The Link between Age and Conservatism is Breaking

[Bigbrog]

My favorite saying from my father....if you aren't liberal until you are 30 you don't have a heart, if you aren't conservative after 30 you don't have a brain.  This is exactly how it worked out for me ironically.  I use to be a bleeding heart liberal all through college until I got out in the real world.  The first thing that had me starting to turn more conservative was my first job out of college was at a hospital and I was forced to be in a union...wow that was eye opening...working in a very important/huge patient impact if there were error's, anyway and the union steward for our area would literally drop what they were doing in the middle of their work and walk away at the exact break time...they would tell on others if they took break to early or late, worked to late or left to early, and the head of the union broke into an office to steal communications from one of the leaders.  Crazy stuff!  

But I think what happens when people are younger they tend to believe in pie in the sky sort of things based on emotions and emotional narrative...they have not been quite exposed to "real life" yet and think things are as easy as "why don't we have free health care"...and "why doesn't everyone make the same amount and live in big houses and drive nice cars"..."big corp is bad because they take advantage of people in order to make huge profits"..."blame others for their misfortune"...etc.  But as you get older and actually live life and have experiences you realize how things work and what stopping blaming others and working hard can do for you.  You also understand how the government is run horribly and is more about control and power and taking your money, then it is to help you in day-to-day life.  That nothing in life is free, and you don't fall for the idiotic rhetoric like some on one side of the political isle likes to spew.  You begin to think for yourself, and understand how to find the truth through the cesspool of media and "news".  You also learn that the loud over the top "experts" in certain fields are in fact, not really experts at all but blow hard politicians in it for the money...and then spew about universal health care, taking care of your fellow man, etc., but keep all their millions and billions of $$ to themselves.  So in summary, you become all about working hard, not believe what you are told from politicians/experts/etc., think for yourself, focus on taking care of yourself and your family, helping people in need, and wanting to be left alone and to leave others alone as long as it doesn't impact you.

I also honestly have no problem with people that are liberal, some of my best friends and some in my family are liberals.  I enjoy speaking with them and learning how they think and why they think they way they do (even though sometimes they get so angry when I share my opinion they just walk away huffing and puffing...it is quite funny...I am like why are you so angry??).  Anyway, I tend to agree with them on a lot of things even though we get to conclusions about topics differently or disagree about how to get to a solution.  My best friend from high school is liberal, and use to be extremely liberal, but even he is getting to more of the middle as he gets older and can't stand the far-left folks.  And similarly, my dad is conservative and as he has gotten older he has become far right...hard listening to him sometimes.

Anyway, rant over

 

[Bigbrog]

15 minutes ago, jross said:

I can see why conservatives are considered cowards.  They tolerate freedom of choice.

 

That is the irony/hypocrisy of it all...those screaming on here about respect/choice/acceptance/inclusion/etc., spew some of the most divisive/unaccepting/oppressive/non-inclusive/etc. stuff on here.  They constantly jump to labeling folks as bigots/transphobes/racists/etc. for no reason other than disagreeing, or for some reason assuming you mean something completely different than what you wrote in order for them or someone else to be a victim.  Such a weird thought process.

Never understood how freedom of choice/being left alone/wanting to think for themselves/conservation of freedoms that built this country/work hard for what they earn/keep what they earn/etc. equals bigots/transphobes/racists/etc.  Most people who are "conservative" could give two snits about what other people do in their free time, how they dress, or what they want to be called...and yet get labeled all those things.  SMH

[jross]

Quote

What is 'leftism' and how do you describe the 'socialism' taught in classes today?   With that being said, what are the positive tenants of conservatism that we could look to as beneficial for the future?

Conservatives promote the idea that people should take ownership of their actions, decisions, and outcomes in life. It encourages personal initiative, accountability, and the cultivation of skills and competencies necessary for success.  When people take responsibility for themselves and help out in their communities, everyone benefits and things get better for everyone.

There are many forms of leftism and definitions of socialism.  When USA citizens deflect their overall station in life due to reasons outside their own merit, they lose my respect.  Deflection from personal responsibility makes my skin crawl.  I wouldn't trust them in the trenches in any facet of critical life.

Edited February 29 by jross
change from people to USA citizens.

[jross]

Here is what one person says is taught in schools from the left.

 

 

Edited February 29 by jross

[Offthemat]

56 minutes ago, jross said:

I can see why conservatives are considered cowards.  They tolerate freedom of choice.

 

But it’s hard to agree with the attribution of bravery for a simple exploitation of a freedom that was established and won at great expense.  It is, no doubt, appreciated that such people self exhibit themselves, expediting wasteful triage. 

[Offthemat]

[Danny Deck]

Delayed family formation and lower religiosity would probably top my list for reasons why.