Why are conservatives such turds?

[Cyrano]

It seems to me that they are against virtually anything that will improve life for human beings and advance the human species.

Whether it's public education, stem cell research that could cure countless human ills, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, tolerance of those who are "different," renewable energy sources, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, livable wages, ... and so, so much more ... they are against it. Their attitudes seem to say "me, me, me and fuck everybody else."

Conservatives have always been anti-science and anti-progress to one degree or another, but Trump has tapped into their worst instincts and made them even bigger shits and hypocrites than they already were. Masks are a good example. They've decided that not wearing a mask is an expression of their "individual freedom." Hell, what if I decided that red traffic lights impinged on my "individual freedom" and decided to ignore them all. Not to mention having made kidnapping and caging children at the border acceptable. After all, it's not like these children or their parents are white Americans. And they are not at all like "superior" people from say Norway, or Denmark.

Simply put, I don't understand conservatives. They seem to thrive on hatred, selfishness, greed, cruelty and incredible ignorance. Are they somehow genetically retarded? Beats me. But I do know that I really resent having to share this planet with these people who are so shortsighted, mindless, beastly and who do everything possible to to behave as inhumane as possible.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. In order to have an R behind their names

they must be greedy, self consumed and out for no one but themselves. I think it's in the contract they sign with the devil.

[beachbumbob]

2. from their point of view "we" are all snowflakes and idiots

[JHB]

3. Practice, practice, practice.

[apnu]

4. In a word: selfish

If you look at every reason Conservatives give for anything a clear pattern will emerge in seconds: everything is about their individual self interest.

Pick a topic, listen to any complaint. Go to any conservative church and listen to the sermons. Everything will be about the individual over the community.

[liberal N proud]

7. Exactly!

[XanaDUer2]

5. Imo, racism

and envy. Maybe. An oversimplification.

[liberal N proud]

6. Selfishness

It all revolves around them being selfish.

[Cirque du So-What]

8. John Kenneth Galbraith said:

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

Everything else is superfluous. Scratch the surface of any ‘conservative’ wallowing in religiosity and you’ll find a nihilist. Values, morals, are weapons to be wielded in the quest to get what they want and conveniently discarded when they get their greed on.

[handmade34]

9. selfishness, greed

...and fear that they will lose/lose out... they function with a zero sum game mentality

[Cyrano]

19. Yes, selfishness is a major component of conservatism

John Kenneth Galbraith is one of my gurus. And I believe, that someday, if science finds differences in how humans evolved, selfishness will be a major factor in the minds of the species we call conservatives.

[RealityCheque]

10. And don't forget

The evangelical posture. The revisionist history of Christianity where unless you are white and agree with their “version” of the church you don’t exist.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. they loathe themselves

[Buckeye_Democrat]

12. Many of their religious-types are eager to see everyone...

... else burn in Hell too.

Unless others abide by their superstitious rules, of course.

[Hortensis]

13. Groupthink, group loyalty, group antagonisms got strangleholds on them.

They don't know they're now fighting for religio-fascistic authoritarianism. They think they're saving America.

We can't change them now, but we can look at ourselves instead.

This dangerous era has plenty of useful idiots on the left. The same group antagonisms and stupidities are bred by lying liars on the left to twist rational idealism into hostility against Democrats. And far more damaging, sow insidious doubts in millions whose weaknesses are ignorance and apathy.

How many people effectively helped elect Trump and turn congress over to the fascistic right because they soaked up the bizarre insanity that Hillary and the Dems were "just as bad," or even worse? Tragically more than enough; just how many didn't vote because of the blizzard of lies that there was nothing worth voting for.

How about: right or left, leaders who lie to voters are bad?

How about: any leaders who claim achieving noble goals first requires destroying what we inherited or dismantling our LW power structure and replacing it with theirs, are obviously trying to make BAD trouble?

Simple?

[Ohiogal]

14. Very well said.

[MineralMan]

15. It's all about the ingredients of their excremental thinking.

[nancy1942]

16. They're basically mean.

[The Genealogist]

17. They've been taught to be the way they are

It is all learned behavior. I think RW propaganda (boy is there a lot of it out there, especially considering how persecuted these people think they are) has been the main factor in creating what we have. I know very few people who lack at least some kind of grievance about how their lives are. Maybe they don't have the job or the mate or income they want. Like loose threads. RW propagandists are especially adept at finding all the little threads in people's lives and weaving them into the most vulgar tapestries imaginable. As many jobs vanished from America and went overseas, RW propaganda was there to exploit it. Many people who were brought up around racists, and RW propaganda was there to exploit it.

[Doodley]

27. Good analysis. The propaganda plays on their fears and teaches them not to think for themselves. You

can never have a reasoned discussed with a hard-core Republican. They believe things without evidence and without logic, because that is what they have been told and it aligns with their prejudices.

