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Do far right Conservatives/Libertarians lack empathy?

Do those on the far right lack empathy?

  • Yes

    Votes: 22 26.2%
  • No

    Votes: 62 73.8%

  • Total voters
    84
  • Poll closed .
Not “partisan BS” at all, but basic ethics.

Charity consists only of giving what is rightfully yours to give. Taking from others what is not yours is just theft, no matter how noble you think your purpose is for what you are taking.

There is no charity in being generous with other people's resources; only with your own.

That's fine, but I am not interested in charity, but solving issues.
 
Did you forget the topic of the thread?

Yes, but its already been shown the religiosity accounts for increased urges for charity and not political ideology, so the case is closed on the original question. Once you control for religion, conservatives and liberals have an equal amount of empathy if measured by charitable giving.
 
A complete inability to relate to those who are less fortunate.

Some, of course... just as some on the Left don't care about the less fortunate, just about how much money they can make appearing to care.

I think that Libertarians care about a result. They think that people can do it for themselves and that is a noble goal. Some lose perspective that others sometimes need help though...
 
I find it rather interesting that neither the title, the poll question, not the OP really match up. Interesting too that the title assumes that libertarians are the same as conservatives.

I think that slyfox says it best in that ultimately it is not a question of empathy but of what one believes the solution to be. Additionally, I think that there is a variation on what people consider the "less fortunate". When I see two people without a job, and one is turning in applications left and right, trying to go to school or otherwise develop a marketable skill and spending most of their waking hours trying to be productive and the other who simply whines on how unfortunate they are and wants me to provide them money, but oh no don't offer to buy them a meal instead....yeah, I'm seeing the former as the "less fortunate" one and the later as the lazy one. Granted these are extreme example and people can land anywhere in between and even beyond these examples.
 
I find it rather interesting that neither the title, the poll question, not the OP really match up. Interesting too that the title assumes that libertarians are the same as conservatives.

In what way is it assuming anything? Its asking do those are the far right, conservative / libertarians lack empathy? Not sure how that is confusing.

The poll question and the title question are the same thing as well.. both ask if those on the far right lack empathy.. If you take the literal dictionary definition of empathy, I can see how the OP might not fit if you were so much of a literal human being that you couldn't see what I was getting at. It shouldn't be too hard, I'm simply asking if the attitudes of far right individuals shows any patterns of lacking empathy. Especially in the media.
 
Actually the two are equal as the motivation is what matters. In both cases, people are seeking to help those in need. Pretending charity matters more is just partisan BS.

The reason the ingroup thing matters is that helping the ingroup versus just worrying about needs is a way to reinforce the culture of the ingroup making it an evolutionary survival strategy instead of an altruistic act. It has a lot of selfishness attached to it.

Wrong again. How one feels, ie empathy, can only be objectively measured by acts of charity. Otherwise it's just hormonal emoting that helps no one. Putting your hands to the plow and working for another's benefit is an objective measure.

Applying the word empathy to a group is an improper use of the word. Empathy is understanding the feelings of another. Because feelings are unique to each individual, to empathize with a group is to de-individualize and in effect dehumanize. Bad move.
 
Not “partisan BS” at all, but basic ethics.

Charity consists only of giving what is rightfully yours to give. Taking from others what is not yours is just theft, no matter how noble you think your purpose is for what you are taking.

There is no charity in being generous with other people's resources; only with your own.

Bob. I think it is only theft where there is no consent. We keep electing theives and therefore have consented to our own wealth destruction.
 
Wrong again. How one feels, ie empathy, can only be objectively measured by acts of charity. Otherwise it's just hormonal emoting that helps no one. Putting your hands to the plow and working for another's benefit is an objective measure.

Applying the word empathy to a group is an improper use of the word. Empathy is understanding the feelings of another. Because feelings are unique to each individual, to empathize with a group is to de-individualize and in effect dehumanize. Bad move.
Oooookay
 
In what way is it assuming anything? Its asking do those are the far right, conservative / libertarians lack empathy? Not sure how that is confusing.

