Why are liberals so much more open-minded and tolerant than conservatives?

Question

except when it comes to discussing lower taxes, private health care, fighting terrorists, and the possibility that global warming and their theory of evolution might be wrong?

Answer 1

add to your list
Use of legal products as in cigs, trans fats, cell phones, colorful adjectives (Words that insult or make one "feel" bad), Ipods, suv's, school vouchers, fur, meat, thought, speech,personal responsibility, and GOD

Answer 2

I'll just address this point by point...

1.) "Liberals" are generally in favor of issues that make education more accessible to underprivilaged children- and yes, that does, more often than not, mean slightly higher taxes. Really, would you rather have a society in which only those born wealthy are able to get a decent education and make something of themselves, or one in which every child has the ability to make or break themselves? Oddly enough, a "level playing field" in which a person could succeed no matter what their financial background was once something Conservatives were in favor of.

2.) Health care is a basic human need. It goes along with that whole "level playing field" concept I mentioned above.

3.) Whether you're for or against the war in Iraq, there's no doubt that this administration handled it inappropriately. If Bush is so concerned with WMDs, why haven't troops been deployed to Korea, hmmm?

4.) Global warming IS a danger. Do you really want to test whether it's right or wrong by leaving pollutants that will affect the health of your grandchildren?

5.) The theory of evolution IS a theory- no one is debating that- however, the theory of evolution is the only working theory that can be supported with evidence at the moment. If we are talking about science classes, there's really no debate- science belongs in science classes, and a religious theory that has no evidence to support it outside of the bible belongs either in a Theology class or at home.

If you want your children to learn Intelligent Design that badly, send them to a Christian school. Actually, maybe us "liberals" would take your opinion on this seriously if you voted in favor of the public school levies once in a while. Until you're willing to shell out the extra couple dollars per week for the education of children, shut up.

Answer 3

Are you kidding? It goes both ways here! I am a college student with a large university and a military veteran. I have had many "debates" with liberals and consider myself open-minded, I respect other points of view. However, I have found that about 80% of the time it's people that call themselves liberals (at least on my campus) that are close-minded. When I try to voice my opinion, I have been called names, been belittled by my professors all because I have a different point of view. You liberals claim to be open-minded yet when someone has a different opinion that you, you are quick to judge (something you should be OPPOSED to by the way) There are many example of liberals spitting on military recruiters, threatening others and interrupting people that don't share your beliefs. Why is that?

Answer 4

Because the liberals want a do as I say and not as I do
What good is sounding tolerant if you aren't going to back it up?

They cry about global warming and then they get on their jets to joy ride any time they want. Nancy Pelosi is demanding a jet that will cost billions of dollars and it makes air force one look obsolete.
They criticize the taxes when there is a Republican President, but already Hillary and others are saying that when she is President they are going to make taxes really high.
So they can say whatever they want but actions speak louder than words!

Answer 5

Liberals see conservatives as stiff, unyielding, inflexible, and close minded to new ideas!

The fact is, conservatives are not willing to yield on certain issues because they know the outcome before it takes place. Been there and done that is the mantra of many conservatives. Liberals believe they have invented the wheel on many issues or beliefs, the fact is the conservatives have seen it before and do know the outcome before it happens. Case in point: during the Clinton's early years, Hillary tried and failed to put together a program that provided universal health care.

Today, Hillary's competition is proposing universal health care. So Hillary, rather than stay away from this issue and not to be outdone, will half heartedly go through the gymnastics of a universal health program, even though she knows it's not going anywhere. This, my young liberal friend, it called an exercise in futility. But, most liberals don't know that because they can't remember back to the early years of Bill Clinton and his shameful years as president!

