Liberal vs conservative

‘Liberal’ has been portrayed, by the predominately liberal media, as ‘progressive, modern, open minded, compassionate, enlightened, egalitarian, tolerant, and generous.’

‘Conservative’ has been portrayed as ‘backward, stingy, mean, rigid, heartless, selfish, narrow, angry, and fearful.’

Liberal	|	CONSERVATIVE
Most colleges	|
Entertainment	|
Social work	|
Psychology	|	business
ACLU	|
Much of the news media……………………	|	………talk radio, fox news
Spokesmen for the poor and minorities& min	|
18% of the public………………	|	……….40%
Under age 30……………………	|	……….over
[thus] new values…………..	|	………traditional values
Rights………………………….	|	………responsibilities
Socialism…………………	|	………capitalism
Europe………………………..	|	………U.S.
When one person gains, another loses   ………..	|	………false
Those with more are greedy & oppress those with less……………	|	………false

Those with less                                    Those with more

• Tenants ………………………………. landlords
• Labor …………………………………. management
• Consumers ………………………….. big business
• Minorities …………………………….. whites
• Criminals, bums ……………………. ‘society’
• The 3rd world ……………………….. the U.S.
• Under age 30 ……………………..… over

LIBERAL                                                    CONSERVATIVE

• Intellects are usually right ………………… false.
• The media and the colleges are balanced …… they are predominantly liberal.
• An ideal world is possible …………….. naive.
• Since it’s not ideal, blame what is old …….. false.
• If old is bad, new is good …………………… false.
• The old establishment is guilty …………. is praiseworthy.
• Blame or postpone traditional values ……….. fatal.
• People in olden days were simpletons ……. anything but.
• The past is a burden …………… It teaches wisdom, gained at great sacrifice.
• FDR and the ‘New Deal’ saved the country …… false.
• The 50s were dull and antiseptic ……….. some of our best times.
• The late 60s were noble …………..…..… some of our worst.
• The 80s were a time of greed ……….……. no.
• Venerate the young ……………………….. they have their place.
• Adults must understand youth ………..…. and visa versa.
• These are new times ………………….…. not necessarily.
• People are different now ………………… human nature doesn’t change.
• Generation gap ……………………..…… not among well-adjusted people.
• Individualism means greed …………….. false.
• The masses …………………….……….. the individual.
• Security ………………………………….. rugged individualism.
• Revolutionary reform …………………… evolutionary change.
• Change for the sake of itself ……….…. only when appropriate.
• Liberals care more …………………..…. possibly.
• Caring means emotion ………………… not necessarily.
• It means generous …………………….. not necessarily.
• It means permissive ………….……….. It often means strict.
• Matters are complex ………………….. not necessarily.
• People are not responsible for their behavior … they are!
• Life owes us a living ………………….. self-reliance.
• Good intentions are enough …. ..…… naive.
• Be positive …………………………..… be realistic.
• School, work, & life should be fun, easy, and feel good …… partly.
• Love is all you need ………………………………. false.
• Don’t discuss negatives and they’ll go away …… false.
• Authority is bad …………………………… is a fact of life.
• Don’t prohibit something or someone will try it …………. laws are a fact of life.
• Never impose values ……………………. false.
• Tolerate small nonsense ………………………. nip it in the bud.
• More tolerant of panhandling, graffiti, profanity, sexual titillation, gambling, prostitution, drugs, alcohol ……………… less tolerant.
• Use a carrot …………………………….. and a stick.
• Punishment is vengeance …………….. it’s often justice.
• Rehabilitate, don’t punish ……………… punishment is part of rehabilitation.
• Disciplining kids is mean ………………. is basic.
• Teachers, businessmen, cops, landlords should be semi social workers ……………… should   do their jobs first.
• Less emphasis on manners, honesty, good faith …….. more.
• More rights for students, runaways, criminals, derelicts, mental patients, the poor, etc. ……………..the firmness of the past was better.
• A day’s pay ………………………………….. a day’s work.
• Whites have the most prejudiced ………… everyone has prejudice about color, age, class, ethnicity, gender, income, education, occupation, race, religion, accents, lifestyles …
• Forced mixing (busing, quotas) ………………. voluntary mixing.
• Don’t judge people by their appearance …….. It tells a lot

