blogsNH - An Accurate Summary - Comments

Thanks Scott!

Bill Bunker — Sat, 5 Apr 2008 08:37:49 -0400

I agree with Churchill but I hope that the youth vote will not yield us an Obama presidency. I remember the Carter presidency and the political atmosphere was much like it is today. The youth vote organized and we spent four grueling years under Carter.

I do remember that many of those who turned to Carter did an about face and elected Reagan four years later. I guess that was the positive out of the Carter years!

As far as age and wisdom, we have many "children of the 60's" who still live amongst us and still preach their dogma and are locked into the "liberal" mindset. I know many who have waited for a moment like this for a very long time.

However, if the vitriol between Obama and Clinton is an example of how the other side would lead, well, it would be another Carter presidency. The pendulum may swing but no one should think that it will stop swinging.

I also agree with you that conservative thought is tempered with real world experience. I travel a lot and see things for myself that liberals dismiss as anecdotal. Until you have run a business or attempted to make profit, you do not understand just how difficult it is. Many liberals speak of greed and see profit as some evil; most have no idea how the world works.

As always, thanks for your comments Scott!

I Like the Chart

Scott Ives — Fri, 4 Apr 2008 21:59:45 -0400

I like the chart. It is a fair and accurate description of the relative views of each group. I also like that there are very few adjectives used to describe the two groups. I'm impressed that these students are taking the time to analyze the differences.

While I do not like the political Views of candidate Obama, I like the fact that young people are becoming excited about his candidacy and involving themselves in the system.

I believe as they gain age, wisdom and experience their examination of the issues will eventually lead them to the conservative side of the chart. As Churchill once said, "If you're twenty and not a liberal you have no heart. If you are forty and not a conservative you have no brain. Spoken tongue in cheek, conservatism requires ideals to be tempered with real world experience.

Sure Is

Bill Bunker — Fri, 4 Apr 2008 08:19:35 -0400

Yes, Michael it sure is an accurate snapshot.

If politicians stated their positions in this way rather than spin and squirm, it would certainly change the political landscape a bit.

Seldom does the average undecided voter think in terms that are consistent with belief on policies and core belief.

It sickens me that voters choose a candidate for their charisma, looks, gender, race, military history, empty rhetoric BUT support of a candidate today seems to be a one dimensional choice based on narrow criteria.

One should ask themselves what their true beliefs are and then compare them to this chart. Intelligent voters would certainly benefit from that!

There is little discussion in the media of core belief and 99% of the discussion is from a vantage point that does not really mean much!

99% Liberal and Proud Of It

Michael Evans — Fri, 4 Apr 2008 07:05:43 -0400

Thanks for sharing this with the public, Bill. It is a pretty good view of where we each stand.

Justin,

Bill Bunker — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 23:18:57 -0400

Justin,

I looked again but see no bias. I find the chart on the conservative side to be pretty accurate but it needs more explanation. You probably see that from your perspective yourself. It does illustrate the core beliefs of some of the major candidates; more of Obama and Clinton than McCain but he is a blend of both sides.

I don't see the liberal side as caricature but I believe that you are referring to the simplicity but no one sees things exactly. For instance I believe in a woman's right to choose but not partial birth abortion. I believe in some gun control (military type weapons in civilian hands) but not abolition of guns.

Justin, you stated:

"I think the quote at the beginning of the article is great, in that we all want the same things, but just have different ideas on how to get there. When it comes to the issue by issue comparison, though, I think that there are many instances where the "liberal" position is more of a caricature." Not really but it does, however, give one a sense of what the candidates stand for because God forbid, the politicians tell you what you want to hear.

Justin, you stated:

"On speciific issues, I don't think most "liberals" believe that the government should solve all of the people's problems, as suggested by the grid".

Good point on your part but if you look at Obama and Clinton, all of there solutions come from 'government' and they do not like or respect the private sector solutions. As far as the government protecting us from "big businesses", that is absolutely happening right now....take a look at big oil, banks, oil companies, Wal-Mart, etc. The Left has disdain for these industries with a cry to nationalize oil.....that is a fact.

We are all a mix of the boxes if we are thinking and reasoning individuals and not zealots. Exactly my point as a matter of fact...without that...we will remain at the impasse where we are now. Suspicion about where the facts come from, as you illustrated in your response to the blog, highlight the fact that both sides operate from a position of distrust.

The question begs, the truth is not relative!

Note sure it's 100% unbiased...

Justin Drake — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:38:06 -0400

Hi Bill,

While I agree that it's important for people to make decisions by cutting through the spin all too frequently employed by politicians, I'm not sure the above chart is 100% unbiased. The site seems to have a slight right-leaning bent, as evidenced by their section on media bias (only liberal media bias is a reality according to the site) and their political cartoons that often come from RighToons.com, a political cartoon website that has a "conservative tone."

I think the quote at the beginning of the article is great, in that we all want the same things, but just have different ideas on how to get there. When it comes to the issue by issue comparison, though, I think that there are many instances where the "liberal" position is more of a caricature.

For example, there are many instances where the "liberal" position starts off with "the conservatives are wrong." That's a fairly weak position for either side to hold, and I don't think it serves either side to simplify the other's in such terms.

On speciific issues, I don't think most "liberals" believe that the government should solve all of the people's problems, as suggested by the grid. There are over simplifications on many issues, like the economy where the author states that "liberals" want the "government to protect us from big businesses" and the environment where it states that "liberals" think "industrial growth harms the environment." Also, on the 2nd amendment, it states that the liberal position is that the "second amendment gives no individual right to own a gun" and that when it comes to taxes "liberals" simply want "higher taxes and a larger government."

I think if the "liberal" side was written out as carefully as the "conservative" side it would have been a much better resource. Either way, I think that we need to stop this box thinking about who we are, and think for ourselves when it comes to issues, instead of checking a box on either side and thinking, "yep, I'm a (whatever)."

After looking through the list, I actually found many cases where I'm a mix of both boxes. I think we need to stop talking in absolutes and see where we can find some common ground in this country. I think most people don't fit so neatly into the "conservative" or "liberal" checklist anyways.

~Justin

Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs

Jehardy — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 13:06:48 -0400

These students did a fantastic job. Thank you for sharing this, Bill.

More proud than ever to be 99% Conservative,

Judy

An Accurate Summary

Bill Bunker — Thu, 3 Apr 2008 10:07:27 -0400

I came across an interesting site on the internet that sums up the divide in this country between the Right and the Left. It adds perspective to the debate on the direction and belief of both sides of the debate. For me, reading this struck a note of "exactly" as it will for conservatives and progressives alike. The source of this is studentnewsdaily.com. They describe their organization as follows: