This is an experiment, and you, fellow bloggers, are the lab rats.
I want to learn about the way people perceive members of different political ideologies. I'm not asking you for your opinions; I just want to know how all of you define the terms "liberal" and "conservative." This is a "political blog," I guess, but please don't just ignore it- my experiment will not work whatsoever if nobody responds. The comments all of you write will be far more important than whatever I write here.
So, here are the directions: write a short description of what you think "conservatism" and "liberalism" are, in the context of (American) politics, and then share which ideology (if any) you identify with. Forget about Democrats, Republicans, President Bush and President-elect Obama. They don't matter here. Only the core ideologies do. Also, I'm not interested in dictionary definitions (I could just look that up myself, after all). I want your opinion. Unless, of course, your perceptions happen to align exactly with those definitions, which I doubt they do. Be honest!
I have the feeling many people don't fully understand the platforms of different political ideologies, and rely too much on stereotypes to characterize them. My goal here is to find out what those stereotypes are, what kind of people hold them, and ultimately, how overcoming those stereotypes can lead to a more constructive, helpful, and progressive government.
This experimental poll was inspired by a couple of my previous blog posts, A Matter of Opinion and The Intellectual Shackle. I don't want to influence what anybody else writes here, so I'm not going to share my views of liberals and conservatives until at least a few others have posted.
Remember, this won't work unless you comment! All it takes is three sentences, max.
conservatism- capitalistic values with minimum interferance from the government. they are more focused on the economy's well-being.
liberalism- believes in a more involved government. they are more focused on civil rights of the citizens.
i have no idea really. i hope these don't look like dictionary definitions, but this is what i really think when i think of pure liberalism and pure conservatism without an image screwing up my view.
These label have always been a problem for me because I really have no idea what they mean. I guess notknowing is good because anything I am about to say will be hear say and stereotypes.
Conservatives are a constitutional type group that focuses on boot straps and family values and smaller government. People make their own choices except for family value stuff...like abortion and gay marriage.
Liberals are a people type group. They want to improve things themselves. They are for the community and group think. Here the people make their own choices ecept in regards to their financial stability.
Uhhh...I am sure there is more. As for which one am I based on what I said, I am going to have to go with...
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
(The following are generalizations, and it should not be assumed that I think that they apply to everyone in the group)
Liberals believe that the government should help solve major problems of the citizens, and are pissed that it's doing such a crap job.
Conservatives wonder what friggin genius thought it was a good idea to have a government at all.
I am apolitical, because politics are hateful and rely on stereotyping the opposition and I'm working on killing all hate and tendency to stereotype in me. It's also more fun to watch elections when you don't really care who wins.
I'm hearing so far that conservatives are pro-small government, while liberals want to use government to help people. I'd agree with those general assessments. Also, I'm glad I haven't heard any of the "conservatives are for rich white guys" and "liberals are socialists" stereotypes here. I've noticed them frequently on the site, and, like Nellodee, I've been dedicated to fighting them (especially when I'm the one saying them).
Well, good. I was expecting more negative and prejudicial responses. Is it too early to say that this experiment reveals that political stereotyping isn't as prevalent as I thought?
Far too early.
I think the descriptions you've summarized so far amount to stereotypes themselves. For example, I really haven't seen much evidence of Republicans wanting smaller government, just less government involvement in our economic lives, and MORE government involvement in our personal lives.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Republicans, he was asking about conservatives. There is a difference.
My suggestion to the blogger is to read Why We're Liberal by Eric Alterman if you want a better definition of liberalism. Off hand, I can't think of a good author to go to for conservative intellectualism (there seems to be a push against "intellectual conservatives" of late)
My definitions:
Liberal- someone who wishes to right the wrongs of the past, and better society for the future. Someone who thinks that government is needed to take care of its citizens. Someone who embraces things like government regulations and equal rights for all citizens.
Conservative-someone who is less easy with change. Usually for "free market" ideology, less regulations, and small government.
these are tricky terms to define because "liberals" could include everyone from moderates to socialists like Bernie Sanders, while "conservatives" run the gammit from libertarians to corporate conservatives to "social conservatives." These are large groups we are dealing with, and any definition leaves someone high and dry
"How can we win where fools can be kings" Muse
And I guess my use of the two synonymously exposes the stereotype I buy into, huh?
;;)
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
okay if you want to know what i think that politicians have currently turned their parties into is something like this.
conservatives- CEOs that support a free market becuase it benefits them
liberalism- a bunch of minorities and underdogs that fight against the conservatives to gain some profits in the market by supporting more government involvement.
we are all greedy rats wanting to nibble on a piece of cheese.
we vote according to our check book
this isn't the pure defintion, but it is what has transformed into.
there.
That's pretty funny actually. I'll be sure to tell my political theory professor that politics boils down to rats and cheese.
The idea that conservatives are all for making the rich richer while liberals are pitiable wimps also trying to get at the cheese are exactly the kind of stereotypes I was looking for. Do you really think they're true? Do we want them to be true, and how can we, as citizens, change them?
I think, in general, liberals tend to be those who want to help people get out of the trouble they face. They're more for welfare and civil rights and more government involvement. Conservatives, on the other hand, expect the people to do their own work, so they tend to be against things like welfare. They also tend to favor tradition more than new and improved ideas. So, they might favor the nuclear family and be against divorce and gay marriage, whereas a liberal will be all about embracing all family types.
Personally, I claim to be a moderate. On some things, I think the government just needs to butt its nose out of it (though my reasons for such might not align exactly with the typical conservative). On others, I think a little more government involvement isn't necessarily a bad thing.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
Tough question. In general, I don't agree that conservatives today are about small government. I think they are about HUGE government. Imposing ourselves on other countries, keeping the market stable with more monopoly money the government pulls out of its big giant ass, and imposing religious moral law onto individuals are the main examples I can think of to support that.
The ideology that they claim they cling to regarding small government was a reflection of the idea that America is a country for everyman, and everyman can live the American dream because the government won't stop you. What that ends up translating into is "Everyman for himself," which creates the fear of socialism taking over if we care about someone else.
Small government does not entail large monetary donations and endorsements to major world corporations in order to keep the illusion of wealth alive for all you poor hard-working Americans.
Sorry for unloading my frustrations. I'll have to get back to you on liberalism when I cool off.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
"its big giant ass" at first I laughed at the refrence in agreement but now I am offended at being called an ass because "its big giant ass" is the American people.
:bye:
Always feel free to unload , you better come unload your liberal frustrations soon ;)
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
I think you can rightly say that "conservatives" in the government today aren't what they claim to be. So what does that mean? Is our government turning ideologically homogenous? Is there merely bipartisan bickering on the surface, but no true opposition? That would be bad, since democracy is dependent upon dissent and opposition.
Is there any way to change this? The problem with American politics today is political parties; they are entrenched institutions that are recalcitrant to change. So when they start doing things badly, there's nothing the American people can do to stop these monstrous machines.