The poll question and the title question are the same thing as well.. both ask if those on the far right lack empathy.. If you take the literal dictionary definition of empathy, I can see how the OP might not fit if you were so much of a literal human being that you couldn't see what I was getting at. It shouldn't be too hard, I'm simply asking if the attitudes of far right individuals shows any patterns of lacking empathy. Especially in the media.

Part of it is because you are placing libertarians at the far right. We are hardly close. Libertarians support SSM and other social issues the same as most liberals, whereas we also support fiscal responsibility and conservative spending as do most conservatives. Many libertarians even support the concept of the "safety net" programs although most I am aware of do not support the current methods and procedures. Basically we want the left out of our wallets and the right out of our bedrooms.

Now had you worded your OP to the effect of those who are conservative, libertarian or otherwise right of liberal, it would have made more sense.
 
A complete inability to relate to those who are less fortunate.

No. We're so sympathetic, in fact, that we're willing to spend our OWN money to help the poor rather than stealing money from others to do it. There is no virtue in government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A person's character is not defined by what he tells others to do, but what he does himself. You want to change the world? Help the poor? Lead by example. A better world is not achievable at the point of a gun.
 
Both ideologies are deeply misanthropic. The most misanthropic of all, I've found, is Rand's Objectivism. Her followers are bloody nuts to put it bluntly. They'd be absolutely fine if the world crumbled around them while they are soaked in egotism.
 
A complete inability to relate to those who are less fortunate.

No. We're so sympathetic, in fact, that we're willing to spend our OWN money to help the poor rather than stealing money from others to do it. There is no virtue in government charity, and there is no virtue in advocating it. A person's character is not defined by what he tells others to do, but what he does himself. You want to change the world? Help the poor? Lead by example. A better world is not achievable at the point of a gun.
 
I think that approximately 1 in 3 people in the US are terrible people. People who would drive by a car accident and not stop to help. People who would walk past a desperate man and not listen. It doesn't matter what your politics are in that regard. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change. A wise man said that, you know.

Sure, anybody who starts ranting about all the lazy people on welfare probably is lacking something. But I think it's that a lot of us don't understand human nature. We don't realize that we are fully capable of the same reaction to the same situation. The Milgram Experiment? The Stanford Prison Experiment? We can be conditioned to become anything. Drug addicts aren't weak people, those on welfare aren't lazy, illegal immigrant's aren't criminals. Many of us are monsters, the only difference is whether or not the monster is the part of us that shows to the world. That said, a large part of my life is spent improving the lives of others, so there are good people in the world. But you won't identify them by the color of their tie or whether or not they have an American flag on their lawn.
 
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Both ideologies are deeply misanthropic. The most misanthropic of all, I've found, is Rand's Objectivism. Her followers are bloody nuts to put it bluntly. They'd be absolutely fine if the world crumbled around them while they are soaked in egotism.

Egotism is entirely different than objectivism. The thinkers behind Egotism were anarchists like Max Stirner that took the idea of Egotism past its common usage and turned it into an ideology all in it's own right. Rand with her faults did consider other people beyond the individual and very much wanted their rights protected, while men like Max Stirner considered murder entirely fine if it was in the interest of the individual that committed the act. Rand had no interest in seeing the world crumble around her, while men like Stirner thought it was irrational to think of anything beyond the self interest of the individual.

I realize you were talking about the common usage of the word egotism, but I thought comparing it to the thoughts of Stirner would show why Rand was not a egotist.
 
No. Many of us who lean toward the right, with regard to fiscal matters, used to be in their shoes. We know that it is a condition which one can overcome. I don't cut anyone any slack who has the ability to succeed, but has a ****ty attitude.

That is one of the common flaws in conservative thinking: "I made it out of poverty, everyone else can also." It is wrong because statistically, most people do not make it out of poverty, especially outside the USA.

Making it out of poverty generally requires intelligence, ability to focus and do work, a supportive family or mentor and opportunity.

