Why don't conservatives question authority as much as liberals do?

Question

During the 60s, liberals were leading the civil rights movement, the protests against the Vietnam War, and trying to change the system. Conservatives, by definition, remained loyal to authority.

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INTERESTING ARTICLE ON ROMNEY DURING THE 60s. SOME EXCERPTS

Mr. Romney described it as “a very interesting firsthand view of a very volatile setting.” But his friends say the strikes were terrifying and reinforced their respect for authority. “The social system failed. The country came to a stop,” said Byron Hansen, another missionary and now a car dealer in Brigham City, Utah. “It affected me and I am sure it affected Mitt.”

The missionaries had often met with hostility over the Vietnam War. “Are you an American?” was a common greeting, Mr. Romney recalled, followed by, “‘Get out of Vietnam! Bang!’ The door would slam.” But such opposition only hardened their hawkish views. “We felt the French were pretty weak-kneed,” Mr. Hansen said.

Most of the missionaries, though, were also relieved that their service meant a draft deferment. “I am sorry, but no one was excited to go and get killed in Vietnam,” Mr. Hansen said, acknowledging, “In hindsight, it is easy to be for the war when you don’t have to worry about going to Vietnam.”

Civil rights became an even more insistent issue, when boycotts and violent protests over the university’s virtually all-white sports teams broke out at away games. The Mormon Church at the time excluded blacks from full membership, considering them spiritually unfit as results of a biblical curse on the descendants of Noah’s son Ham. (During their training, a fellow missionary of Mr. Romney took notes that read: “All men were created equal — No,” followed by “Sons of Ham. ”)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21799799/

Answer 1

Please explain to me how turning over the control of your life to the government is "questioning authority". Seriously. Liberals want to turn over every aspect of our lives (retirement, charity, health care, business proftis, energy, medical research, etc.) to the government. How can you possibly define that as "questioning authority"??????

Answer 2

I think that's a bit of an oversimplification. On the other hand, I do think that there are some dividing lines on what is acceptable to criticize between conservative people and liberals. It seems that a lot of conservatives these days question the right of Americans to do what is fundamentally at the root of our nation, which is to keep authority in check. We should question the President, Congress and yes, the Military. If we can question the man who is our mayor or picks up our trash, why not the people who have greater authority over us. I think what Jesus said about authority can be a guide which is that with great authority comes great responsibility.

Answer 3

Democracy thrives on dissent and difference of opinion. Those who value democracy value the right of dissent.

Ur-Fascism grows up and seeks consensus by exploiting and exacerbating the natural fear of difference. The first appeal of a fascist or prematurely fascist movement is an appeal against the intruders. Thus Ur-Fascism is racist by definition.

In every mythology the hero is an exceptional being, but in Ur-Fascist ideology heroism is the norm. This cult of heroism is strictly linked with the cult of death. It is not by chance that a motto of the Spanish Falangists was Viva la Muerte ("Long Live Death!"). In nonfascist societies, the lay public is told that death is unpleasant but must be faced with dignity; believers are told that it is the painful way to reach a supernatural happiness. By contrast, the Ur-Fascist hero craves heroic death, advertised as the best reward for a heroic life. The Ur-Fascist hero is impatient to die. In his impatience, he more frequently sends other people to death.

If one looks at the Ur-Fascist beliefs and those of the ones controlling the GOP today there is an uncanny resemblance.

The neocon hero Hermann Goering is quoted giving an example of what they believe and have been trying to do:

“Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”

Answer 4

definite. Conservatives are much less in all probability to question authority. they'd argue approximately who has it, or the way it fairly is for use, yet in the top, "authority" is the cornerstone of conservative theory. whilst listening to (or in this talk board, examining) arguments between conservatives and liberals (or perhaps libertarians), pay interest to the _reasons_ they provide for the comments that they safeguard. of their arguments, you will locate conservatives using words like regulation, shape, ethical, precise, and so on. those are all appeals to authority. (Even lancelot682005 argued from ethical and criminal authority against Clinton and Bush, who basically had Presidential authority.) in assessment, word that liberals (greater often) use words like care, greater advantageous, greater secure, and so on. To them, authority is secondary to making a miles better worldwide. Liberals want the final for mankind, and if authority will gain that, they are going to use it, yet whilst authority gets in the way of that purpose, they do no longer hesitate to ask questions. Libertarians, with the aid of how, continually reason from one root theory -- that persons would desire to be allowed to do something they want as long because it would not quickly injury somebody else or their belongings. each and every plank on their platform is derived from this. you are able to guess that libertarians question authority greater advantageous than liberals and conservatives mixed. So, definite, i've got self assurance conservatives question authority decrease than liberals (or fairly libertarians), because of fact it fairly is deeply embedded of their physique of ideas. the only way you will desire to get them to end thinking in terms of authority could be to tell them that some authority needs them to.

Answer 5

Good question. The topic is really addressed in the book "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John W Dean. He really analyzes the whole relationship between conservatives and their leaders. It all stems to Authoritarianism. You typically have your set few who lead and then you have the devoted followers who believe that their leader is incapable of any faults or deception and will blindly follow them to a fault. Good read. Check it out.

Edit: Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this statement?
"In battle too much thought can be dangerous, reaction is often necessary, and in thinking, knee jerk reaction can be damaging to ones logical argument."

Edit: Dear Pacer, unless you were really enamored with the Nixon administration, it is common knowledge that the gov't works best when transparent. And even in those regards, there is a difference with keeping a little executive privilege and flat-out deception. If you don't know that you are being lied to it isn't my problem. That's up to you to open your eyes. BTW, your email made no sense. I know some people who may be interested in whatever you are on so let me know if you want to make a quick buck.

Answer 6

hmm interesting
so when liberals question foreign policy thats questioning authority. But when conservatives and or libertarians question the validity or effectiveness of current social programs thats not? What about questioning the authority of BAFT does that count as questioning authority?

Answer 7

I feel that in every person there is the warrior and there is the thinker. At some point in ones life one or the other takes over, be it because of an experience, a teacher, a profound book or movie, or any number of things. The warrior follows direction and authority as a matter of survival in battle. A warrior would be an example of a conservative, a basic trait for a soldier. A thinker is a liberal, one who questions everything, including authority. In battle too much thought can be dangerous, reaction is often necessary, and in thinking, knee jerk reaction can be damaging to ones logical argument.

Answer 8

In reference to
Big Pisano’s thoughts;

Any one without a conscience is not human and has no conception of reason. No individual or "leader" is without fault. Being intelligent enough not to disclose all the facts of a certain issue should not always be construed as deception.

The recognition in the EDIT is astute.

Answer 9

Conservatives question authority just as much as liberals, if not more.

We just don't take to the streets to do it. We do with our ballots, in the jury box, our politicians do it in congress, and our people do it in civil discussion.

Questioning authority is the responsibility of every informed citizen.

You evidently have a gross conceptual error about American conservatives.

Answer 10

They infact do, just because they support their country doesn't mean they do not question it. I had no problem with going to IRAQ but once they found Saddam and wiped out most of his cronies, I think we should have pulled out.

The problem is Liberals don't question athority because they want to be the athority, don't you notice liberals want government control and restrict most of our freedoms?