Aripyanfar wrote:
Silent show of hands inside your own heads as to whether you can see why I think she might be just a little like them, or not. The people on the "not" side might like to express vocal support.
There are social conservatives, and there are economic conservatives. There are people who are conservative on some issues, and not others.
You've started a fair few posts with "I'm not a conservative, but...."
I'm not a communist but ..
I'm not a green activist but ..
I'm not a conservative but ..
Just because I agree with certain aspects does not make me a conservative.
Aripyanfar wrote:
There's also this conservative trait, to worship the rights and freedom of the individual, (me, or people like me) above any intelligent form of cooperation for enlightened-self interest reasons, or simply consideration for what is fair for all concerned. A lack of length of farsightedness in recognising that if you invest long term and widely spread in the welfare of other people, you get even longer term, higher economic returns back, not mention a more peaceful and civilised society.
I am truly socialist on this aspect. We are all responsible for society as a whole. We all need to invest in society in monetary and personal time investment to reap rewards.
I support the welfare state and I support all the mechanisms which were introduced in the United Kingdom to remove the need for basic wants.
Aripyanfar wrote:
Secondly, a conservative trait to blame others for behaviours that they have been driven into by the bad behaviour of other people towards them in the first place. A blindness to recognition that people cannot grow without being shaped by their environments.
A tendency to tar everyone in a cultural/racial/socio-economoc group, with the actions of a few of their misbehaved brethren.
Well I think I have posted quite clearly on several occasions that such thinking is not something I beleive in. In fact I have argued against people who have taken that stance, Nitalai for one with his views on immigrants to the UK.
Aripyanfar wrote:
Lastly, another Cult of the Individual thing. An idea that the charisma of a single person makes them a more fit leader than their personal social/economic policies, even more importantly (in the English/Aussie system) than their party social/economic policies, and than the intelligence, communication and organisation of their management support team.
Oh sure, in reality charisma or a reassuring dullness gets you elected. But the smart liberals are voting on the ISSUES.
Edited, Mar 10th 2009 8:49am by Aripyanfar
Now you are confusing my reflection on human nature with my voting preferences.
I clearly stated that I do consider the leader to be an important and vital part of any voting decision, but I also stated in order on what merits the party gains my vote. The Leader is the last consideration but critical .. once the policies have been considered.
The BNP could have the most charismatic and visionary leader to ever walk this earth and I would never vote for him as the policies of the party are beyond insane.
Conversely, the Conservatives have a very presentable and charismatic leader but the policies are not clear and some of those that are, scare me. I am just suffering the terrible choice of 2 evils at the next Election, more terribly tired Labour or risk a Tory government and hope the damage is not too severe.