I think many conservatives/right-wingers think a lot of social problems are CAUSED BY

[raccoon]

liberals/liberal attitudes, when in fact the social problems have always existed, but as a society we didn't talk about them.

The social problems society used to didn't talk about and swept under the rug, for the most part, include:

Domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, incest.

Rape, especially date rape and acquaintance rape.

Alcoholism/drug abuse among "nice" people.

Add to this list if you want to.

I guess what I'm saying here is that our society as a whole used to be in a lot of denial about these social problems. Those social problems were quite prevalent in previous generations. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in denial right now, or is just misinformed. These things certainly were not CAUSED BY liberals or liberal attitudes--but I think that's the way some of the conservatives think.


edited for spelling

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Rec!

Couldn't agree with you more. They DID exist - there was just nothing to help/stop/treat folks back in the day.

A Rape Crises center in 1865? Don't think so. . .. Doesn't mean it didn't happen - it did.

[FSogol]

2. True. Also because they were little kids in the past and were too young to hear what was going on.

People should read some newspapers from the year they were born. They'd be surprised at how similar all the issues, crimes, and problems appear.

[OHdem10]

3. They do not believe the mess. They have been fairly successful

as painting Liberals as Godless and Amoral.

For example: Where are the most divorces--the Sun Belt.
Where are strongest and more lasting marriages??
Mass--yep New England.

[Vogon_Glory]

13. Gentle Correction re: Sun Belt

I don't mean this as hostile criticism or attempted bullying, but perhaps substituting the term "Bible Belt" for "Sun Belt" might prove to be a better way of poking holes in social reactionaries' pretensions to virtue?

[LiberalLoner]

4. Rec! Intriguing theory - you might be right! I never thought of it that way! n/t

[Vogon_Glory]

5. Denial Is An Integral Part Of Right-Wing Thinking About Social Issues

Denial is an integral part of right-wing thinking about social issues. I'm old enough (55) to remember a lot of right-wing bloviating to the effect that there were no racial problems here in the US before "outside agitators" and "Communists" started riling up colored people.

The same about extra-marital sex. Right-wingers have spun an elaborate BS fantasy about how the 1950's were a time of prosperity and wholesomeness and that boys and girls did not engage in sex out of marriage. Liberals rudely pointing out that teen pregnancy rates in the 1950's surpassed those of today fail to deter wing-nuts from believing their fantasy, and liberals are accused of being degenerates for even daring to bring up inconvenient facts.

Spousal battering in previous generations? Right wing-nuts are in denial. Alcoholism and drug addiction in the 19th century and before--right-wingers want to blame present-day "liberals" for it. Crime and prostitution? Right wing-nuts are in denial (I was astonished later on when I learned just how crooked and vice-ridden many southern US cities and towns were back in the 1920's, 1930's, and 1940's were).

I don't doubt that after the Generation X'ers die off of old age, there'll be some equivalent of today's right wing-nuts claiming how sexually pure, chaste, and chemical-free the Baby Boomer generation was.

Right-wingers live in denial, and refuse to be swayed by inconvenient facts.

:banghead:

[raccoon]

11. Yes--regarding what you said about the 1950's, think of the number of couples who "had to" get

married, the number of babies given up for adoption, the number of illegal abortions performed....

[KittyWampus]

6. In families, the person who talks about the dysfunction is often demonized. Good observation, IMO.

[raccoon]

10. I was that person in my family, the one who talked about the dysfunction and was shouted down,

shushed, ridiculed, etc.

[reformist2]

7. This is why so many want to kill the public schools.

It's not the main reason Repugs attack teachers. The main reason is money. But for the rank-and-file "values" voters, fear and paranoia about what goes on inside the public schools is fueling much of the assault.

[DenverDad]

8. I agree completely

It's assumed by conservatives that we are living in "liberal" times. Conservatives now see themselves as the "counterculture" to the ills of society. This gives them a scapegoat, both socially and politically. When their administration ruins the economy, it's the fault of poor people and immigrants who take advantage of "liberal policies".

[madmom]

9. These kind of things were not talked about in "polite society". This is what happens when

you keep yourself and most importantly your youth from seeing the world the way it really is, aka rose colored glasses, banning books from school libraries, censoring music, movies and TV shows.

[hfojvt]

12. I would add poverty

but I think a case could be made for certain liberal attitudes adding to some social problems, at least as conservatives would define social problems.

In general, there seem to be many liberals in favor of, or more accepting of 1) drug use, especially if the drug is pot, 2) sexual promiscuity, and 3) divorce.