Why are conservatives so afraid of everything?

Question

Conservatives are afraid of illegal immigrants (though they might hire them if it means paying less). They are afraid of terrorists to the point that they are willing to give up the freedoms they think they are defending in order to 'help combat terror'. They are afraid of being seen to be afraid, making them equate any reversal of direction as weak and fearful (why do you think Bush has such a hard time admitting he was wrong?). In short, it seems the entire ideology of conservatism is based on fear of one kind or another, perhaps fear of change most of all.

Don't they know that for America to be the land of the free, it must also return to being the home of the brave?

If conservatism wasn't motivated primarily by fear, George W. Bush would have invaded North Korea long before now. But fear of nuclear weapons prevents him. This, however, is a good thing. As one answer for this question noted, some fears are rational and good.

Answer 1

Yep, I agree. I think it's funny that in the "Land of the Free" we are much more fearful than other citizens of our planet.

The Hellenistic philosopher Epicurus argued that the only way that one can truly be free and happy includes:

to be free of fear (of our political leaders, of deities, of death, etc.),

to avoid pain (and I believe fear is a form of psychological pain or "mental disturbance"),

to live a simple life (I don't think we even begin to do so in the U.S.)

to pursue rational action (which is difficult to do when one lives in fear and other emotional turmoil)

So, if our way of life, including our great form of government - demos kratia (power of the people), is based on many of the attitudes, values and beliefs of ancient Greece ...

How have we gotten so far off course?

Answer 2

I don't think they are afraid. I'm not sure how you could equate protecting our borders from people illegally sneaking into our country being "afraid". I'd say its more like doing the obvious. Do you lock your car when you leave it, or lock you're front door when you sleep? If so, why are you so afraid?

Unfortunately freedom and security DO NOT go hand in hand. We must find the best balance possible to live in a free society while maintaining as much safety as possible so our country doesn't collapse under terrorist attacks. YES that would happen if we did not give a little to protect a lot. Look at the costs of 9-11. How many more of those could we afford? What freedoms have YOU lost since Conservatives have taken over? I do not know of any changes, besides longer lines at the border and airports.

What do you mean admitting when Bush is wrong? Where has he been wrong? Yes there have been mistakes in the war, just like there are thousands of mistakes in EVERY SINGLE war fought.

Answer 3

Wow, what an insulting question. I am conservative, and I certainly not afraid of the things you have listed.

I was half a mile from the Pentagon on 9/11, and have had my liberal mother begging me to move back to the mid-west ever since. I refuse because the terrorists do not dictate where I get to live.

My family went on the Freedom Walk last year at The Pentagon on 9/11 and will do so again this year to show the world that we are not afraid.

I am certainly not afraid of illegal immigrants. I simply think that everyone in our great nation should be held to the SAME laws, and face the same consequences if they fail to do so. If someone is not here legally, they either need to get legal or get out.

Any laws to help combat terror are fine in my book, as long as they do not infringe upon my rights as stated in the constitution. I do not blindly support our President, but I respect his judgment, and think that shutting down operations in the Middle East pre-emptively would be dangerous, although I hope we start to decrease our presence there soon.

I greatly resent being called a coward, and generalizing makes people like you look like idiots. Also, I am not afraid of debate, unlike some of the liberals.

Answer 4

Who's afraid of illegals? Where did that come from?

As for terrorists, why were there so many police and obstacles around the Democrat Party Convention in 2004? Since they and the terrorists are on the same side, why any protection at all? Oh, and can you name one single freedom that was given up in the fight against terrorism? I can't think of one single one that was given up. Do you ever use such outdated concepts like 'truth' or 'facts' when you flatulate your opinions?

I'm not familiar with Bush being wrong too much, perhaps you could enlighten us?

But wasn't it liberals and other pansies who were afraid to confront jihadists? Weren't they afraid that France would call us poopoo-heads? Remember all the liberals whining that it would make all the jihadists hate us even more?