Not everyone is intelligent and many poor people are impaired by toxins and/or mental illness. (being very poor makes many people crazy, often for generations) The stress and instability often associated with poverty can interfere with developing or applying intelligence.

The ability to focus and do work is a skill that needs to be acquired (and may also be a genetic trait to some degree). In more successful families the ability to focus and do work is usually modeled and taught by parents without much conscious thought. That does not happen in many poor families, especially if they are struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

Almost every person who has risen out of poverty had a supportive family member or mentor that helps teach good work habits and knows how, where and when to make an effort to get results.

Opportunities also matter. A young person given a legit part-time job or told about an internship or scholarship is more likely to be successful than one who is not given an opportunity or such guidance. There are only so many jobs and scholarships, so there is an element of luck involved.

With enough time, money and effort these elements for success could be provided by K-12 schools, but currently they are not, especially in the public schools serving the poor. If we want to really solve some of our society's problems we should work on putting less resources into the military, prisons, justice system, police etc and invest it in giving every young person the best education, guidance and opportunity. Unfortunately, too many people think that they benefit from the current system of class oppression for it to happen anytime soon. (ie.prison guards) Instead profiteers are exploiting the good intentions of ignorant people to sell them their school and prison privatization schemes as a solution.
 
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That is one of the common flaws in conservative thinking: "I made it out of poverty, everyone else can also." It is wrong because statistically, most people do not make it out of poverty, especially outside the USA.

Making it out of poverty generally requires intelligence, ability to focus and do work, a supportive family or mentor and opportunity.

Not everyone is intelligent and many poor people are impaired by toxins and/or mental illness. (being very poor makes many people crazy, often for generations) The stress and instability often associated with poverty can interfere with developing or applying intelligence.

The ability to focus and do work is a skill that needs to be acquired (and may also be a genetic trait to some degree). In more successful families the ability to focus and do work is usually modeled and taught by parents without much conscious thought. That does not happen in many poor families, especially if they are struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.

Almost every person who has risen out of poverty had a supportive family member or mentor that helps teach good work habits and knows how, where and when to make an effort to get results.

Opportunities also matter. A young person given a legit part-time job or told about an internship or scholarship is more likely to be successful than one who is not given an opportunity or such guidance. There are only so many jobs and scholarships, so there is an element of luck involved.

With enough time, money and effort these elements for success could be provided by K-12 schools, but currently they are not, especially in the public schools serving the poor. If we want to really solve some of our society's problems we should work on putting less resources into the military, prisons, justice system, police etc and invest it in giving every young person the best education, guidance and opportunity. Unfortunately, too many people think that they benefit from the current system of class oppression for it to happen anytime soon. (ie.prison guards) Instead profiteers are exploiting the good intentions of ignorant people to sell them their school and prison privatization schemes as a solution.


That is NOT how Conservatives think.

Thats how Liberals want everyone to believe. That Conservatives are selfish, ego centric disconnected individuals.

Our principles are being redefined by our opponents and then passed off as a objective analysis of Conservative core principles.

Unfortunately, as proven by the last two Presidential elections there are far too many intellectually lazy Americans who are ripe for this kind of partisan motivated misinterpretation.

The Liberals agenda is more about creating victims by spreading narratives that are meant to divide based on envy of all things.

The more emotionally poisoned the American populace is the better off the Democrats are in terms of winning elections and staying in power.

The problem for the Millions of America's who are gullible enough to buy into this toxic manipulation is things don't get better for them under Democrat rule.

Things don't become more " equitable, fairer ".

No, because any real improvement would threaten the lefts original agenda of creating as many victims as possible.

Any real movement towards equality would remove the dependency that the Democrat party needs to stay viable.

Its the basis of this STUPID Op.

Divide, set up a narrative based on misrepresentations NOT to improve the situation but to perpetuate toxic false narratives that are all centered around envy.

Thats how screwed up the left is.

