From: best@anasazi.com (Mike Best)
Subject: Re: The Difference Between Conservatives and Liberals
Organization: Anasazi Inc, Phoenix AZ USA
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 19:18:10 GMT

In article <1992Sep28.192004.15594@nntpserver.chevron.com> jviv@usmi01.midland.chevron.com (John Viveiros) writes:
>In article <1992Sep23.193009.29717@anasazi.com> best@anasazi.com (Mike Best) writes:
>> [Gems deleted]
>
>Sorry to disagree with you AGAIN Mike, but this is not accurate.  I've
>been trying to come up with a simple statement of the differences
>between liberals and conservatives, and have yet to succeed.  If
>conservatives support individual rights, then what about the homosexual
>who wants to teach?

No need to be sorry, it's more fun if _somebody_ disagrees.

Individual rights do not supercede the good of society either.  It is the
question of the private good versus the common good.  That both Conservatives
and Liberals make this value judgement is inarguable, the question is
on which side do they most often stand.

Tough question, are homosexuals dangerous to children?  I don't think so
but some parents are understandably worried.  I would _not_ say that
even Liberals would be in favor of defending the individual rights of
a chronic child molester to be a kindergarten teacher.  So you see, the
question is not decided easily and this is why the Constitution is so
vague - the Founders wanted us to be able to have flexibility to decide
how we wanted to live.

>What about the guy who wants to smoke a joint and isn't hurting anyone.

Good point, I would agree as long as I didn't have to support him if he
became disfunctional.  At that point my individual rights are infringed.

>What about the woman who wants the right to her own bodily functions.

Valid as long as the unborn is not a human being, if it were then her
right to her bodily function does not outweigh the right to life of the other.

Hmm, does PeeWee Herman have the same rights?  Why do we object - do we
even have this right under the liberal approach or even the individual
rights approach?

>No, sorry, it's not individual rights that conservatives (certainly not
>those in power) are trying to support.

Unfortunately, you are partially correct.  However, they do support some
individual rights such as the right to liberty in the form of less
government involvement in our lives.  They also are unquestionably on
the side of the individual when it comes to property rights (the right
to pursue happiness).  The liberals want to confiscate property (including
money) and redistribute it to _groups_ whereas the conservatives would
like to allow the individual to keep more of what he/she earns.

I have a problem with the "group-think" that liberals do and specifically
when it is applied to rights.  I cannot abide by group rights as it is in
direct conflict with individual rights.  It sounds nice to talk about 
women's rights or african-american rights but such rights are defined by
the State and not by the individual.  One is then subject to the rights
granted to the group which he/she belongs to and there will never be 
absolute equality of rights between groups.
>Other incongruous facts:
>Why do liberals think abortion is okay, but capital punishment is wrong?

or vice versa with conservatives.  I would fall into the latter category
and defend it on the basis that the fetus is innocent whereas the 
convicted person is not.

>How can someone who is pro-life think abortion is okay if we don't
>approve of the father (rape and incest makes killing the baby *okay*!)?
>On this theme, it's not really pro-life that conservatives are concerned
>with, it pro-responsibility (whether the woman is "at fault" for getting
>pregnant).  I really wish someone would try to dispute these last two
>sentences, because then we have some true comic relief.

I agree, there is a certain pro-responsibility element here too.  However,
the right to life of an innocent human is the issue and the question
is when does the "thing" become a human.  When one concludes it is human
then it must be accorded the same rights as any of us.

>Please add your own examples to this list.

Can't this is getting long...

Mike Best