Not starting trouble, Just bringing up a question for debate?

Question

With each generation we become more liberal as a society and with each generation we become more decadant as a society. Is there a connection between the two?
Try not to answer just yes or no but give details in your answer.

Answer 1

There is no direct correlation between decadence and political liberalism. Much of the perceived "decadence" today is indugled in by many conservative-leaning people just as much as anyone else: huge, ornate homes with gas-guzzling vehicles in their garage/driveways, the ability to pay for a ton of goods cheaply made with low-cost foreign labor, prescription (and illegal street) drugs, etc. Of course, a lot of issues that we deal with in modern times (infidelity, child abuse, violent crime, etc.) have always plagued us in eras past. It's just more out in the open with our 24/7 news media reel bombarding us with such stories and skewed statistics.

P.S. I guess for Abu, good old fashioned 1950s values of state-sanctioned discrimination, "separate but equal," the looming threat of nuclear holocaust, black market back-alley abortions, and US-sponsored overthrows of foreign democratic governments must be a-OK, but recognizing the basic human rights of certain groups of people (Muslims and gays, two groups continually bashed by the far-reichwing) and keeping gov't out of the private lives of citizens is considered blasphemous. Ignorance must truly be bliss, eh?

Answer 2

Interesting and thought provoking question. One problem is that both terms – “liberal” and “decadent” – are subjective. What were liberal and decadent to the Mayflower Pilgrims would be restrictively conservative and austere by today’s standards. Even the meanings of the words in contemporary culture have a multitude of contradictory meanings. One man’s “liberal” is another man’s “libertine”; one woman’s "conservative” is another woman’s “fundamentalist.”

Still, I think you’re on to something. The great nations seem to share a common pattern: rise and fall. The rise seems characterized by an increasingly comfortable lifestyle and a wider and better education; the fall by rampant government corruption and a citizenry concerned with the individual pursuit of wealth, goods and entertainment.

Perhaps the correlation you are noting is between a society that is lean, mean, and focused on survival vs. one that is "fat, dumb" and just looking for a good time. Finding non-value-laden terms for this contrast is a challenge.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to think about this.

Answer 3

Well we're underneath a Republican management for the final 2 phrases now. Perhaps the screw ups of the Republicans have a tendency to push extra men and women to the left, As a ways as fitting extra decadent, the deficient economic climate suffered by means of the minimize categories and minorities create a fashion wherein men and women dont have time to dad or mum as good, the hip hop tradition has without doubt unfold a few of its much less perfect strategies out into society, therfore kids are extra sexually irresponsible and many others.. I dont consider Liberal politicians rather have whatever to do with the cavalier angle of society as a complete in any respect, and all of the conservatives on this planet being elected could surely don't have any impact in this local weather as good. Them making stricter legislation of morality will simply create extra outlaws due to the fact that habits wont difference headquartered on their legislation. More men and women are knowing faith is fake or seeing contradictions in faith and fitting disappointed. No there is not any connection among the 2. Just worse parenting and hypocrisy from devout conservatives pushing kids toward the bottom ordinary denominator.

Answer 4

Your initial argument is flawed. Societal politics ebb and flow, just like almost any trend. America was fairly liberal during the early part of the 20th century, grew more conservative in the late teens and into the Depression, then ebbed back into more liberal views during the FDR administration. The post-war era and the 50s were very conservative, followed by the liberal late 60s and 70s. In the 80s, things turned conservative again. That has held fairly consistent since then, although there might be an ebb in the conservative tide going on right now.

The "decadent" part of your premise does not hold up either. The 20s were as decadent an era as could almost be imagined, whereas the 50s were lily white by comparison. Societal norms change, as does almost everything. There is no consistent trend, just change.

Answer 5

When given a standard, or a set of rules to abide by...the natural inclination of man is to constantly chip away at those precepts and try to find the REAL boundaries (for little children, those are the boundaries that sometimes wind up as spankings). That is the proclivity of us all. Many of us have hit rock bottom to realize where the precipice is, others have taken heed in the teachings of our elders or family. true liberalism does not believe in boundaries and will ultimately cave under its own weight if left to its own devices. Conservatism is the recognition of the existence of steadfast rules, while liberalism is the ever constant effort to thwart or get around rules...usually to the eventual detriment of the liberal and his/her society as a whole.

Answer 6

Well I see blueridge couldn't stop from Bush bashing - these people have a serious mental issue to deal with. I think some of these folks check under their bed for the Bush-monster at night.

As for society becoming more liberal and decadent - that is not entirely true.

Things got swingin' in the 20's, but that died off and things got more conservative again. In the 60's and 70's things got a a little liberal again. Eventually that movement died off, and things got more conservative.

I think we alternate a bit - but overall society probably never goes back to be quite as conservative as it once was (due in large part to the entertainment industry).

Answer 7

1. Define decadant, if it means treating everyone as equals despite whether we agree with them than I have no problem with that.

2. As everyone said progress happens. At one point African Americans were not allowed into Oregon period. That changed. At one point we had two different schools, that changed. At one point interracial marriage was illegal, that changed. He knows what will change in the future.

3. If things are so decadent, remember whom has been the White House for almost eight years and the Congress for over a decade.

Answer 8

I agree that there's a connection between liberal philosophy and decadence. I'm liberal, but I reject decadence, and I hope that most liberals will do likewise.

But, there's also a strong connection between conservatism and things like bigotry, racism, greed, blind nationalism, classism, elitism, etc, etc...

Everything has a downside, as does liberalism. But in my view...conservatism has a far greater downside.

Answer 9

It's not true.
We become more restricted in terms of freedom and more lazy in terms of labor.
That's a consequence of the socialist system. You don't have to work hard to survive. In fact you don't even have to work. The socialist system is there for you. All you have to do is to keep yourself in a state of urban poverty.
And that's the source of our decadence. There's no incentive to work or keep working or working harder. If you are in the low end, as long as the socialist system supports you, why would you look for a job? And after a long while out of the work force, with no will to work and no skills, who's going to pay you more than the government?
If you're in the high end (labor wise), why would you work harder? To get more money for the government? It's estimated that the government takes between 60 to 70% of your paycheck and the percentage goes higher as your income goes higher.
It doesn't matter if you're in the high end, money wise. But if your whole income comes from your labor, there's a huge gap you have to cross to get there. Something really really hard to do in a lifetime. And that really kills your incentive to do more.

That's decadence. Those who are out of work don't want to get one, don't want to get better, don't want to get education or instruction. Those who have a job, get punished by the system. The only possible incentive for them to get better is taken away to support the system.

Of course, a lot of non working people are trying hard to get back into the work force, studying, preparing themselves, looking all over. And a lot of working people keep it up no matter what. But they are a drop in the bucket. Most go with the flow of the socialist system just because it's easier.

Answer 10

since most rich people are Republicans, and since money is behind the decadence....movies, TV, "music", fashion, false values, etc., I'd say the problem is the conservatives lack of moral values in favor of business.....whereas liberals fight for such high moral value issues as care for people, the environment, anti-war, healthcare, working conditions, food and drug safety, social security, better schools, etc....I'm not saying liberals are not participating in the growth of decadence and crude society, but follow the money..........it used to be that you let your kids watch anything on TV because the people who did the programing took responsibility for descent content....now we're approaching any anything goes standard....and who calls the shots, pulls the strings...rich people.