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MicaelS

(8,747 posts)
29. I think article speaks to the issue.
Tue Mar 11, 2014, 01:35 PM
Mar 2014
Why working-class people vote conservative

But on matters relating to group loyalty, respect for authority and sanctity (treating things as sacred and untouchable, not only in the context of religion), it sometimes seems that liberals lack the moral taste buds, or at least, their moral "cuisine" makes less use of them. For example, according to our data, if you want to hire someone to criticise your nation on a radio show in another nation (loyalty), give the finger to his boss (authority), or sign a piece of paper stating one's willingness to sell his soul (sanctity), you can save a lot of money by posting a sign: "Conservatives need not apply."

Even on the two moral taste buds that both sides claim – fairness and liberty – the right can often outcook the left. The left typically thinks of equality as being central to fairness, and leftists are extremely sensitive about gross inequalities of outcome – particularly when they correspond along racial or ethnic lines. But the broader meaning of fairness is really proportionality – are people getting rewarded in proportion to the work they put into a common project? Equality of outcomes is only seen as fair by most people in the special case in which everyone has made equal contributions. The conservative media (such as the Daily Mail, or Fox News in the US) is much more sensitive to the presence of slackers and benefit cheats. They are very effective at stirring up outrage at the government for condoning cheating.

Similarly for liberty. Americans and Britons all love liberty, yet when liberty and care conflict, the left is more likely to choose care.


A lot of men I know have a very definite view of right and wrong, and the idea that issues are only endless shades of gray is anathema to them. The fact that many liberals are anti-death penalty means they are viewed as being "soft on crime". In other words being labeled as a liberal means you have a weak or poor moral compass. And many men do not want to be identified as having a weak or poor moral compass.

Too often liberals are seen as caving on personal freedom, which many men value highly. Many men have a strong libertarian (small L) streak for personal freedoms. Look how various people on DU want to to severely restrict or ban guns, erotica, tobacco, vaping (e-cigs), etc, all in the name of "the greater good", with nothing in return to the individual.

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One of the main factors, imo opiate69 Mar 2014 #1
So it's an image problem? ElboRuum Mar 2014 #3
Well, another thing I've noticed is, opiate69 Mar 2014 #5
To the first point... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #7
Yeah, I've noticed that DU doesn't always gel real well with the actual, objective outside Universe. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #9
Many on DU are into self-hussling, like monkeys at the San Antonio Zoo... Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #36
The difference between white men and white women isn't that significant Major Nikon Mar 2014 #2
Possibly... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #4
I understand that part Major Nikon Mar 2014 #14
Honestly, in my experience political divisions break more on geographic and religious lines Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #6
Well... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #10
I hear you. And it's a question which has been broached, in various forms, in here before I think. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #12
80% is far too high hfojvt Mar 2014 #45
I prefer dissident. westerebus Mar 2014 #8
OK... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #11
I will have to get back to you. westerebus Mar 2014 #13
Good morning. westerebus Mar 2014 #27
The current system DOES need change. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #28
Liberal is what sense? In what context? westerebus Mar 2014 #31
Actually, none of those things... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #32
The identification "liberal" does not exist in a vacuum. westerebus Mar 2014 #33
And yet, more speeches. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #34
I have answered your question. You refuse to accept my answer. westerebus Mar 2014 #39
No you have not. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #40
Most of the "reasons" are actually self-justification. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2014 #15
Conservatism endears itself to the idiocy of male machismo. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #16
+1 YoungDemCA Mar 2014 #17
Interesting, but not at all what I'm talking about. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #18
I'm not hijacking the thread. I'm giving you an answer. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #19
Your answer fails to answer the question... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #20
I suppose talking about the 80% of men who voted for Romney was accidental? Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #21
Not accidental. Illustrative. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #22
To accept an ideology but refuse the name implies some sort of associational shame... Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #23
I don't know if it is 'shame' per se. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #24
I'm a Freudian at heart so you have my bias. Gravitycollapse Mar 2014 #25
I think because a "liberal man" has feminine connotations the_working_poor Mar 2014 #35
I've never thought of it that way. Liberal men are sexy. Fridays Child Mar 2014 #38
That probably is at least a part of it... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #41
I grew up in an earlier time when most people in the South were Democrats Major Nikon Mar 2014 #26
2 reasons for lack of I.D. with liberals... Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #37
Good points. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #42
Unfortunately, I think "emotional remoteness, physical violence and anti-intellectualism" is nomorenomore08 Mar 2014 #43
I think article speaks to the issue. MicaelS Mar 2014 #29
Interesting points. ElboRuum Mar 2014 #30
Well CFLDem Mar 2014 #44
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