They're more than willing to use one of the most destructive Human emotions to further their cause and the more pain, the more discontent there is the happier they are
 
That is NOT how Conservatives think.

Thats how Liberals want everyone to believe. That Conservatives are selfish, ego centric disconnected individuals.

Our principles are being redefined by our opponents and then passed off as a objective analysis of Conservative core principles.

Unfortunately, as proven by the last two Presidential elections there are far too many intellectually lazy Americans who are ripe for this kind of partisan motivated misinterpretation.

The Liberals agenda is more about creating victims by spreading narratives that are meant to divide based on envy of all things.

The more emotionally poisoned the American populace is the better off the Democrats are in terms of winning elections and staying in power.

The problem for the Millions of America's who are gullible enough to buy into this toxic manipulation is things don't get better for them under Democrat rule.

Things don't become more " equitable, fairer ".

No, because any real improvement would threaten the lefts original agenda of creating as many victims as possible.

Any real movement towards equality would remove the dependency that the Democrat party needs to stay viable.

Its the basis of this STUPID Op.

Divide, set up a narrative based on misrepresentations NOT to improve the situation but to perpetuate toxic false narratives that are all centered around envy.

Thats how screwed up the left is.

They're more than willing to use one of the most destructive Human emotions to further their cause and the more pain, the more discontent there is the happier they are

I did not say that conservatives are greedy etc. I said that many of them think that the ability of some people to rise from poverty means that everyone can if they just tried hard enough and had the right attitude, as Originally Posted by lizzie "Many of us who lean toward the right, with regard to fiscal matters, used to be in their shoes. We know that it is a condition which one can overcome. I don't cut anyone any slack who has the ability to succeed, but has a ****ty attitude."

You failed to address any of the points I made about the challenges of helping the poor and the specific solutions that can address those challenges.
 
That is NOT how Conservatives think.

Thats how Liberals want everyone to believe. That Conservatives are selfish, ego centric disconnected individuals.

See I can do it too..

That is NOT how Liberals think.

That is how conservatives want everyone to believe.

... you're right.. the left is horrible the right is so righteous..
 
See I can do it too..

That is NOT how Liberals think.

That is how conservatives want everyone to believe.

... you're right.. the left is horrible the right is so righteous..
I would suggest that SOME "liberals" and "conservatives think like this.

But they're hacks.

In reality world, neither conservatives nor liberals have a lock on anything.
 
See I can do it too..

That is NOT how Liberals think.

That is how conservatives want everyone to believe.

... you're right.. the left is horrible the right is so righteous..


Yea the problem with your assessment is it's not backed by anything substantial. Its a stale narrative warmed over to critique a ideology you don't understand.

Let's look at the Left's agenda's and how they've affected minorities.

Clinton's push of ' equal credit " in the 90's lowered long held lending standards and made it easier for people with poor credit, poor job history and no money to purchase homes they could not afford.

What followed was a huge wave of foreclosures on minority owned properties.

Next, the election of Barrack Obama. A media push to support the election of the " first black president " while they parroted the empty platitudes and bumper sticker slogans of the Obama Presidential campaign.

Minorities overwhelmingly supported Obama who promised " hope and change " and how has that worked out for them ?

Not good. Black unemployment especially for the ages of 16-19 grew to 39 %. Poverty rates for Black Americans have risen also to 27 %.

Overall unemployment rates for Black Americans have risen from 12 % to 14 %.

Inflation-adjusted median household income fell for well, every one but for blacks its fallen from 35,000 to 33,000 .

Black Home-ownership has also dropped, from 46.1 to 43.3 percent over Obama's Presidency.

In States exclusively run by Liberals, like California, poverty rates have shot up and now 1 out of every 4 Californians is considered poor. A disproportionate number of that 25 % poverty level are minorities.

So AGAIN, you have empty left wing talking points and I have verifiable data that proves my point.

You guys are allot of talk, but when it comes to substance, or even better RESULTS, you've got nothing. Well, you have your silly made up narratives about how mean Conservatives are.
 
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