I am shocked at how many people in this thread can't keep the point in context. The point is the degree of intolerance... not that everybody should tolerate everything... :roll:
Well, this is because your point came with a bad mixture of examples, thus confusing the point. The simple truth is that there are people on the left and people on the right who will go extreme to prove their identities against the other extremist side. But the only thing different is that this extremism has gotten bolder. For example:
- Where once neo-Nazis and supremacists were more inclined to be shadow figures, they have become emboldened, thus encouraging other groups like ANTIFA to get more active in response.
- Where once we had Presidents who spoke fro the Office with decorum and etiquette, we now have Liberals boldly declaring what is and is not appropriate as Conservatives scream and rage about liberty.
Yes, of course... they have an excuse to be shouting down speakers, blocking traffic of innocent motorists, etc. I bet you don't just stop with their excuse... I bet you think it is their right to do that... to go into a restaurant and insult a person until they are forced to get up and leave... right?
This is not about an excuse. This is about a reaction.
Wrong. The thread is to talk about intolerance of differing ideas, etc. from the Left. Those not doing it are not being discussed. I also did the same thin about Conservatives who were being idiots about Obama... but like so many extremists on both sides... you guys forget that and cast incorrect statements instead.
Then you should have made a single post that incorporated those actual political ideals, not emotional outrages that have little to nothing to do with those ideals. Use this as a launch pad:
1) The threatening world view illuminates the
conservative take on specific political issues in fairly obvious ways.
- Conservatives are pro-gun because they want to be able to defend themselves against criminal threats of any type.
- They are mostly religious because religious rituals foster feelings of safety in a dangerous world such that the most dangerous countries in the world are also the most religious.
- They tend to be more hostile to immigrants, foreigners, and racial or ethnic minorities and to view them as more of a threat.
- They fear attacks by other nations and therefore support a strong military and a bellicose foreign policy on the theory that a good attack is the best defense.
- Apart from military defense, where government is an asset, conservatives fear government intrusions into their lives and particularly fear having their wealth eroded by taxation.
- They are pro-family because being surrounded by close relatives is the best defense against threats that surround them.
- They oppose welfare for the poor because this encourages dependence so that the failures of a society are parasites on the successes thereby inverting the proper incentive structure.
-They admire wealth because successful people are seen as having worked hard in pursuing a moral obligation to provide for themselves and their families in a difficult and uncertain world.
2) The liberal world view is mostly the opposite.
Liberals take a more optimistic view of the world as being somewhat more benign. Government is a vehicle through which the citizens of a democracy can solve problems and improve the well-being and happiness of most people.
- Liberals feel that protection of citizens against crime is better left to police and that armed citizens are a threat to those around them.
- They are less religious than conservatives because they perceive the world around them as less threatening. Moreover, they rely more on science, and education, as a means to solve problems.
- Liberals are more welcoming to immigrants. They are less likely to view foreigners, and racial or ethnic minorities as a threat.
- They favor negotiation and consensus-building over warfare in foreign policy and do not believe in excessive military buildups that drain social spending.
- Liberals are happy to pay their taxes if they believe that the money is being used to improve the quality of life of others whether they are poor or rich. Instead of being a threat, the government reflects the will of the people.
- Liberals are less interested in family ties as a protective bubble.
- They support welfare programs for the poor because these may reduce child poverty, as well as reducing crime and social problems.
- Liberals are suspicious of wealth, feeling that much of it is inherited or obtained through sharp business practices or outright corruption. They also feel that concentrating resources in the hands of the one percent impoverishes everyone else thereby undermining social trust.
