Is conservatism a choice?

[midcan5]

Is conservatism a choice?

This controversy has often puzzled me and there does not seem to be enough scientific information to decide one way or the other. If conservatism is genetic then our hopes for a free, generous, well adjusted, fair society are constantly in jeopardy. Characteristics:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...politics.shtml

PS I wasn't sure whether to place this thread in Religion/Ethics as controversial topics such as this have a greater impact on the type of society we have than even homosexuality.

[Little-Acorn]

Well, that's a new and different way of injecting lies and smears about conservatism into an innocuous-seeming post. Nice work!

To continue as though the original question had been intended seriously instead:
Yes, conservatism is a choice. You can choose to be honest, pull your own weight, help the people around you, learn from your mistakes, and place some societal goals above your own personal goals. Or you can be a modern liberal: Rob your neighbor, "protect" him from learning from his mistakes, remove his incentive to work hard and do better, charge him for the "privilege" of being "helped" in all these ways, punish him for going otside your "guidance", control more and more of his life until he becomes completely dependent on you and afraid to use his own judgement on anything, and force people at gunpoint to do all these things themselves whether they think it's a good idea or not.

Conservatism is absolutely a choice, one that we all make. Only the consequences of that choice, are inevitable.

[stang56k]

Is conservatism a choice?

This controversy has often puzzled me and there does not seem to be enough scientific information to decide one way or the other. If conservatism is genetic then our hopes for a free, generous, well adjusted, fair society are constantly in jeopardy. Characteristics:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...politics.shtml

PS I wasn't sure whether to place this thread in Religion/Ethics as controversial topics such as this have a greater impact on the type of society we have than even homosexuality.

That isnt conservatism. That is what the Bush regeme has tainted conservatism to seem like by going against the traditional conservatism views. This is the true conservatist www.ronpaul2008.com/ by stritly adhereing to the constitution.

[stephanie]

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

All liberal traits as far as I can tell..

[mundame]

Is conservatism a choice?


* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......................

I don't think you have figured out the essence of conservatism, midcan. Conservatism is the drag on change in society; it's the opposite of radicalism. Conservativism slows change down, and a good thing, too, or we'd be running madly in all directions constantly.

[theHawk]

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

How on hell would a way of life be "inherited"? Everyone makes their own choices in how they want to live their life.

[avatar4321]

Is conservatism a choice?

This controversy has often puzzled me and there does not seem to be enough scientific information to decide one way or the other. If conservatism is genetic then our hopes for a free, generous, well adjusted, fair society are constantly in jeopardy. Characteristics:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...politics.shtml

PS I wasn't sure whether to place this thread in Religion/Ethics as controversial topics such as this have a greater impact on the type of society we have than even homosexuality.

Glad to see liberals are looking for a way to explain common sense away as some genetic disorder that will requires the elites to commit genocide against anyone with this "disorder".

And we are supposed to be the nazis. What bullcrap.

[avatar4321]

How on hell would a way of life be "inherited"? Everyone makes their own choices in how they want to live their life.

cant accept that premise or else the Gay agenda will be invalidated. Besides this justifies widespread murder of conservatives.

[theHawk]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......................

I don't think you have figured out the essence of conservatism, midcan. Conservatism is the drag on change in society; it's the opposite of radicalism. Conservativism slows change down, and a good thing, too, or we'd be running madly in all directions constantly.

Conservatism has nothing to do with preventing change in society. That is the most idiotic definition I've ever heard.
Conservatism seeks to change from immoral to moral, from wrong to right. Or if something is already done right, to keep it that way and preserve it.

[DragonStryk72]

Is conservatism a choice?

This controversy has often puzzled me and there does not seem to be enough scientific information to decide one way or the other. If conservatism is genetic then our hopes for a free, generous, well adjusted, fair society are constantly in jeopardy. Characteristics:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...politics.shtml

PS I wasn't sure whether to place this thread in Religion/Ethics as controversial topics such as this have a greater impact on the type of society we have than even homosexuality.

Unlike Clinton's blatant fear mongering?

Do you think it's a choice for you to completely keep skipping over what I've said previously, or are you purposely being this ignorant? I've answered every question you've had on this point, but apparently, I'll never be anything but the same conservative as the other ones you keep slapping me as. I would think you would have had more moral integrity than to keep at an argument after it's been shot down.

[actsnoblemartin]

I dont have a clue what your point is.

Being gay a choice ... yes

if being straight is a choice

believing in a religion or political party, thats a choice

again, what is your point my friend ?

Is conservatism a choice?

This controversy has often puzzled me and there does not seem to be enough scientific information to decide one way or the other. If conservatism is genetic then our hopes for a free, generous, well adjusted, fair society are constantly in jeopardy. Characteristics:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

So the question I want to ask here of the conservatives, do you think you chose this way of life or was it inherited and you have always been this way?

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/r...politics.shtml

PS I wasn't sure whether to place this thread in Religion/Ethics as controversial topics such as this have a greater impact on the type of society we have than even homosexuality.

[Hobbit]

If anything, I'd say liberalism, not conservatism, is the mental disorder. They hate Christians for claiming that homosexuality and fornication are sins, with modesty being a virtue, yet cozy up to Muslims who execute people for fornication, homosexuality, and a lack of modesty. They decry anybody who even knows OF any white supremacists, but make excuses for any non-white racist. Or how about the very definition of insanity, as liberals continually promote and vote for policies and practices that have repeatedly been tried (here or elsewhere) and have failed utterly, all thinking that they might just work this time. Isn't the very definition of insanity trying the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

[Little-Acorn]

I dont have a clue what your point is.

Being gay a choice ... yes

if being straight is a choice

believing in a religion or political party, thats a choice

again, what is your point my friend ?

He doesn't really have a point. That's not unusual for him.

He was merely tryng to find a way to call conservatism names and attribute false characteristics to it, while disguising his post as somehow intelligent discourse.

[avatar4321]

He doesn't really have a point. That's not unusual for him.

He was merely tryng to find a way to call conservatism names and attribute false characteristics to it, while disguising his post as somehow intelligent discourse.

im not sure building a case for genocide can really be considered intelligent. atleast in my book its not.

[gabosaurus]

Anyone can criticize liberals. It's all this forum. But try to go the other way and you are a crazy idiot who makes no sense.

Doesn't anyone ever get tired of the whole "conservative vs. liberal" bullshit? Or is that simply a catch all to dump all problems and situations that you don't understand?

If you response to pretty much all political/social arguments is "well, liberals suck!", then your cranial cancer has spread far beyond all hope for remission.