[procon]

18. It's like they never were taught the basic lessons

of caring and sharing we learn in childhood. Republicans are still functioning at a selfish preschool level; they have never outgrown the 'me and mine' phase.

I don't know if those adults can be taught to see that being selfish is antithetical to any flourishing society. Our success as a nation depends on getting more opportunities for as many people as possible to rise to their full potential. This is what drives revenue and keeps our middle class growing to fire the engines of business and growth.

Denying people assistance and aid by preventing the vast resources available to state and federal government from improving lives, is a path to no where.

[Ninga]

20. Sadly, I believe their brains are wired to be predisposed to be selfish and ignorant slugs. Nt

[wiggs]

21. Yes. And perhaps they think dems are just as bad because selfish people project the

same tendencies onto others. R's probably think everyone else would cheat, lie, steal, oppress, suppress, grift, or generally turn their heads away from unfairness to the same degree they do.

[dawg]

22. Why is water so wet?

At this point, it's definitional.

"Conservatives" stopped bearing any resemblance to the dictionary meaning of "conservatism" a long, long time ago.

[kairos12]

23. From the beginnings of our country

conservative financial interests recognized their hoarding of the country's wealth wouldn't sell as political message. As a result, they devised a plan that has played out for 200 plus years:

1. Never reveal their true intentions (hoarding of wealth and power).
2. Find a front group they can dupe to broadcast a hateful message (tea party recently)
3. Find a group to target. It has been the Irish, the Catholics, the Masons, African-Americans, immigrant, etc.
4. Find a conspiracy message that can never be disproven at least according to group #2 from above (election fraud).

This playbook is as predictable as it is effective. Liberals and/or Democrats have never found a way to counter this strategy, at least for the long-term.

It has been true all my life and is unlikely to change.

[Doodley]

28. Very true. A propaganda of hate supplied by R/W radio and Fox to benefit the big business that

funds Republican lawmakers.

[Cyrano]

32. Climate change may just end their deadly game

They've pissed off Mother Nature and their ideology will not save the world from the consequences. After all, Mother Nature can't be bribed.

The bad news is that it may mean that humanity will go the way of the dinosaurs.

Nonetheless, the Earth has been around for a few billion years and will last another few billion years. Perhaps a more enlightened species will come to be that will treasure the planet, life, and sanity. It seems to me that the symmetry of the universe requires the existence of benevolent beings, a state of existence which seems to escape our grasp.

[Wicked Blue]

24. The word conservatives should be reframed as Selfish Ones.

I wish I could think of a catchier name, but my brain is a bit foggy after yesterday's cooking marathon.

[DFW]

26. Exactly. I refuse to think, speak or post in Republicanese.

For someone to say that they "take a conservative approach" to something doesn't mean they want to re-institute the Spanish Inquisition or the Confederate States of America. It just means they take a cautious approach. That has nothing to do with putting kids in cages or trying to get away with paying employees $1.75 an hour.

I am your classic conservative, at least as defined in a dictionary of the English language (as opposed to Republicanese).

I still work for the same outfit that recruited me out of college in 1975. I have been with the same wonderful woman since 1974. We have raised two solid, intelligent children who have grown up, think independently, did well in their respective colleges, and have jobs in which they earn their own living, have stable, long-term relationships, and are well-respected in their chosen fields.

I am risk-averse, and do not like to make rash, un-thought-out decisions. I have no debts. I have no addictions, not even to alcohol, religion, gambling, or nicotine. My favorite American philosopher is the 18th century Thomas Jefferson.

I am the epitome of “conservative.” Why am I a Democrat? Simple: I do not believe that having a different ethnic background, belief, or income makes one a superior or an inferior being to myself.

I refuse to let Republicans and Fox Noise redefine English words for me. I am not a "kommanist" and they are not conservative.

[Doodley]

29. You are right. For example, the UK Conservative party was dubbed the "nasty party."

in the 90's and 2000s, redefining it and helping Labour win power.

[Wicked Blue]

30. Nasty Party sounds good

Some people might "accidentally" confuse it with Nazi Party.

[Mr. Ected]

25. They don't want to share their stuff with brown or black people

So their tortured interpretation of the Constitution instructs them that sharing isn't only unconstitutional, but antithetical to what the founders intended our nation to be, namely, every man (and woman) for themselves. The concept of an American society does not exist in their worldview, except to the extent that "white people need to stick together".

On the other hand, they do want to impose their morality and beliefs on everyone else by mandate. They're not willing to compromise their beliefs, thus negating any opposing points of view.

[Yeehah]

31. The super-rich want to keep us divided and they take advantage of gullible people

with pervasive right-wing propaganda.

[Cyrano]

33. In reality their propaganda machine is effective and brilliant

And if we don't (soon) find a way to surpass or destroy it, it will just be a matter of time before they own everyone and everything.

Why is it that bullshit is so easy to spread, while truth is a virtually hidden commodity?