The difference between the Right and the Left.

[jayctravis]

Just passed 1000 posts recently, so thought I'd opine.

The difference between liberalism and conservatism is that liberals try to solve problems by inclusion; conservatives by exclusion.

You know how the rightwing radio blowhards like to call liberals "terrorist sympathizers" or "communists"? That's the reason. We liberals sincerly *do* want to include everyone under a big tent. Hardline conservatives, on the other hand, tend to think of all their problems as being caused by an external source..."If we just nuked the middle east off the map everything would be solved." "If we keep homosexuals from legal protections similar to those that heterosexuals get, it will strengthen the family..."

To the right wing, any problem is a wart or cancer that needs to be cut off, ignored, shunned and eliminated. Terrorism? Let's not figure out who is doing it and why, let's just bomb an unrelated country so people will know we're doing a great job winning the War on Terra, or the Violent Reaction to Non Caucasian Extremism or whatever it is being called now.

And that's why so many people - the dead-tide 30% everybody wonders about - will support this administration. It's so very psychologically comfortable to think that any problems all stem from external sources that can be cut off; bombed out of existence, marginalized and belittled on talk radio, because it can't POSSIBLY be something the United States did wrong to cause the trouble. They would never think of listening to the "enemy" and confronting the grievances which might hurt a little too much because they might contain truth. It's comforting to be in the clique that knows it is right and righteous and everyone's going to heaven.

Liberalism understands that not anyone knows the full truth about *anything* and is usually willing to at least hear the other side out. That's why the talk radio blowhards think they are so good at argument and debate; they think as long as they have the mic that they are in control and they have won. They tell people things without listening. Left wingers would much rather have everyone in the same clique -- we do want the entire world to metaphorically join hands and sing Kum-By-Yah and hold out this ideal, whilst many of the hardline right have already ruled this out.

Something you don't like? On the right you ban it, you sanction it, you cut it off and burn it up before it infects everyone else and you become the marginalized minority and out of the precious clique -- exclusion. On the left you talk about it and figure out why it bothers you, then come to a reasonable agreement about how all can coexist and benefit -- inclusion.

[corkhead]

1. I think it can be summed up

by saying that organizing the right is like herding sheep and organizing the left is like herding cats

[baldguy]

2. If a con doesn't like something, he tries to kill it.

A lib will invite it to dinner to talk.

[bonzotex]

3. nice point...well said, n/t

[tabasco]

4. The right are the tories, the left are the Patriots.

Instead of the monarchy we had until 1776, we now have the super-rich corporate elite for our rulers. For all intents and purposes, the super-rich control our government just like King George did in 1776.

The right is in favor of the super-rich getting even more power. We are for giving more power to the People.

That is the only important ideological difference.

The same battle has been going on for centuries.

But millions of Americans simply do not understand how it is, due to massive and continuous right-wing propaganda. The right also owns the "public" airwaves, and has spent billions of dollars on propaganda. They know it is worth the investment. Millions sold daily. Propaganda works.