Why do conservatives think the environment is less or as important as the economy?

Question

dudes, no environment = no life

Answer 1

Because the only things conservatives think about is themselves and their money. Nothing else matters. "All for One, ME..." "Survival of the Fittest"..."Only the Strong Survive..." "Look Out for #1..."
Social welfare programs for poor single mothers, drug addicts, disabled people, alcoholics, or mentally deficient individuals are not necessary. Corporate welfare programs to save big business billions of dollars in taxes are, of course, perfectly acceptable.
Serving as stewards of the environment and recognizing the need for the delicate ecological balance between man, plants, and animals doesn't fit into a conservative's "proft picture". Unfortunately, once they have completely destroyed that fragile balance, the Earth's lack of natural resources will put an end to the conservatives' profit picture, as well as the end of civilization as we know it.
I have a suggestion for conservatives: please send me ALL of your money. I promise to squander it as quickly and as needlessly as I possibly can, knowing that there's always more money where that came from. Conservatives seem to believe that they can squander all of Earth's natural resources simply because there's an inexhaustible supply of air, water, minerals, oil, coal, ocean, animals, wood, and other necessities for life.
Within a generation of two, they will suddenly wake up to the fact that they've wasted everything...and then it will be too late. Their great-great-grandchildren will be forced to live in abject squalor all because we chose not to conserve our planet's valuable resources. -RKO-

Answer 2

Because environmentalism is only a relatively recent concept. So by definition, conservatives are behind the eight-ball. Throughout history, they have always taken much longer to change their values (but thankfully get there in the end).

As to why environmentalism has only recently come about, I heard an argument once that environmental exploitation was a hangover from ancient christian theology, which said that everything in nature was put here by god solely for our use (and would never run out). On the other side of the coin, there's also the theory that environmentalism only came about because of the decline in religion and peoples need to believe in something. Who knows. It's pretty obvious though how much we need a healthy planet.

Then, of course, there is that almight dollar and numero uno, which, drives a lot of conservatives more than it does others.

But finally, what is more important? - a persons life or that of an endangered plant/animal? Personally, I would rather the plant/animal dies than the person (assuming it didn't hold the cure for cancer). So maybe some conservatives justify the importance of the (sustainable) economy that way.

Answer 3

Everybody I have ever met believes that their environment, is more important than some abstract notion called "the economy".

Conservatives tend define their environment a little differently than the so-called "environmentalists".

I am not sure if I would be called a "conservative" but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be called an "environmentalist" by most people. My environment starts with my house. My house is my primary enviromnent. I run my air conditioner because it makes my home enviroment in the summer much much much nicer. I am aware that the power for that air conditioning has a cost, both to my pocketbook, and in terms of pollutants produced, and potentially harmful effects in the overall biosphere. Based on my evaluation, I think the product is worth the cost, so I keep running my air conditioner.

Do you run yours?

Do you vote for legislation that will make it more expensive for the poor people here in Mississippi to have air conditioning?

I am fine with any attitude about personal and national productivity versus environmental concerns so long as people are realistic. Everything cost something. If you are willing to pay for a more pristine world, and are ethically okay with the fact that others less fortunate than you will have to pay also, then I certainly respect you in that. Go for it.

People who think they can reduce pollution (or anything else that is a byproduct of people making their personal environment better) without paying a cost, are just ignorant.

Answer 4

My take on the answer to your question would lie in my impression of the fundamental difference between conservatives and liberals. It's not really possible to pigeon hole people because there are always exceptions but to put it in a nutshell it's because conservatives think with their head and liberals think with their heart (not literally of course).

Some might say this makes conservatives more practical, others might believe it makes them cold hearted and uncaring. Likewise some people would think liberals are more empathetic, caring, and altruistic while others might think they're unrealistic or perhaps morally corrupt. Neither extreme is really true for either class but I'm trying to be succint.

With that in mind, the economy is typically a more practical issue while the environment is more of an emotional issue. The practical side of economics breaks down when you start talking about upper class/lower class issues, poverty, etc... while the emotional side of the environment breaks down when you get into issues that effect things like farming, logging, and other industries. Again it's hard to put things in a nutshell. One would hope that the very disturbing possibility of world wide environmental collapse will bring everyone to see the environment as more important (because we might all die) but that remains to be seen.

You could discuss the finer points of an issue like this until every man, woman, and child on earth has had their say and never reach the end of debate, in the end you have to try and understand how, why, or what motivates people differently and try to see the value in their differing perspectives and ideas.

Answer 5

I agree with another answer here, these are quite abstract ideas, practically as abstract as freedom and love. Its a bit of a pointless argument, really. But because many people do think they know what the other means by "environment" and "economy", arguments happen.

I can make practically the same argument no economy = no life. Oh? you ask. well, without "economy" there's no food for me to eat, no shelter to protect me from rain... I've been reduced to being a member hunter/gatherer's clan. (But wait, they walked around in groups perhaps, and there probably existed an "economy" of sorts as to who got the best portions of meat and who scavenged or possibly did without).

As far as directly comparing the environment to the economy, even if we could agree on a standardized (and perfect) formula to ascertain the health of the environment and the health of the economy, the factors that need to be measured may be in fact immeasurable.

Finally, the specific idea that "conservatives care more about the economy than the environment" is definite propaganda. There may or may not be some truth to any interpretation of it, but its a statement said over and over again... please learn to interpret it as propaganda.

If you find some specific environmental concern or concerns is worth an argument, please speak about that particular concern or concerns. Speech on broad, abstract concepts like this, is as much hate speech as any conservative speaking on what liberals think about the rule of law or whatever.

Answer 6

I'm conservitive, here's what I think.

We can live and work in harmony with the natural environment. I think that we shouldn't trash the environment, but I also believe that we can manage it.

If we don't have a good economy, we will loose all of our special social programs. I suppose that there is a balance.

One thing is for sure, exporting all of our manufacturing to the third world where there are NO pollution controls is not the answer anyone should seek.

Answer 7

because they are not afraid of death. If there is no God, then you have to keep the earth healthy for as long as possible because you think this is all there is. If there is a God then you don't have to worry about global warming and other liberal propoganda because God will come back and destroy the earth anyway. The economy isn't important because you can't take money with you after you die and material things no longer matter because material things don't get you anywhere. God is everything. He bring people closer together. Material things drive you further apart. The saying goes money cannot buy you love.

Answer 8

1. conservatives, think?
2. Because conservatives are old dodderers who are going to die soon.
3. most don't care about "the" economy, only their personal bank balance. If they understood the interdependent nature of the global economic system they would no longer be con$ervative.
4. there is no care package to help old fogeys, who can't think for themselves or have any awareness of the riches of our world, to lead a more fulfilled life. Just a shame they have/provide the guns, bombs, & polluting lifestyles that mess it up for the rest of us.

There is no Wealth but life. John Ruskin

Answer 9

No, conservatism and liberalism are only labels. you could trust what ever you want. some people describe liberalism as being on the left and conservatism as being on the right. in case you imagine you're over all a liberal yet help a number of the conservative values you may want to assert you're left of centre. which ability your usually liberal yet take perspectives of both part.

Answer 10

Pretty natural scenes are of little use if you are starving to death. We can spend resources on improving the environment only if those resources are first created by economic activity.