On the State of Politics

I'm what you might describe as a "bleeding heart liberal." My biggest issue is health care. I work in insurance, and I talk to so many people in poverty on a daily basis that are struggling with healthcare. It's heart-breaking. So politically, I'm typically going to side with whichever candidate is going to help those people get the care they need.

But let me be very clear on this.

If "my candidate" lined up completely with me on policies, but promised to be a dictator on day one, disdained the constitution, tried to throw out votes from mail-in electors to get herself elected, refused to accept the results after the courts ruled on it, and blew off the time-honored tradition in this country of a peaceful transfer of power... I would 100% be voting for "your guy" instead. I honestly don't understand how this is even a live issue for discussion.

God, I miss Regan.

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Aysel · F

Liberals are ignorant of human nature. They believe that due to the flaws in our institutions, people are selfish or evil. They search for the unique reasons of dysfunction, injustice, poverty, and conflict and are fast to want to dismantle any structures that generate them. Conservatives recognise that human nature is inherently faulty and self-serving and that it is the responsibility of our institutions and culture to foster an atmosphere that promotes human flourishing. In addition to attempting to protect the institutions that have been entrusted to us, we search for the unique sources of human flourishing, peace, prosperity, liberty, etc.

ShadowSister · 46-50, F

In addition to attempting to protect the institutions that have been entrusted to us, we search for the unique sources of human flourishing, peace, prosperity, liberty, etc.

@Aysel I can only represent my own views, but I agree with this statement. The key words being "in addition to." So if 'my guy' was lighting a match and threatening to blow up the institution, I would bail from my guy in a heartbeat. I just wish that was mutual.

I have crazy mad respect for conservatives like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, who took a stand against the cult of personality. And the Cheneys and other conservatives who are standing with their values rather toeing the party line. I would ABSOLUTELY do the same if the situation were reversed.

Two decades ago, my father-in-law used to say, "Liberals tend to focus on outcomes to the neglect of principles, while conservatives tend to focus on principles to the neglect of outcomes." Now we are seeing which conservatives still care about principles.