And why are liberals so afraid of personal responsibility and self-reliance? Why are they afraid of religious symbols and religious beliefs? Why are they afraid of the free and open exchange of ideas by enacting speech codes?

Why do liberals pursue such stupid, idiotic, nonsensical lines of inquiry?

Answer 5

You shouldn't equate "affraid" with "opposed." For instance I don't fear illegal immigration I oppose it and favor a good legal immigration plan. We should enable people that our businesses need to come here and do jobs to have work permits and come here legally so they don't have to pay mules to scurry them across the border and risk their lives in coming here; but we should punish companies that hire illegal immigrants and deport those who would break our law.

Yes I do fear terrorist; and maybe you should too? I have to answer your question with a question - why doesn't the left fear al queda since its the lefts vision and views that al queda hates the most?

Why does Bush have a hard time admitting he's wrong? Because he's not. Going into Iraq was the right thing to do; but he did it for the wrong reason - true. WMD's are there we found some but not what we expected to find. But we did find al queda was already there - so moving in was the right decision.

Answer 6

I don't necessarily agree with your point of conservatives being afraid but the ydo thrive in instilling fear in people in order to gain political power. For the record, I find most of what conservatives stand for reprehensible and close minded. That’s all I’m going to say because this could go on for days and I could write a whole essay on the subject. To the person stating that going to Iraq was the right thing to do, please wake up. Iraq was never, I repeat Never, the right thing to do. Iraq was a personal war for the current administration specifically to our president, Iraq was never, and I repeat again, never a threat to the interests of the United States, and Mr. Bush had a personal agenda sending troops into that part of the world, specifically to finish the job he felt his dad should have finished. For the record, Al Qaeda WAS NOT in Iraq, they got there after we invaded. So now we are faced with a true madman and the weapons to prove it and a direct threat to the United States, yes North Korea, but of course we’ve know about North Korea for a long time but Mr. Bush had no personal score to settle on that count so we went to Iraq instead to defend daddy’s honor.

Answer 7

Illegal immigration:

We don't fear illegals, we just want people to follow that law.... is that too much to ask? And if it is is it ok if i break the law and kill you and have no jail time against me?

Terrorists:

Well I don't want to die.. and terrorsits want to kill me, so I want a government that will prevent a terrorist from killing me.. if you want a terrorist to kill you then fine.. go to the middle east and claim you are an infidel and it won't take too much longer...
By the way my freedoms have not been taken away, my life has not changed at all the last 10 years.. excpet i have more money in my pocket from the tax cuts....

Change:
I don';t fear change, I loved the change that happened in 94 and the change that happend in 2000

Answer 8

You forgot to mention they are also afraid of people who would not give money to organized religion to have a say in anything.Afraid of putting their money where their mouth is with Freedom of Religion by leagally recognizing same-sex couples are married and helpful,not harmful to soceity. Afraid that more and more Americans
are realizing the the Republicans are the party of the rich,always were,and the neo-con approach of domesticating foreign countries is about oil,not democracy.

Answer 9

We are not afraid of everything, except maybe idiots like you making blanket statements.

We do not fear illegal immigrants in general, we fear the 1% or 2% that are criminals or terrorists that come through with the vast majority that are just looking for a job. DUH!

We are afraid of terrorists because the are trying to kill us. 9/11, perhaps you've heard of it? DUH!

We are not afraid of looking weak, we are afraid of actually being weak because it would make it easier for people to kill us. DUH!

If you really want to be free, you have to be brave enough to use your brain and face reality. DUH!

Answer 10

I haven't seen any of my freedoms taken away from me. I served my country and would do it again. Have you served....no...who's scared then? Wrong..I don't think Bush was wrong...Clinton was wrong for not doing it sooner. Technically the US was still at war with Iraq from the first gulf war...no treaty was signed...and Saddam violated the grounds of the cease fire. I think you need to stop generalizing conservatives and liberals. I consider myself slightly conservative but have some liberal beliefs.