Which would you prefer?

Question

To be the lone liberal in a group of people that were more conservative than you?

Or

To be the lone conservative in a group of people that were more liberal than you?

Spiritually or politically you pick.

Answer 1

I would choose to be the liberal amongst the conservatives. Being the conservative amongst the liberal sucks. When I'm at work and trying to be professional and I'm surrounded by people who don't care how others (customers) view them it's terrible. They swear and curse and shout and hoot and holler and I'm the one stuck being the grown-up trying to get them all to be quiet and do their jobs.

Being the one liberal would be easier because I am a liberal and to me there's no other way to be. Being around all those conservatives might remind me of how awesome it is to be a free-spirited person.

Blessed be.

Answer 2

To be the lone liberal in a group of people that were more conservative than me. That actually IS the case many times.

Answer 3

I cannot answer your question.

First, you need to make sure that the definitions are agreed to, don't you agree? Here is my take:

This issue is semantically befuddled. When I was in High School, I was taught that liberals want progress, and conservatives want to go back in time. Since I was all for progress, I labeled myself as a liberal. Later I found that businessmen are generally conservatives, and they are also the agents of wealth creating progress.

“Some see private enterprise as a predatory target to be shot, others as a cow to be milked, but few are those who see it as a sturdy horse pulling the wagon.” – Sir Winston Churchill

Then I realized, social progress comes directly from the wealth that is created by economic progress. You can be a radical for economic progress, and then be labeled a Neanderthal, a reactionary for social progress. But that is not quite true, for the person who creates wealth, is the true liberal and radical for social progress, since they create the wealth that enables more people to live well.

Social liberals have been exceedingly destructive to true social progress, the exact opposite of what you would expect. Social liberals are destroying the wealth of our nation through an entitlement process, that is inefficient, and always worsens the situation. If there ever was an example of the emperor wearing no clothes, social liberals are them.

Based on this, in general, these pairs go together.

Economic Radical: laissez-faire capitalist who is against taxes and all entitlement programs. Creates the most social progress.
Social Reactionary: believes everyone is responsible for their own life. Wants to eliminate all social entitlement programs. However, they believe in good people and they are strong on philanthropy, later in life.

Economic Liberal: wants to run his business profitably, minimize taxes and would like to minimize social, entitlement programs.
Social Conservative: wants people to be responsible, but prefers to help people by choice. Strong on charity and volunteer activities.

Social Liberal: wants new entitlement programs.
Economic Conservative: does not trust business!

Social Radical: wants revolution to a socialist type of government right away. Craves the power to do so.
Economic Reactionary: would prefer everyone worked on a farm and that industry would cease.

ERSR:Ayn Rand, John Rockefeller
ELSC:Jack Welch, Bill Gates
SLEC:Ted Kennedy, Ralph Nader
SRER:Mao, Fidel Castro

The word liberal and conservative are not accurate. Add the words social or economic to clarify whether it is economic or social.

“A liberal is too broad-minded to take his own side in a quarrel.” – Robert Frost

“The most fundamental fact about the ideas of the political left is that they do not work. Therefore we should not be surprised to find the left concentrated in institutions [Universities] where ideas do not have to work in order to survive.” – Thomas Sowell

I am not trying to stereo-type, I am just communicating what I think.

Answer 4

To be the lone liberal among the conservatives because that is what I am used to. That would be spiritually and politically.

Answer 5

I would like to be the liberal but not in a group of more conservative people..no way...

Answer 6

I would rather be the lone conservative. I wouldn't want to be a liberal under any circumstances!

Answer 7

Probably the lone liberal.
No, wait! Probably the lone conservative.
No, liberal. Uh, wait, conservative.

Naw...I think I'd prefer remaining a militant moderate (fighting for my right to stand on the fence).

Answer 8

I'd prefer to be the lone free-thinker, be it conservative or liberal within the group. (though I'd rather be the liberal)

Call me non-conformist..

Answer 9

I would prefer to be the lone liberal. I'm sure it would be hard, but I am what I am.

Answer 10

I prefer to be the lone individual that takes the middle of the road approach when surrounded by both groups. It drives them both nuts when you side with them on one subject but against them on another.