POLITICS

• Government is good …………………….. is a necessary evil.
• Government is under taxed …………..… is overspent.
• Government must play a dominant role ………False, as proven by America & Hong Kong in the 19^th
• The answer to problems is more government …….. The role of government in the U.S. has multiplied over the years, and we are worse off in many ways.
• Money solves problems ……………… not necessarily.
• More foreign aid …….. Unwise aid can promote dependence, socialism, poverty, inefficiency, waste and resentment.
• Don’t export democracy and capitalism ………………… Do – absolutely.

ECONOMICS

• 19^thcentury robber barons exploited the masses … False, the standard of living rose dramatically, charity and private education flowered, and libraries and cultural activities grew significantly.
• Capitalism is taking …………………..… is giving.
• Capitalism is a profit …………………… and loss.
• Capitalism is best for the rich …………  for all.
• It’s inefficient ………………………….… but superior to other systems.
• Capitalism caused the depression ……. the government did.
• Thus government had to get more involved ………. false
• The minimum wage is beneficial ……………. harmful
• Tax substantially ………………….…….. the bare minimum
• The trade deficit is bad …………………. false
• Tariffs are beneficial …………………….. false
• Industrial policy …………………….……. free market
• Price ceilings are beneficial ……….…… they cause scarcities
• Price supports are beneficial ………..…. they cause surpluses
• Public utilities have to be monopolies …………… false
• Automation means a loss of jobs …… and the creation of about as many new jobs.
• Licensing helps workers ……….. False, it overpays some and it lowers the number of jobs.
• The government should create jobs …… False, the private sector is best at this.
• Job security ………………….…………… your security is your skills etc.
• Most jobs are created by big companies ………….. by small.
• Improved working conditions are due to unions … to capitalism
• When unions win higher wages, everyone benefits ….. False, the number of jobs drops, the price goes up, and the wages of the rest of the workers drop.
• A worker should be able to buy the product he makes ………… false.
• If new jobs don’t pay much, something’s wrong ….…………….. not necessarily.
• Help labor …………………………………… by deregulating.
• Laws adding 11^thand 12^thgrades were passed to benefit teens. …….. They were passed to protect union jobs from teens.
• Since communism failed, eastern Europe should try socialism …. False, they should try capitalism.
• Corporations have a social responsibility ……. not as much as we’re led to believe.
• Forgive student and foreign debts ……………. that increases the burden on others.

CLASS

• Social classes mean people are unequal …….… equal but different.
• Classes conflict ……………………………………. they complement each other.
• Class lines are rigid ………………………………. anything but.
• Classes are determined by education, income and occupation. ……. False, by interests, ability, and outlook.
• Class means snobbery ……………………… false.
• Elites are bad ………………………………… not when open to competition.
• The upper class keeps out others …………. always room at the top.
• It has more success and happiness ………. false.
• If the rich get richer and the poor, poorer, something’s wrong …….. not necessarily.
• Everyone wants to get ahead …………… false.
• The lower class is oppressed …………… is carried.
• Equal opportunity will produce equal results ……….……… extremely naive.
• The government should make everyone middle class ……. false.