Answer 6

You can have your strong opinions, but don't be ignorant. It goes both ways. Ignorance leads to polarized opinions. How about if we use the terms progressive and reactionary? Try to suspend your disbelief for a few minutes. A progressive person might actively learn about new ideas as they are formed, and try to incorporate them into their way of thinking, so as to continually try to improve and find the best way of living. For example, it's been shown now that trans-fats are bad. Not just a little bit bad, they cause chronic systemic inflammation that leads to a host of other problems. (If you don't believe in science, that’s another issue, just suspend your disbelief for a minute). So no matter how painful for some small businesses, trans-fats should be banned for public health reasons. I used to bake (fry) donuts for a living, so I know they will never taste the same as when fried in Crisco and this will cause loss of profit and enjoyment from donut eating. A reactionary person might protest. I've eaten donuts all my life and it hasn't hurt me. How dare you tell people they can or can't eat donuts? Donuts have been around forever and now this is just another socialist plot to control your life. God put donuts on the earth for people to enjoy. Nobody is going to take away my donut. Progressive - we are going to have to find an alternative to Crisco and learn how to eat somewhat less tasty donuts. I guess you've figured out what side of the street I'm on. When it comes to the other issues you've conveniently grouped together (I'm not being sarcastic): Progressive – Study shows that lower taxes as currently practiced are a supply side euphemism for tax breaks for the upper classes. Reactionary - Lower taxes good. Higher taxes bad. Progressive - Private health care is failing and here is some information about how single payer public health care is working in other countries. http://www.massdefendhealthcare.org/advocacy/TheHealthCareCrisisandWhattoDoAboutIt.htm http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&articleID=000AF3D5-6DC9-152E-A9F183414B7F0000&colID=31
Reactionary - Free market capitalism is the only possible solution to our problems. Progressive - Global climate change is here and is only being disputed by pseudo-scientists. http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf We will need some government programs to cut emissions and spur research into alternative energy. (Again, if you don’t believe in science or think scientific research is some sort of a global-scientist-single world conspiracy, that’s another issue) Reactionary - Free market capitalism is the only possible solution to our problems. Progressive - As far as evolution goes, the theory is 150 years old; has only become more robust with time; has found expanding relevance leading to profound insights in other disciplines’ ranging from geology to social science; and could possibly be the single most profound scientific idea ever formulated. It has been actively disputed by a motivated group of pseudo-scientists since the day it was presented. However, they’ve lost in every venue including recently in Chester County PA, where their case was so weak, and the argument so laughable, that they got publicly humiliated by the judge. (And the school board got whacked at the next election. They just lost in Kansas too, if memory serves.) The fact that it contradicts Genesis is not relevant. Reactionary - The bible is the one true absolute law and any other idea is heresy. I will fight to the end to stop this teaching to my children that they are descended from monkeys. After much reflection and study of the worlds’ religions, I decided to become an agnostic. I though “What a conceit it is to think that I could know, unequivocally, what God is (or is not, in the case of an atheist). How arrogant to think that I know the one true way, to the exclusion of all others.”
I’m open to new ideas. I get accused of being too "flexible" on principles. If the facts contradict your current way of thinking, you better get flexible or guess what - that makes you reactionary and intolerant. This goes for both sides. Liberals can be just as close-minded and intolerant as conservatives. Getting stuck in one way of thinking and not accepting new information is reactionary, not Liberal or Conservative. Which mindset is more open-minded and tolerant?

Answer 7

Really it depends on the Liberal and the Conservative. Some are more open minded than others.

Answer 8

well... the thing is... let's assume you're right... and liberals are closed minded on those issues...

that would still make them many times more open minded than most conservatives... who can't stand to be tolerant of anything outside their own experiences and religious beliefs...

do you actually think conservatives are any more open minded on those issues you named? the vast majority are not...

the difference is... they aren't open minded about anything else either... and that's assuming you are correct...

Answer 9

A long time ago they used to be open-minded and tolerant. Through their open-mindedness and tolerance they came to certain conclusions. Those conclusion became the "liberal orthodoxy". To challenge that is to challenge their identity. It is fear, really.

Answer 10

1) I believe conservatives are in favor of higher taxes.
2) Yes, there is a possibility that golbal warming and the theory of evolution may be wrong but why is it that a 25 mile in size, glacier broke off the N. Pole, Why is it that Hurricane Katrina grew as big as it did? Why is it that in Alaska some bears are not hibernating as usual? Why is it that sea levels are rising?

Some things to think about...

Answer 11

LOL!

The are, unless you disgaree with them they slash your tires, spit in your face, YELL AT YOU! and make fun of you,

Claiming to be tolerant and open-minded only works when you are.

So yes, they are really nice people, as long as you agree with them and parrott their mindless, stupid, mornic yammering.