Something I noticed when talking with a conservative today....

[Ardent15]

I noticed that he, though very conservative in his political views, actually agreed with me on some key points: Washington is incredibly corrupt (both parties), Wall Street has robbed the nation, we need to return to a manufacturing-based economy, and business and government alike should work in the interests of the American people.

Has anyone else noticed the similarities, if you think there are any, between liberals and conservatives?

[polichick]

1. Does he think the Republicans are going to fix it?

I'm always surprised at how many people fall for the idea that Republicans are on their side.

[Ardent15]

2. Not really. He's disillusioned with the GOP

He's an ex-Republican as a voter, but still a conservative in his views.

[polichick]

6. But those views aren't conservative. :)

[Ardent15]

7. Well, I should tell him that because he identifies as a conservative!

Seriously, most people are more liberal than they think they are.

[polichick]

9. The right made liberal a bad word so some people refuse to even...

...consider that their views might be liberal - God forbid they be seen as dirty rotten hippies!

[SpiralHawk]

11. Hell, the so-called 'conservatives' aren't really conservative at all

They just use that word to occultly disguise the Borrow-and-spend FAIL strategery they used to toss America's economy and honor in the global crapper for the next 20 years...

[gimama]

12. YES! I call 'em "radical republicans"..

whenever I hear or discuss "conservatives".
WHAT is 'conservative' about big guvment..
blowing a surplus..creating massive debt..
involving itself in private issues, Our PERSONAL choices,in bedrooms & wombs..
ignoring Our Constitution.. listening to Citizens' phone calls/emails..
assuming guilt before trial/presumption of innocense..
rendition..torture..TORTURE..
WAR, WAR, WAR, without end/'just cause', or paying for it..
religiousity without morals..rampant hipocracy..
abusing Our Military & Veterans.. demonizing dissenters..

wow.. don't get ME started! ;)
YOU are SO right!

[CrispyQ]

13. And I'm surprised how many people think Democrats are on their side.

Our government has been totally compromised by big money. I don't know if Americans care enough to try to get it back or if we even can. I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime.

[polichick]

14. It's true that many Dems are corporate whores too, but there are some...

...who still care about working Americans and the country as a whole - not to mention the planet. Republicans only manipulate working Americans through fear in order to get them to vote for corporate scams.

[leftstreet]

3. You just now noticed this?

Practically everyone thinks these things!

[Ardent15]

4. Well that's good!

Good to know that I'm not the only one who noticed it!

[JuniperLea]

5. The "perceived" gap is far greater than the reality...

That's why in polls where individual Obama proposals are noted without noting they are Obama's, the ratings are very high... whether it be health care, jobs, economy, whatever. Put the name Obama on it, and it's snake oil! Propaganda! Or worse.

[Ardent15]

8. Someone unrec'd this? Lame.nt

[opihimoimoi]

10. KnR :o)

[ParkieDem]

15. There are many similarities between true conservatives and liberals.

They will never agree entirely - the basic conservative, lasseiz-faire philosophy is simply not compatible with progressive beliefs.

However, I know several conservatives that are very, very disenchanted with the GOP.

The primary reason is that they are mad as hell at Bush over government spending. In my view, the biggest problem conservatives/Republicans have when they argue for less government spending is that they will invariably vote to increase defense spending, even though that is by far the biggest chunk of the federal budget. I've often told my Republican friends that I'd be happy to live with a 10% across-the-board reduction in the federal budget, so long as the Pentagon was included in that figure.

Another area is in our tax system. While we differ on how taxes should be spread across wage-earners, I tend to agree with conservatives that the tax system should be much simpler and, to a certain extent, flatter.

The reason why Republicans haven't implemented such changes is the same reason that Democrats haven't implemented single-payer and other progressive reforms: special interests. They are beholden to defense contractors and oil companies, we are beholden to Wall Street interests. Unfortunately, I don't see that changing.

[kudzu22]

16. In my experience

Liberals and conservatives have a lot of agreement on what the country's problems are, but differ wildly on the solutions to those problems.

[Orsino]

17. Please remain where you are.

Trained cable news pundits are en route to your location to distract you.