For the Liberals????

Question

What is, if any conservative values that you do believe in. I am a strong conservative, but I believe that we should not be so hasty with the way we use energy, I do not quite swallow the whole Global warming thing but I think that as our population grows we need to find better sources of energy and we need it NOW. I want more MPG, I want more energy efficient appliances and houses, I want CFL bulbs and tank less water heaters and on and on. Do you share any conservative ways of thinking???

Answer 1

Hey Ryan,

Ultimately, I suppose I'd call myself apolitical, or if anything, a libertarian--I believe in low taxes, low government involvement in everyday life, and the primary importance of competition and free enterprise; to that end, while I believe in an equal playing field, I do not believe in affirmative action, overbearing social welfare programs, heinous political correctness (you know what I mean--there's politeness and respect, and there's ridiculousness), or special privileges and punishments given out in society on the basis of wealth and background. Finally, I think that the American education system is too masochistic--while admitting to past mistakes and moving forward is absolutely key (what are the Japanese thinking?), we should also be taught to be proud of Western Civilization and its very unique accomplishments.

I also, however, believe in the primary importance of all forms of bio-medical and technological development, and in a sense of tolerance for other people's personal habits and preferences, so long as their actions are done in a context of consent and no one is hurt against their wishes (to me, though, this goes right along with the "none of the government's business or mine" attitude). Finally, I also believe that while human needs should come first, alternate energy sources will eventually come to transform the nature of human nature just as profoundly as the industrial revolution once did--to that end, I wish there was more of an emphasis on technological development in general over military spending and wasteful social programs (though in the first case, military spending often leads to technological development, I have to admit).

Thanks for the great question, man.

Answer 2

Well, I have absolutely no problem with anything you said--but it's not conservative--or liberal.

These are matters of science, to start with. Environmental policy necessarily involves policy--but it is--or should be--based n facts, not somebody's political ideology.

As for your suggestions--I hate to tell you this, but all are technologies inspired by environmentalists --an, yes, liberals--and are part of the fastest growing sector of business, industry , and entrepreneurship in the US today. Revenues in this sector are expected to double nthe next two years.

My point is not to bash conservaatives (real conservatives, not the far right)--its to point out something: new science technologies, when they get politicized, invariablly get labeled "liberal" and are attacked by the extreme right that masquerades as conservative. But the reality is that the only "liberal" aspect is that liberals tend to be a little quicker to accept (and buy) new technology.

BTW--if you loook back in history, you'll find this pattern. The whole energy/gobal warming issue is an extreme case--but you saw milder versions of this whole political/ideological nonsense in relation to television, airplanes, anathesia, vaccines, even the telephone (that one: the late 1800s version of the extreme right condemned it because "women would gossip on the phone and neglet their wifely duties.")

BTW--if you don't already have the CF bulbs--check Loews or Home Depot. They also can help you with some of the other things!.

Answer 3

I'm not a liberal but I have been voting straight Democratic after voting for Reagan in my first election in 1984.

I think it's ridiculous how some liberals kick and scream to have God taken out of everything. Although the Founding Fathers established our government with the idea of separation of church and state, the USA was settled and founded with the idea that God is still a big part of our lives.

I also think amnesty for illegal aliens is outrageous. My grandparents came to the USA legally. There is no reason why ANYONE should be given a free pass and free benefits without ever having paid into our system.

Answer 4

I must point one thing out that somewhat bugs me...

Where are most CFL bulbs made? - China. They are, for the most part, made in coal-fired plants under near slave-labor conditions. They are much cheaper from china, not because of labor, but because the Chinese have no limits to the amount of mercury or lead that can be used in manufacturing these products, and there are very little restrictions for importing them.

Toiling over environmental concerns in all honesty, leaves your efforts in vein.

Answer 5

I am not a liberal, but I am a progressive. And I am conservative in how the US wastes the lives of its soldiers and how it is wasting billions of dollars on a war of no benefit to this country.

I use the CFL bulbs, etc., and also have switched from gasoline powered lawn mower, weed trimmer, etc., as a gas lawn mower puts more pollution in the air than a dozen cars. When solar cells get cheaper, we will add them to the house roof.

Answer 6

You misundertand the core liberal platform.

Whatever an individual liberal chooses to believe -- that's their personal choice -- and many of them may believe in all the same conservative issues that you do.

The difference is that liberals refuse to impose their personal beliefs on others -- they think everyone should be able to make their own choice -- even if that results in many different choices by different people. They oppose forced conformity.

Conservatives want consistency -- and so try to impose one set of choices on everyone. They support forced conformity.

Answer 7

It's a sin to waste energy

Answer 8

sure do.

efficient meritocracy rather than affirmative action.