. Allowing their belief systems to remain ridged and unchanged. As a result, personal growth reaches an impasse. They often tend to see the world in black and white terms. "You are either with us or against us". "You are either for war, or you're an ally of Saddam Hussein". They are not usually free thinkers, but the sheep of our society. However, this approach can be beneficial to the person in the short term. Cognitive dissonance and change are stressful. Conservatism allows a person to avoid the painful and time consuming process of reviewing and revising their cognitive structures.

On the other hand, liberals, by definition, are open minded. They actively refine their cognitive schema to accommodate new information. This leads to personal growth and development. An ever changing view of an ever changing world. They see the world, not in black and white terms, but in it's many shades of gray. They can "support the troops yet protest against war". They can be against abortion, yet protect a woman's right to choose. As opposed to the rigidity of conservatism that often breeds self-righteousness, liberals can change their mind and admit they were wrong. However this is often exploited by conservatives as "flip-flopping".

Without Liberal thinkers and politics, there would be no progress. We would all still be Europeans, thinking that the world was flat. We would still believe that the earth is the center of the universe, and that there is nothing wrong with owning another human being as a slave. With conservative thinkers and politics, we are restricted to the failed policies and views of the past. A time warp back to the 1980's. Not even the names have changed.

 

Odysseus

While you make some good, logical points in your argument above there are things that you have failed to illustrate.

You mention that conservatives only assimilate information where liberals accomodate it. While this may be true in some instances it dos not hold true for all. Both liberals and conservatives assimilate information and accomodate information to fit their needs and belief system. It is not one or the other depending upon the party you belong to.

To say conservatives are not free thinkers is a falacy. You are trying to equate the Republican party and conservatives in general to keeping the status quo...that is not true. Conservatives embrace technology and change just as much as liberals do...to imply that they do not is an exhibition of ignorance.

To imply that only liberals are the only group that is openminded is another falacy. There is just as much closed mindedness in liberal thinking as there is in conservative...liberals have been very closed minded on the whole war with Iraq.

What makes this country great is the fact that both liberals and conservatives have their positives and their negatives. It is the combination of these two belief systems, when working together, that has made this country what it is today. It has not been one single party or belief system that made this country what it is...to think so would be closed minded, ignorance.

The simple fact that I, as a Republican, can see these facts, understand them, and write them down punches a whole in your argument. While my belief structure is firmly rooted in the traditions of my family and my Church i have an open mind to to embrace technology and change. I work in the computer industry with bleeding edge technology that is constantly changing which I need to adapt to. I cannot assimilate new information because it is not what is known to me...I would be out of a job. And when it comes to the subject of abortion I am pro-life but would have to vote pro-choice...simply because I do not want a women to be forced to choose a "back-alley abortion" that is not regulated my state, local, and federal government agancies putting the health of the baby and the mother at risk.

Those are just some examples in my own life to show that not all conservatives assimilate and that all liberals accomodate. You have your far left and far right in both parties that are very rigid and not subject to change...those are the ones that assimilate. Hillary Clinton and Donald Rumsfeld are examples of both sides on the far end of the spectrum. But there are a huge chunk of people that are considered moderates that just fall to one side or the other of the fence. Joe Liberman and John McCain are examples of a moderate Democrat and a Moderate Republican. It is these moderates that are the ones that get things done...because it is usually compromises that take place before a bill gets passed.

Ok I am done rambling and have a headache.

 

C'mon Odysseus...you've already been asked to credit your cut and pasted sources. At least here, you could have credited your repost from an entirely different thread.

https://www.honda-acura.net/forums/s...724#post731724

Your credibility is waning, and it will do so as long as you simply look for, and post, speaking points from the left.

 

Good find...it's almost like a canned response. Does he copy all his posts from left-wing Websites.

 

Thanks...he's simply a broken record. I had much more respect for others such as Slow N Low, for one, who would at least come into a discussion with original ideas.

 

We need space and volume. We have to explain things carefully for you Republicans because you dont seem to see anything outside of Emperor Bush's agenda.

 

The answer is yes. I'm a Republican, but I didn't vote for Bush. He seemed like a dim bulb to me. Lucky for him, he filled his Cabinet with smart people.

It would be nice if everyone supported the troops (I imagine it's rather demoralizing when people demonstrate against you when you're just doing your job). But, this is America and everyone has the right to disagree. Even if we think people shouldn't say something, we really should defend their right to say it, whether we agree or not. It's tough to practice what you preach though, 'cause people who disagree with you can sometimes make you really mad.

America is truly the best and the worst nation in the world. But I love her either way. God bless America.