Conservatives fear change and progress, so their ideology is inherently irrational

[Ardent15]

I know I'm stating the obvious here, but it bares repeating. This is why conservatives hate scientists, "activist judges", and whoever changes the status quo.

Reality has a liberal bias because in reality, there is no status quo.

[anonymous171]

1. I fear change and progess.

Mostly because I am afraid of certain individuals' definitions of "progress" and "change."

[ashling]

2. Conservatives are just fearful people

given to irrational phobias about all sorts of things.
Mostly, I think they are afraid that someone somewhere will benefit.

[mwb970]

6. So many of the things they are terrified of are just plain false.

Like "Obama is going to take all our guns", and so many others. It's crazy (literally). The process seems to be:

1. Imagine some horrible, awful thing that some Democrat might do (it doesn't matter if it's actually legal or politically possible, obeys the laws of physics, etc.).

2. (The Critical Step) Come to believe it is true. The paranoid fantasy can be most easily converted to "truth" by (a) exchanging heated e-mails with like-minded friends and family about the coming disaster, and (b) hearing it discussed with extreme outrage by Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, or someone else who is Always Right.

3. Overreact to the "threat" to the maximum degree possible.

Then rinse and repeat.

The things we despise bush for are things that actually happened: he did invade Iraq for no reason, he did spy on us illegally, he did authorize torture, etc. The things the Freepers and other right-wing wackos depise Obama for are things that they have made up themselves to scare each other with, like kids around a campfire. It's pathetic.

:crazy:

[Mist]

3. I've heard the expression "Life IS change--growth is optional." I'd say conserv-bots have

opted out of growing. Which is why they often remind me of backwards 6 year olds, except that they're backwards 6 year olds who vote, hold office, and own most of the media.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Status quo ante

Things as they were before...

Conservatives are the retards of change.

If it was up to them, we would still be part of the British Empire...

[OHdem10]

5. Conservatives "conserve" the status quo.

[handmade34]

7. may be obvious

but it does bear repeating and understanding. Fear is about losing something that's comfortable and safe and I get why conservatives are fighting change.

It is a scary world at times and many people would be lost if they had to live in another's world; get by with less money, loss of priviledges, have no support system, have to answer to another person, not knowing where they will sleep tonight or when they will eat next. ...and many lack the ability to 'see' beyond their own understanding of the world. This is one reason why religion is so powerful; it offers reason to people who refuse to or can't imagine change or concepts different that what they have experienced so far. Humans are complex and ritual and sense of place are so very important to our humaness. In order for this to work, we must be open and respectful of other's experiences and realities, while at the same time needing to rein in actions and attitudes that are harmful to society as a whole: no easy task.

[OHdem10]

8. Excellent Points.