EDUCATION

• Schools are the primary guides for kids ……. families are.
• Permissive …………………………………..… firm.
• Public education is a sacred cow …………… false, it’s a monopoly – it needs competition.
• It is the cure for poverty and slums ………… false
• It can prepare the lower class for work and adulthood. ………… false
• Social promotion ………………………………… false.
• Public education is the equalizer …….. false, it helps the upper class, and, after the 9^th grade, hurts the lower class.
• More money and staff help students …… Both increased dramatically during the 60s and 70s and test scores fell.
• Students are helped most by: experienced teachers, large budgets, small classes, compensatory education, desegregation, vocational education ……. False, they’re helped most by their attitude and their families.
• A diploma should mean social success, career, mental health. …… False, it should prepare youth for work or college.
• College for all …………………………………… for those interested.
• Public colleges benefit everyone ………….. False, they unfairly benefit the middle and upper classes who should pay for them.  Forgiving student debt makes it worse.
• You can never get too much education ……. false.
• Education breeds compassion ………. False, it was highly educated people that caused both world wars, eliminated 60 million people in Russia, and millions in China, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• Educating wardens was supposed to improve prisons ….. The opposite took place.

RACE

• The U.S. is a melting pot ………….. false, it’s a salad bowl of ethnic groups and social classes.
• Discrimination is the main obstacle to minority advancement. ……….. False, the Japanese and the Jews progressed the most when discriminated against the most.
• Being black in the U.S. holds one back. …….. not blacks from the Caribbean.
• Discrimination caused high Black teenage unemployment. ….. minimum wage caused it.
• Job quotas, charity, subsidies, and preferential treatment help minorities …… False, they are helped by self-reliance, work skills, education and business experience.

CRIME

• Crime is due to poverty ………… False, even during the depression we didn’t have the crime we have now.
• Crime is due to lack of money, education, and opportunity. …….Then big cities should have less crime than rural areas, but they have more.
• Black crime is a protest against whites ………. Not so; most victims of black crime are blacks.
• Riots are a legitimate form of protest …………. false.
• Knee-jerk forgiveness of crimes, debts ………. restitution.
• Many criminals had bad childhoods ……….…. as did their brothers who did not choose crime.
• Find the cause of crime …………………….…. enforce the law.
• A 17 yr. old criminal is a ‘child’ ……………….. is a youthful offender, a delinquent.

PSYCHOLOGY

• Psychology comes first …………….. not necessarily.
• Blame your folks ……………………… take responsibility.
• Problems come from wrong thinking ……….. false.
• Self-expression whenever ……………………… when appropriate.
• Traditional values hamper relationships …… they enhance them.
• Getting fired is the end of the world ………….. false.
• Flee stress and depression ……………………… they are part of life.
• Avoid problems ……………….. face them.
• Instant gratification …………… false.
• It’s hard to spoil a child …….. it’s easy and disastrous.
• Postpone maturity …………….. false.
• Self-pity when things go wrong ……….. get on with life.
• Tough times can break you ……………. or make you.
• Mental patients are sick ….. many are 10% sick and 90% spoiled, immature, and irresponsible.

POVERTY

• Anti-poverty work is new ……………………… false.
• There is a no dignity in being poor …….. One’s dignity doesn’t depend on money.
• An income should be able to support a family ……….. false.
• Wealth is money ………………… Wealth is morale, ingenuity, skills, and capitalism.
• The rich cause poverty …………… false
• The rich exploit the poor …………. false
• The poor are unhappy, trapped, and can’t work. ………….. false.
• They can’t live without welfare and food stamps …….. half do.
• The poor crave work ……………….. They’ve been paid not to.
• The poor can’t find work …………… poor immigrants do.
• Menial work is unacceptable ……. First of all, no honest work is ‘menial’.  It’s the traditional route out of poverty, and it’s vital to teenagers for developing work habits.
• Slums are hopeless for small business …….. not for immigrants.
• Slum conditions are the fault of ‘society’ …… mostly of slum dwellers.
• Decent housing brings traditional values …….. the opposite.
• Slums are hopeless ………………….. not necessarily.
• Banks & chain stores owe slums a branch …….. false.
• Have kids …………… wait till you can do it right.
• Right to welfare ….. welfare benefits should be below the lowest wage so the poor have every reason to look for work.
• Help the needy ………….. the deserving.
• Be generous …………….. meet them halfway.
• The poor can leapfrog menial work with education and credentials ………. Bad advice as every group that got ahead in the U.S. did so by taking menial work and working harder than the class above.
• All social programs help ………. False: rent control creates inequities and a housing shortage, guaranteed income hasn’t worked, and welfare polarizes and breaks up families.
• The poor should not pay income taxes …….. false.
• Redistribute the wealth …………. unwise.
• To redistribute, soak the rich ….. False – they are the manufactures, investors and the most productive.
• Working with the poor radicalizes volunteers …. false.
• Money will cure the slums ………………………. false.
• Mix slums with better areas ……………………. false.
• A social agency should not make a profit …… false.
• Outsiders have no right to impose middle class values on the slums ….. False, such values are universal.

