Why are conservatives so violent?

[Clintonista2]

You never see this sort of stuff from the left. Do you think that it's their general lack of substance/ideas that leads to resorting to violence, or do you think that the conservative ideology just attracts violent people? What do you think the reason is?

[Ken Burch]

1. It's largely the sense that they, and they alone, know the "truth"

And that anything is justified in the the triumph of said "truth".
They believe they are above elections, above democracy, above having to accept
that the majority has the right to disagree with them.

And some of them hope for "the Last Days", and probably think they can get it started
early.

[Kitty Herder]

2. The left generally abhors violence unless it's absolutely necessary.

We're the ones who protest against the wars. The right doesn't share that non-violence as a value, so they're more likely to engage in violence.

[SusanaMontana41]

3. Because they appeal to the worst in us. n/t

[old mark]

4. Many on the extreme right believe they are being directed by god, and many are

racists and bigots who hate others for no reason. Many times they are the same people. They BELIEVE rather than think, and we are the evil ones who must be destroyed to redeem America (?)

They extreme right pretty much relies on leftists being non-violent. I frequent several gun-related sites with heavy RW ideology (if you go looking for it) and like to let them know that Democrats own guns, too.

They have a lot of fantasies about killing lots of unarmed and squealing liberals (No joke - they really say stuff like that when they are among "their own") and the idea of lefties resisting the RW revolution sort of confuses them...of course many of them are confused rather easily.

mark

[mwb970]

5. They lack intelligence.

People who lack intelligence always, always, always resort to violence. They have to. They can see that their arguments aren't working, but they don't know why. The next step is to start shooting anyone they don't like.

Costa Rica is looking better and better to me. At least the people there are sane. And, they have a much better health care system than we do!

[Bitwit1234]

6. Since 1994 til 2007 they ruled and they can't get over

the fact that the Democrats took the house in 2007. Even tho the Democrats had a hard time getting stuff thru bush and the rest of the republicans they have been upset ever since. They think they are the ruling class.

[LARED]

7. You never see this sort of stuff from the left.

is a bit of a stretch.

Both sides have had less than stellar moments.

http://openleft.com/diary/13589/political-violence-in-america

One final caveat: if you look back at the history of political violence in America, as I do in my book The Progressive Revolution: How The Best In America Came To Be, there is no question that progressive-minded folks have also engaged in political violence. The Revolutionary War, the Civil War and World War II were all led by progressives and you don’t get much more violent than a war (not that I would have opposed those wars, I would have supported them). John Brown in the 1850s believed and fought for a violent slave rebellion, and occasionally leftist leaders in the 1960s went over the line and committed acts of violence. And anarchists assassinated William McKinley in 1901.

Having said all of that, though, it is also undeniably true that there is a dangerous and virulent streak of violence and fascism in American conservatism, now and throughout our country’s history.

[SusanaMontana41]

24. OK. During the Revolutionary War, progressives were violent.

During the Civil War and World War II, progressives were violent. (I thought it was a given that, during war, all sides are violent. Apparently you agree. So why list wars as examples of progressive violence?)
During the 1960s, progressives were violent. (They were beaten by cops, they were bitten by police dogs and hosed by fire departments. If you're referring to anti-war rallies, many of them were peaceful ... until the police and the National Guard showed up. Remember Chicago in 1968? How about Kent State in 1970?)
In 1901, President McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist. (Anarchists are progressives? I thought progressives believed in the government's ability to help people. Anarchy is 180 degrees from that.)

So, exactly what violence has the left perpetrated lately? How about a current example of thuggish behavior by progressives?

[immoderate]

8. Term that's out of style -- inferiority complex.

Know it when I see it.

--imm

[eShirl]

9. they are being whipped into a froth from many directions

[WVRICK13]

10. They Are Brainless

being brainless they use what they have brawn and bullying.

[anAustralianobserver]

11. Xenophobia? Sexual shame? Right now it's cause they're SORE LOOOOOZERS

and they feel foolish realising that Obama couldn't be all the things they were brainwashed to believe about him.

Surely at some point they'll give up Limbaugh et al. when they've had their fill of masochistic humiliation and want to rejoin their country (and the human race)?

[havocmom]

27. Ya had me until that last bit of silliness

No, they won't give it up and join us. There is just no hope for the kind of delusional state they are in.

Hey, we need to read more from you. Refreshing to read someone who just puts it out there! :hi:

[athenasatanjesus]

12. They support the ruling class...

..so it pays the ruling elite for their side to always be the ones more angry about everything.

[Echo In Light]

13. Authoritarian personality disorder

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7997001&mesg_id=7997702

[Therellas]

14. most certainly IDEOLOGY.

its a trajectory thing.
violence is where they just end up.

[DailyGrind51]

15. "We" gave up violence following Kent State in 1970.

[Vinca]

16. Generally speaking, they aren't the sharpest tacks in the box and

are easily directed and manipulated by right wing radio/television hate mongers who are trying to accomplish one thing: the generation of more money into their own pockets. Greed above country.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. Were you around in the sixties?

The left back then was quite violent.

It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. I'm too young to remember details ....

but is there any commonality between the two situations? Fear and anger, obviously, but what is/was at the root of each, in your opinion?

Are there any common factors between the two situations and overall political/social/economic climate?

Just really curious.

Thanks! :hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

22. There were all manner of gun toting people with basically left leaning views back then

Patty Hearst is one example. The Black Panthers are another. The Yippies. The (famous) Chicago Seven. Etc.

The groups were diverse in their issues and not at all unified, so answering your questions becomes a matter of writing a social compendium of the era. There were many differences.

The right was mostly of the "America, Love Or Leave It" rhetorical, slogan shouting mind set.

Mostly, the Sixties were, in the broadest sense, the flip side of today's situation wherein the left was locked and loaded and the right were, at worst, name calling. No, it wasn't an exact mirror image by any stretch, but close enough to make the broad statement true.

[SusanaMontana41]

25. And COINTELPRO

trumps that list any day of the week.

Black Panthers toted guns LEGALLY to show whitey that they could defend themselves, yes? It didn't keep Fred Hampton from getting murdered by the FBI, unfortunately.

Chicago Seven toted guns? I don't remember that. (Not saying you're wrong ...) Did they use them? I do remember the Chicago goons/cops turned loose on peaceful protesters during 1968. I also remember the nomination of a pig for president. How could they have known in 1968 that a pig would be exactly what we got for president in 2000 and 2004?

:patriot:

[City Lights]

18. They are the ultimate sore losers and believe that the end justifies the means.

They will do or say anything to get their way.

[Orsino]

19. Most of 'em aren't.

You see a lot of cowardly bully-talk, though, from wingnuts who aren't even brave enough to be a cowardly bully.

They love the empty-headed, jingoist swagger of their soft, pasty "leaders." Keyboard commandos, all.

[lunatica]

20. They're angry mob members looking for an angry mob

So they can act out.

[HopeHoops]

23. For the same reason that a three year old will throw a toy when he doesn't get his way.

WWWHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!

[eShirl]

26. That's why I call them the Tea Toddlers.

[omega minimo]

28. 30 Years of Hate Radio and Reaganist Lies = Orwell's Two Minutes Hate, Germany before Hitler

[Betty Karlson]

29. They are not conservatives

They are revolutionaries - only the kind that wants to take the country in a wholly unsuitable direction. But revolutionaries all the same.

Real conservatives - as defined by Burke - are people against change for the sake of change and in favour of change for the betterment of mankind. These conservatives, these days, are found on the left. And Edmund Burke is spinning is his grave.