At times...I've wanted *not* to be a liberal

[dolo amber]

Many, many times I've been the lowest of the low in American society. I wasn't born there, but I put myself there by my own poor choices. I've been a single mother, on welfare, drug addicted...you name it.
At times I've wanted to be all "Me Me ME!!"...I've wanted to say "Fuck them, they're poor because they're lazy!"...I've wanted to be the one who looks out for me and mine and forget everyone else.

But I can't.

I can NOT justify making every aspect of my life more convenient while others struggle to merely live. I can NOT justify being *entitled* to certain treatment due to being an American. I can NOT justify being somehow privileged by having a certain shade of skin.

I honestly think that a lot (NOT all)...of RWers are this way. But they lack the *liberal guilt* gene or whatever it is that separates us. I think instinctively ALL of us want to look out for ourselves first, it's just that some of us can go BEYOND base instincts/emotions.

:hi:

[Goldmund]

1. I disagree that this is the defining difference between us.

Because for 99% of those who vote conservative, it's the worse choice for "THEM, THEM, THEM" (singular). Even if they _were_ all about "me, me, me" but smart about it, they still would not be voting for Neocons. The "me, me, me" schtick is simply an aspect of the Neocon propaganda to get votes.

[housewolf]

2. Here's how it looks to me... "us" vs. "them"

RW = "me, me, me and mine"

LW = "us and ours"

It's a matter of how big your "us" is. For the RW, "us" is "me, my family, my frieds, my small community" vs. a very large "THEM"

The left has a bigger "us" - our "us" includes a larger community, counrty and global. Our "Us" is bigger and our "Them" is smaller.

[Solly Mack]

3. I'm a pathetic sap myself

I'm happier when I'm helping others....even if it's just little things. Seriously, how pathetic and cliche is that? It's all the more tragic because it's true. I'm terminally perky* and helpful. Gawds...I may hurl...

Since we're confessing :)


*Yes, my assholishness and sarcasm aside, I'm perky as a speckled pup with a new toy. So there! :P

[dolo amber]

4. Ach Solly...I've lost all respect for you

:cry:

;)

[Solly Mack]

5. Imagine how I feel?

LOL!

:)

[Ksec]

6. You have character dolo

Thats evident. That ability to accept and admit mistakes is what makes you who you are. Most Liberals have that capacity to say they were wrong and go about fixing the problem.

If theres a difference between cons and Libs its that quality. The con will NEVER admit hes wrong, let alone fix his problem. Note Im talking in general terms here

[Solly Mack]

7. Yes, she does! I agree

[dolo amber]

9. Oi, you're too kind

:)

[Carni]

8. It's not guilt with them

IMO... if they insult and judge what they are afraid of becoming (by some accident of fate) they seem to think they can save themselves from taking a nasty trip to the *other side of the tracks* (and many of the rank and file typical Republican voting A-holes, came from said *wrong side of the tracks* in the first place from what I have seen... but they would never admit that)

They have apparently never heard of karma--

I am always very cognizant of how lucky I am just to have a roof over my head and food to eat...because it may not be there tomorrow!

I wish I could achieve a great status of wealth so I could help the poor and do something great.

It hasn't happened unfortunately!

I would never hoard good fortune or take for granted that I had the world by the balls.

Age brings either wisdom (or depression and I am not sure which!)

[Just Me]

10. Liberals care for people, right-wingers crush 'em.

Liberals thrive off understanding situations in order to improve life for everyone.

It's difficult to be a liberal. It requires the strength and courage and graciousness necessary to not only be compassionate but to also act with compassion.

Without liberals, humanity would a far more brutal animal than anything in the natural world.

[OnionPatch]

11. It IS hard to be liberal

That's why there are so many conservatives. It's just so much easier to believe there's nothing to worry about. Think about it, if you're conservative, you don't have to worry about:

The poor: "They're all just lazy anyway"

The environment: "The treehuggers are all wrong about the environment. There is no such thing as global warming."

Civil rights: If you're on their side, they won't be keeping you from the polls or searching your house when you're not home.

Outsourcing/jobs: "The global market will iron it all out. We're Americans, so we'll just magically come out on top."

The list goes on.....