My liberal roommate always tells me my politics are "self serving." And its not just him, I've heard other liberals make that accusation to conservatives. Why do liberals beleive this? Because I think people should be responsible for their own healthcare, the goverment shouldnt spend billions on social programs, etc. this makes me self serving??? He's the one that wants society to pay for everything. How are we conservatives the self serving ones?
2007-10-04 02:43:12 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
No and no. You are not self serving just naive.
The constitution says:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Please note the provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare parts.
Why do you hate the constitution?
2007-10-04 02:46:37 · answer #1 · answered by Holy Cow! 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First of all, these generalizations are impossible to break down in a short answer. Specification would make this debate quite a bit more coherent and mature (no offense).
"Don't liberals want the government to pay for everything." That's a gross overgeneralization. From what I've heard, a lot of liberals simply want government to take responsibility for the extreme underprivilege of some. Liberal-leaning people tend to look to underlying reasons that people suffer or fail to thrive, looking well beyond the simple explanation of personal choice. Liberals tend to feel that it's better to have a country where everyone at least has basic needs met, and that further success is up to the individual.
To disagree with THAT viewpoint on the basis of wanting to save some tax dollars is, in at least some respects, self-serving.
The core of conservatism is to want to maintain the status-quo. To want this preservation assumes that you probably enjoy a privileged position within the system. Feeling entitled to the relatively fortunate situation you inherited and then basing political views on the methods that will keep you in privilege regardless of the welfare of those less privileged, is quite clearly... self-serving.
2007-10-04 02:49:24 · answer #2 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
self serving implies.... if you aren't directly benefitting from something then your against it...right ?
Say for instance.. Medicare. Lot's of conservatives argue that medicare is just socialized medicine and is over funded... Arguably these people are mostly under 65. I've never heard a person over 65 complain that there is too much funding for medicare. Also consider that the retirement age was 55 - 15 years ago..
It's not about making the government pay for everything. It's about taking care of our seniors and children who have already helped build and protect this great nation, or will be relied upon to keep this nation great. America is the best country on earth, but it won't stay that way if everyone who gets sick can't afford to see a doctor.
2007-10-04 02:58:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Liberals only care about people and their well being. If the opposite is self serving than that must be what it is. When we hear the cons whine about this program to help kids or that program for the poor or another program for the elderly they don't offer any solution. They remain part of the problem. It is clear, for example, that we have millions of people in this country without quality health care. Schip is only part of it. The Democrats or liberals as you call them, have a plan to take care of those kids. The Democrats have recognized the problems and are offering a solution. The Republicans seem cold and distant from the plight of the poor and those just trying to make ends meet. While their "commander guy" spends billions a day in his little war. The Republicans offer no alternative to what they say they don't like. So what is your solution Republicans? How do we get AFFORDABLE health care for everyone? Or do you care?
2007-10-04 03:04:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hmm, well I am technically 23, but I'll play anyways. My parents are liberal. I bought my first car at 16 for about $900 after WORKING and SAVING for it. I have always paid for my own gas, insurance, maintenence, etc., as well as my living expenses (clothes, food) since I was old enough for a job. I live in a very conservative state, yet the majority of kids that went to my school were spoiled - designer handbags and clothes, fancy cars that mommy and daddy bought them, etc. So really, it seems to be the other way around from where I'm from. I am now 23 and just bought my own house (after renting for numerous years), and after hard work, a college degree (always had a full-time job while attending college), and saving up - not too bad for a "stupid liberal."
2016-04-07 03:33:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're not as dumb as you think; if the gov't pays then we pay. And we know it.
To really answer your question, I'll need to speak in general terms. Regardless of which philosophies each side proclaims, you can get a better idea of what they are trying to accomplish by watching their actions (which policies they push or resist, for instance).
It's just not hard to see that conservatives tend to support policies that tend to benefit a few while making things even more difficult for most. Their policies encourage a minority to collect most of society's wealth. Leaving the rest to work until death. What bothers me most is their hypocrisy; they imply that the free market will take care of everyone. Even they don't believe this. An unregulated market will create and aristocracy and a proletariat. And I'm sure they know it.
Progressive (liberal, democrat, whatever) policies recognize this and seek to "redistribute the wealth".
To put it a bit more briefly; progressive policies "cooperate" with the notion that "we're in this together". While conservative policies are more inclined toward the philosophy of "It's every man for himself".
2007-10-04 03:02:28 · answer #6 · answered by Robert K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the government should only pay for law enforcement, national defense, and infrastructure. Anything else exceeds their Constitutional responsibilities.
Don't confuse neo-socialism with liberalism.
2007-10-04 02:56:57 · answer #7 · answered by john_stolworthy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think they confuse self serving with self reliant when it pertains to conservatives.
2007-10-04 02:48:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
"Self Serving" is what you are if you don't want to part with your hard earned money and hand it out to those who don't want to work....
2007-10-04 02:50:39 · answer #9 · answered by Cookies Anyone? 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