AMERICAN POOR                                      IMMIGRANT POOR

• Live like kings compared to 3^rdworld … have seen real poverty.
• Values from the street ……………… from the family.
• Getting ahead means luck …………. means traditional values.
• Weak families …………………………… strong.
• Become homeless …………………….. don’t.
• Panhandle ……………………………….. don’t.
• Won’t take any job ……………………. will.
• Often poor work habits ……………… superb ones.
• Unskilled & out of work with good English …… unskilled, working with limited English.
• Can’t save money ………….. do & send it abroad to relatives.
• Drop out ……………………….. study hard.
• Reach mid 20s without work ………. without a vacation.
• Rarely start a small business ………. often start one.
• Look to government …………………… to selves.
• Self-pity, resentment, protest ………. gratitude.
• Are ‘alienated’ …………………………… are the true aliens.
• Bored …………………………………….. never enough time.
• Disprove the Am. dream …………….. prove it.
• Raised on entitlements ……………. Raised in countries that had few or no entitlements.

POVERTY SPOKESMEN                                   IMMIGRANT POOR

• Crowded living is subhuman ………….. is tolerable.
• More subsidies ……………………………. fewer.
• Welfare is beneficial ……………………….. is a cancer.
• Decent, ‘living’ wages & benefits …….. impossible with many small family businesses.
• The poor are ‘oppressed’ …………… have seen NO freedom of speech, press, protest,   business, etc. in their countries.
• Yell about rights …………………………….. quiet.
• is discrimination, exploitation …… opportunity.
• Schools ‘fail’ the poor …………………….. the schools are a blessing.
• Crime, drugs, alcohol, illegitimacy, etc. are due to poverty ………… no excuse for these.

TRADITIONAL VALUES

• Responsibility (the most important).
• Capitalism, limited government, the private sector, right to work (non-union), the individual, self-reliance (rather than a welfare state).
• Foresight (thrift, saving, planning).
• Golden rule (reliability, honesty, good faith, fairness, manners, respect for property, authority, elders, and ethnic groups).
• Law and order, authority, punishment, family teamwork, hard work, discipline, diligence, moderation, restraint, wholesomeness, modesty, self-respect, practical education, some censorship, some conformity.

MODIFICATIONS of some traditional values for which liberals get credit:

• More rights for minorities, women, youth, the handicapped & lgbt.
• More openness about battered spouses, the gay world, addiction, child abuse, incest, abortion, impotence, etc.
• More accepting of ethnic diversity and intermarriage.
• More accepting of divorce.
• More use of psychology to get to the roots of one’s problems instead of ‘keeping it all in’ and enduring long suffering.
• More openness about public figures instead of putting them on a pedestal.
• More open minded about premarital relations in long term, responsible relationships.
• More questioning of religion.
• Integrating newsrooms.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Realize our society is not as gloomy as liberals think.
• People in the various ‘classes’ are ‘equal’ but different.
• It’s OK to have more; it’s OK to have less.
• Take the conservative positions in these pages, give liberals credit for the short list above, and take the conservative positions on the rest.
• Make most traditional values your primary guidelines.  Support only charities that promote them.
• Support smaller government and privatization.
• Go over this with your young people from time to time..  Steer them into ‘career counseling’, practical education, apprenticeships, and experience in the real world.