PBS Frontline documentary on our current healthcare system. Discuss.

Politics is very much a part of one's belief system and how they see their world.

I've given a lot of thought to this. I find that people who tend to consider themselves as conservatives adhere to the model that "they're poor/unhealthy/drug addict/on welfare etc" because they are "lazy, listless, con artists, stupid" - generally that one's circumstances are entirely because of the choices they've made in life.

Wrong. I am a conservative. Choices are made, true, those of us who "think" (yes, some of us are quite intelligent) know that there are certain things that occur in life in which no one has control.

I've observed that others who don't prescribe to these beliefs have a more nuanced understanding of society. They realize that sometimes bad things happen to good people, that sometimes even the person that is working hard and doing everything right just can't get a good break.

I can tell which way you lean already by the descriptives you utilized for the two groups.

Now at the core of each belief, the difference is control. Conservatives believe that ultimately, one has control of their own life and thus, the results of their life is because of the choices they made. They could control this for the better or not and the sin is in their not controlling for the better.

Wrong again. Most conservatives believe that if they work hard enough, they will bear the fruit of their work. Thus if they choose to work hard and persevere, somehow it will pay off. They also know that sometimes they start on one road, and end up on another. They leave those changes to a belief that a "higher power" is ultimately in control and the conservatives are okay with that.

If they were to actually dispel this belief, it would crumble their foundation of control. If they actually acknowledged that in life we don't have control of many things, I imagine many people would be truly frightened. Psychologically, the foundation of their conception of reality becomes endangered. They must not face the dark anxiety of being in a chaotic world where ultimately, they have no control.

Hm. You make it sound like they all need therapy. Wow; how, um, unbiased of you. I don't think so. This is a major chaotic world; the difference is most conservatives I know have GREAT coping mechanisms and spiritual support.

Thus, these ideals of the efficacy of one's will over their universe is an important one, one which could lead to understandable fear and panic. I wonder if for some, this is why they can't even entertain the idea of people in our society, just not being able to control or will their way into things like better healthcare or a better job.

Fear and panic? Yeah, um, okay. I think it's just that most of the conservatives have an independent spirit and don't like being told what to do. It's about choices being taken away--perhaps a form of control. I don't know--sometimes people negate the whole freedom of choice thing. Most conservatives...well, they don't.

Anyway, yea the film is very instructive and would be a great primer on our current healthcare debate.

First I must say that I am flattered that you're following my posts. Moving on.

Actually, I know a lot of conservatives. I grew up in a very conservative area. But they are all true, Goldwater conservatives. Not your neoconservative, Evangelical brand. All the one's I know are conservative because they're rich and don't want to be taxed more - you know the type that go sailing on the weekend and have beach houses. They are actually embarrassed by many of the religious components of the Republican Party. But anyway, I digress.


Clearly I offered my analysis of certain conservatives as an opinion. You spent your whole post just saying that my opinion because in your opinion, I am wrong. This line of conversation is really pointless and I can already see that theres really very little chance of any meaningful insights.

And I really do hope you stay posted. Be well.