• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Is it better to be liberal or conservative?

Are you better off being liberal or conservative?

  • Total voters
    71
DifferentDrummr

DifferentDrummr

Bald eagle
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
7,437
Reaction score
1,950
Location
Confirmation Bias Land
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Other
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
 
I do not identify as anything...liberal, conservative, libertarian, communist, socialist, etc....anything.

And I like it that way.
 
As an ex-conservative, I know beyond any reasonable doubt that I am freer and better informed on this side of the aisle.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

IMHO, itbis better to understand and respect yhe status quo while endeavoring to make things better through real liberal thinking.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Depends.

If your inborn traits and needs are compatible with the social status quo, conservative is probably easier.

If not, you're probably better off and safer being a liberal, but that doesn't mean it's the most pleasant of all possible roads. It's just the most pleasant road available to someone like you.

As for myself, not existing on that 2D continuum, I find my particular political understanding to offer exactly zero comfort to me as a human being. If anything, it makes things harder. I don't choose my politics in order to feel good about everything. I choose it because I believe it's correct, and intellectual honesty is important to me. Unfortunately, what is correct in my estimation is not necessarily easy to deal with.
 
It's better to be true to yourself. People are generally born one way or the other, and then get shaped and/or nuanced over time and experience.

People think as they do because they believe it to be correct. Note that I said they believe it to be correct, not that it necessarily is correct.
 
It depends on how you define the terms. If you ask a dozen people, you're going to get a dozen answers on what those terms even mean. Personally, I think it's better for society for people to be conservative, defined as I define conservatism. Others may have different takes.
 
Having been both, being conservative is the much better approach. When young it was "cool" to be that clueless about the world, to be for all the hip causes, no matter how vapid. Then I started debating, reading/researching again, saw the gaping holes in my, our, liberal arguments, the very shallow nature of the "good intentions". Pixie dust does not cover all faults.

At the same time, classical liberals were, and are, where the truth is at... so all liberals aren't wrong, just the modern ones.
 
Liberals get laid more.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Neither. Labels and adhering to ideological purity requirements are not my thing.
 
Grand Mal said:
Liberals get laid more.
Click to expand...

It definitely helps to display the compassionate tree hugger within yourself when picking up babes at the coffee shop. At dance clubs, it helps to dance and show that liberated side of yourself. I doubt conservatives have that gene.
 
calamity said:
It definitely helps to display the compassionate tree hugger within yourself when picking up babes at the coffee shop. At dance clubs, it helps to dance and show that liberated side of yourself. I doubt conservatives have that gene.
Click to expand...

Conservatives have a different gene, if you believe them. They get f**ked more.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Is it better to be a liberal or a conservative? No. Neither status is worth pursuing in and of itself.
 
Grand Mal said:
Conservatives have a different gene, if you believe them. They get f**ked more.
Click to expand...

I haven't believed conservatives for over 20 years. But, I def get your point :)
 
I picked other.

With everyone jacking with definitions related to political ideology, I don't really know what a conservative or liberal is, so I can't pick one or the other.

To answer the question, I think I'm better off with the principles I have that strive for self sufficiency, includes a desire to be of service, and demands little from others.
 
If you're talking about "pure" liberalism or conservatism in the abstract, then I don't believe that either one is better or worse when it comes to one's own well-being. American conservatism, however, has a very toxic element to it.

It's very understandable for people who have accomplished a lot to feel that they have earned their income and lifestyle. American conservatives take this idea one step farther by concluding that they deserve these things more than the people who did not earn them. And from there, it's only a short slide into the belief that they are inherently superior human beings. It isn't just racism, although racism often fuels it. So do the other cultural phobias, and of course, sheer greed.
 
Once being a conservative for a long time, but seeing some of the failings of the republicans, and my complete distain for the democrat party, i finally chose the constitution as my guide, but identify with the libertarian from the propective of liberty, instead of personal gain for myself or a party.
 
Last edited:
Phys251 said:
As an ex-conservative, I know beyond any reasonable doubt that I am freer and better informed on this side of the aisle.
Click to expand...
Gaugingcatenate said:
Having been both, being conservative is the much better approach. When young it was "cool" to be that clueless about the world, to be for all the hip causes, no matter how vapid. Then I started debating, reading/researching again, saw the gaping holes in my, our, liberal arguments, the very shallow nature of the "good intentions". Pixie dust does not cover all faults.

At the same time, classical liberals were, and are, where the truth is at... so all liberals aren't wrong, just the modern ones.
Click to expand...
IOW: Whatever I am now is the better one. Well, duh!!! :lol:
 
radcen said:
It's better to be true to yourself. People are generally born one way or the other, and then get shaped and/or nuanced over time and experience.

People think as they do because they believe it to be correct. Note that I said they believe it to be correct, not that it necessarily is correct.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.
 
DifferentDrummr said:
The context here is on a personal level.

In other words, is it better for your own overall well-being if you identify as liberal, or if you identify as conservative? And why?

What do you think?
Click to expand...

I identify with classical liberalism or the libertarianism that was the ideology of the Founders. The most blessed people are those who find harmony in voluntary mutual support and effort and allow the individual to be who and what he or she is without interference.
 
AlbqOwl said:
I identify with classical liberalism or the libertarianism that was the ideology of the Founders. The most blessed people are those who find harmony in voluntary mutual support and effort and allow the individual to be who and what he or she is without interference.
Click to expand...

The founding fathers were hardly what we understand libertarian to be now.

People could be owned as property. Rights currently enjoyed by, for example, women, didn't exist.

Etc....
 
How does that Joker quote go? "You all laugh at me because I am different, I laugh at you because you are all the same." That's how I feel about liberals and conservatives. AS there isn't much of a difference these days. They are the same party, and they distract us with stupid social issues they don't have the power to fix anyway. Meanwhile, banking cartels are dictating our future to the middle men doing their dance for us. It's better for a person to think for themselves, and vote third party in congressional elections. Doesn't matter which side gains the Presidency. As the President shouldn't have as much influence as we think he does.

I can't wait for the people who keep voting the same guy into congress for 40 years dies off. That's what we really need, a complete congressional wipe. And once that happens, we need to make sure two parties can't dominate the system anymore.
 
Wow, look at all the independent free thinkers who don't need no labels in this thread :lamo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom