Do my fellow Republicans agree with me?

Question

People on the political left have a certain set of opinions, just as people do in other parts of the ideological spectrum, is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is how often the opinions of those on the left are accompanied by hostility and even hatred.

Particular issues can arouse passions here and there for anyone with any political views. But, for many on the left, indignation is not a sometime thing. It is a way of life.

How often have you seen conservatives or libertarians take to the streets, shouting angry slogans? How often have conservative students on campus shouted down a visiting speaker or rioted to prevent the visitor from speaking at all?

The source of the anger of liberals, "progressives" or radicals is by no means readily apparent. The targets of their anger have included people who are non-confrontational or even genial, such as Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

It is hard to think of a time when Karl Rove or Dick Cheney has even raised his voice but they are hated like the devil incarnate.

There doesn't even have to be any identifiable individual to arouse the ire of the left. "Tax cuts for the rich" is more than a political slogan. It is incitement to anger.

All sorts of people can have all sorts of beliefs about what tax rates are best from various points of view. But how can people work themselves into lather over the fact that some taxpayers are able to keep more of the money they earned, instead of turning it over to politicians to dispense in ways calculated to get themselves re-elected?

The angry left has no time to spend even considering the argument that what they call "tax cuts for the rich" are in fact tax cuts for the economy.

Nor is the idea new that tax cuts can sometimes spur economic growth, resulting in more jobs for workers and higher earnings for business, leading to more tax revenue for the government.

A highly regarded economist once observed that "taxation may be so high as to defeat its object," so that sometimes "a reduction of taxation will run a better chance, than an increase, of balancing the Budget."

Who said that? Milton Friedman? Arthur Laffer? No. It was said in 1933 by John Maynard Keynes, a liberal icon.

Lower tax rates have led to higher tax revenues many times, both before and since Keynes' statement -- the Kennedy tax cuts in the 1960s, the Reagan tax cuts in the 1980s, and the recent Bush tax cuts that have led to record high tax revenues this April.

Budget deficits have often resulted from runaway spending but seldom from reduced tax rates.

Those on the other side may have different arguments. However, the question here is not why the left has different arguments, but why there is such anger.

Often it is an exercise in futility even to seek to find a principle behind the anger. For example, the left's obsession with the high incomes of corporate executives never seems to extend to equally high -- or higher -- incomes of professional athletes, entertainers, or best-selling authors like Danielle Steel.

If the reason for the anger is a feeling that corporate CEOs are overpaid for their contributions, then there should be even more anger at people who get even more money for doing absolutely nothing, because they have inherited fortunes.

Yet how often has the left gotten worked up into high dudgeon over those who inherited the Rockefeller, Roosevelt or Kennedy fortunes? Even spoiled heirs like Paris Hilton don't really seem to set them off.

If it is hard to find a principle behind what angers the left, it is not equally hard to find an attitude.

Their greatest anger seems to be directed at people and things that thwart or undermine the social vision of the left, the political melodrama starring the left as saviors of the poor, the environment, and other busybody tasks that they have taken on.

It seems to be the threat to their egos that they hate. And nothing is more of a threat to their desire to run other people's lives than the free market and its defenders.

Answer 1

Although a liberal capitalist, I have to agree completely. Your argument is superb. My question is how did you get it posted?

No, really, very well presented. I am going to enjoy the ranting of the leftists, it will only go further to prove your point.

or they will try to deflect it, or call you greedy, or a variety of other names, but I will be completely floored if a single leftie comes up with a well thought argument to all of your points. You see they will answer with a question, or pick apart your argument and just hit on one point.

again, slap on the back, great question.

I just read the answers, and as predicted, the leftists did pretty much exactly as I thought, a bunch of pathetic losers if there ever were any.

Answer 2

That has happened in many ways in the Republican Party but the Democrats won't accept the happenings and just go on blaming and finding fault in what the Republicans try to do. With Palin they did what they could to put her down and some are still do so. Whoever Roger might be let him believe what he wants and I will believe what I want.

Answer 3

Little long....but, yes, I totally agree with you! I said on here not so long ago that I used to think of liberals as "peace and love" kind of people. Putting flowers in the gun barrels, hugs, togetherness, open-minded people. I have been shocked by the amount of hate they have and how incredibly unreasonable it is and to what lengths they will go to "get" their targets.

Look at how Dan Rather threw away 40 years of work and respect by his forged documents and yet many of these libs insist that it was the truth? Look how Rosie had to run away rather than come back and face the anger from those who heard her say what she went ballistic over because people remembered it?

Sure, I've been angry and disappointed and the victim of racism....but I am not as filled with hate as these people. It is truly astounding!

Answer 4

The left is militant and outspoken without basis simply because they have no basis, so they yell and scream to mask the fact that they have no answers and don't want to loose an issue by solving it. They want to keep it alive so they don't have to come up with solutions. They want complaints and opportunities to pit one faction against another. Just like the current immigration issue. The laws are on the books to control the problem but they are not enforced. It has been great for liberals to pass laws, then more laws, then more laws without ever finding a solution. Regarding tax cuts, how do you cut taxes on people who don't pay taxes. Under our current unequitable tax system most of lower income earners pay no taxes, and with items like "earned income Credit", "child care deductions," etc. the only taxes they pay are Social Security and Medicare.

Answer 5

A long read, but you made some very valid and important points. Most libs are very angry people. While they espouse to be open minded, they are really the most closed minded people around. They protest and whine against anything or anyone that is different from them or thinks differently. Just be glad you are a Republilcan and don't worry about the protesters and whiners. That is the only way they know how to "communicate".

Answer 6

Well thats one loaded question...but to answer it i think it has to do with beleive it or not (and this is just my personnal opinion)...jealousy. Whether going after big business corparations or "tax cuts for the rich"or even the recent malice toward Paris Hilton. I think most far left liberals are products of abusive or poor homes. And they are jealous of the affluent thus the communist ideals..and the hate of successful capitalism. This ties in to why somen(such as Rosie) seem to despise their own country because it is the poster child for wealthy capatilism.

Answer 7

I believe their anger comes from their frustration. Since most liberals only read, watch or blog with other liberals they often really believe that they are not only the majority but that most everyone agrees with their point of view.

When they loose an election, or laws that they want cannot pass they get really frustrated. It never enters their mind that maybe most people don't agree with them.

So, that means the election must have been stolen from them. It means people just don't understand. It must mean they failed to get their word out.

In reality, the election was not stolen it was lost. People do understand they just don't agree. They got their word out. It was just rejected.

They will never accept this.

.

Answer 8

I think you are right. There seem to be a lot that seem to hate people with a different opinion, just judging by some answers I have seen.

Answer 9

To the second post, that fell asleep? You missed a great display of intelligence, here. Good Stuff. Congrats. All true? And a great read. You did real good!

Answer 10

I absolutely do. Liberals will not rest until every single thing is done their way and aren't willing to compromise.