Not exactly. I think there are a good number of conservative traits and values that are valid and necessary for a society to work.
For example, I think everyone should have enough money to live with comfortably. However the incentive to work harder or be ambitious is influenced by capitalism, which is a large component of conservative thinking.
However liberalism is the idealogy that usually creates new things, better ways of doing, and allows people to function as individuals as well as a whole community. Conservatives generally champion individuality and throw the community as a whole out the window while saying they aren't doing so. If it was left up to conservatives the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments would have never happened.
I'm not saying that a liberal point of view and subsequent answer is the solution to every problem, because to say that is foolish and inaccurate. As it stands though, liberalism is the stronger societal concept because it seeks to emphasize both the individual and the whole community, whereas conservatism seeks only to seperate society into distinct groups and discriminate.
Another example is prison and the death penalty. Conservatives generally say the death penalty works, but it does not deter crime in any way. However positive reinforcement of prisoners has been shown to be effective in that, when they get out they do not commit a crime again. Positive reinforcement is a liberal trait.
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Re: Pfft, I'm faaar too idealistic for my own good >_>
Date: 2009-01-25 06:38 am (UTC)For example, I think everyone should have enough money to live with comfortably. However the incentive to work harder or be ambitious is influenced by capitalism, which is a large component of conservative thinking.
However liberalism is the idealogy that usually creates new things, better ways of doing, and allows people to function as individuals as well as a whole community. Conservatives generally champion individuality and throw the community as a whole out the window while saying they aren't doing so. If it was left up to conservatives the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments would have never happened.
I'm not saying that a liberal point of view and subsequent answer is the solution to every problem, because to say that is foolish and inaccurate. As it stands though, liberalism is the stronger societal concept because it seeks to emphasize both the individual and the whole community, whereas conservatism seeks only to seperate society into distinct groups and discriminate.
Another example is prison and the death penalty. Conservatives generally say the death penalty works, but it does not deter crime in any way. However positive reinforcement of prisoners has been shown to be effective in that, when they get out they do not commit a crime again. Positive reinforcement is a liberal trait.