A short confirmation of what “conservatives” really care about
Georgetown University recently completed a poll that asked Democrats, Independents, and Republicans what concerned them most.
Check out this graphic from the GU article on the poll:
Look at what Republicans care about most—Freedom! Nothing else comes close. Now look at what Democrats care about most—Responsibility and Respect. (Independents, as befits their in-between and indecisive character, care about everything less intensely.)
As I pointed out in a few recent posts, “conservatives” use BS slogans like “Small Government” and “Low Taxes” to camouflage their underlying desire for power, which they believe only exists to get one’s own way. This is what they mean by “Freedom,” which is really an adolescent drive to be free of all restraint. In fact, what they really mean by “Freedom” is “License.”
Democrats, on the other hand, care most about Responsibility and Respect, two things that civilized society needs to run well. That too proves my point that Republicans really don’t care about civilized society. They would rather be able to do what they want and let everyone else go to hell. Oh, and did I mention that the US just crossed the next milestone of deadly COVID statistics: 900,000 dead. But Republicans can’t be bothered to wear masks. Because Freedom.
Take a quick look at the Preamble to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Note that Liberty isn’t mentioned among the purposes for the Constitution until sixth and last. This is because it is the least necessary and most limited of the six. The imperfect union that was in effect before the Constitution couldn’t work; justice is an unlimited good;Tranquility is absolutely necessary, lest there be unrest; Defense goes without saying; and Welfare is another unlimited good.
But Liberty is not like these. First of all, it is not an unlimited good. Too much Liberty is bad for people, as any prudent person knows. Second, it must be constrained in order to society to work. People have to adjust some of their rights to balance the rights of other citizens, and they have to give up some of their rights to government to have even-handed and efficient distribution of benefits and punishments.
Liberty is a fine thing. But no government can have it as its first principle because the very nature of government limits it and makes it secondary to Justice and other concerns.
So, as usual, Republicans and “conservatives” are wrong to be so concerned about Freedom. They should try to care more about the things Democrats care about—like Responsibility and Respect. But that would conflict too much with their thirst for power.
So I guess we all have to suffer until they are well and truly beaten at the polls.