Is Conservatism a Mental Illness?

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Permalink Reply by John R.(Dick) Troll on April 11, 2009 at 2:15pm

Joe:

I may not know much but of one thing I am certain. Mercifully, Sarah Palin will soon have little or no influence on ANY political, economic or social issue of importance. Instead she will occupy that special place reserved for folks like Dan Quayle and Harriet Myers. People totally unqualified to even be considered for an important office- struck by the lightning of someone else's bad judgement.
However, in politics there really IS a rough hewn free market where only the strongest survive. In the rough and tumble of REPUBLICAN politics, she will be outclassed by others who broadly share her beliefs but have some understanding of where those beliefs originate.

Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on April 10, 2009 at 12:25pm

What is interesting is that these agencies are tools of our own federal government. These are funded with taxpayers money which is paid for not only by progressives but also the particular group being studied. In essence, our government is demonizing political beliefs for what purpose? One could assume to stigmatize those who don't fall in line that government knows best. We have all seen how history plays out with governments demonizing political opposition: Chavez, Castro, Stalin, Hitler.

So I will play along with this study and act as if it is true. What is the proposed solution we do to treat this mental illness? Should the adults be required to see paid psychatrists to be better examined in what treatments will change their mind? How about goverment start putting out tv ads and newspaper promotions warning the "other" citizens to stay away from Conservatives and Libertarians. No better yet, the government create a database to monitor these peoples movements and make sure they are not "acting up".

These government officials should be fired for producing propaganda pieces like this in order to establish disorder against other citizens. Goes to show you how much the 90 year progressive movement in government is at its tipping point and why citizens are pissed.

Permalink Reply by Annie Sever-Dimitri on April 10, 2009 at 12:35pm

I just would like to say that as someone with a Master's degree in social work and who has spent countless hours counseling people, those who are more flexible and open minded tend to deal with life's ups and downs more effectively and be more mentally healthy. We were taught that in grad school, and my experience backed that up. People who allow others to be themselves and appreciate diversity also tend to be mentally healthier because they accept others for who they are, and accept themselves more easily also. When individuals are homophobic, racist, or believe that their religion is the best for everyone, that is when they get nasty and bitter. Like Genie, I too do energy work and have never had the experience of another in my field behaving hatefully. I agree with her that we are across the board a liberal group. I do have Republican brothers, and I wouldn't classify them as mentally ill. They do just tend to be pretty set in their ways, which doesn't always serve them well. These are just my observations.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Wilcox on April 10, 2009 at 1:13pm

Bill Maher's panel last week hosted David Frum (Bush speechwriter), along with another conservative writer and Sam Donaldson from ABC. A comment like this came up, and the writer, Reihan Salam, made an assertion that social issues
(which many conservatives hold so dearly) take a toll on the economy in tangential ways. This explanation was used to explain why some conservatives voting strictly for/against certain social issues are not necessarily "tunnel-visioned" in their approach. This is a similar to the ideology that the Green party subscribes to, that environmental problems influence economic and social issues.

Personally, politics and religion hold a certain loyalty, no matter which side you subscribe, your version is better because that's what you know. I think fear and dogmatism can be tied to both conservatives and liberals, and we see this exemplified in all the tug-of-war on Capitol Hill, to the detriment of the taxpayer.

Permalink Reply by John R.(Dick) Troll on April 10, 2009 at 1:57pm

Ryan:
Your comments ring true for me.

Permalink Reply by Kyle Capron on April 10, 2009 at 1:36pm

How typical. If we dont think the way a liberal thinks we are mental disturbed. And they are the ones that like to call us closed minded. They can not accept that fact we just belive in our cause and are willing to defend it, not ask everyone what they think, and then rework their oppion to apeal to the masses. So let me get this straight I am mentally disturbed and I need to go to a shrink so I can give up my individualality and think like everyone else. Lets all step up and drink the cool aid. Thanks, but no thanks.

A government big enough to give you everything you need is big enough to take everything away.
Thomas Jefferson

Permalink Reply by Dave Gibbs on April 10, 2009 at 2:53pm

Kool-Aid.

Permalink Reply by Kyle Capron on April 10, 2009 at 2:57pm

ooooooooooooooooooops, I try and stay away from the stuff. I quess they are not cool cigarettes either.

Permalink Reply by Dave Gibbs on April 10, 2009 at 3:06pm

That's right. :)

Permalink Reply by Scott Semester on April 10, 2009 at 3:41pm

Also, "A government big enough..." appears to be from a 1974 Gerald Ford speech, not from Thomas Jefferson.

Permalink Reply by Kyle Capron on April 10, 2009 at 4:41pm

Thank you for pointing this out to me. I should have verified my source, rather that to repeat what I saw on a tee shirt with T.J.'s likeness and name on it. I will try and be more careful in the future.

The natural process of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground.
T.Jefferson

Not to pround in admitt that I was mistaken.

Permalink Reply by John R.(Dick) Troll on April 10, 2009 at 5:43pm

Kyle:
Many times when I have made mistakes I have not had the courage to acknowlege those mistakes. Your courage helps set a tone for how we discuss things. And this tone is more important and more valuable than the particular topic under discussion.
Thanks

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