I *finally* got a chance to ask a conservative this question:

[Marr]

Or rather, I should say- I finally got an answer. I've asked this question to other self-described conservatives before, but they've always either changed the subject or refused to answer. Anyway- here it is:

A conservative acquaintance of mine was talking about corporate regulation, and how it ruins things. He said we should deregulate business in this country alot more than we have- in fact, he said we should, "deregulate it completely". He said the free market would take care of everything. If only he had his way, everything would be better.

I said we needn't *imagine* what such an environment would be like, because we *had it here*. I urged him to look at the 1890's, or the roots of the labor movement in the the early 1900's- that was unregulated capitalism, and it was hell on people and society in general. It was hell on the economy, too, for crying out loud. So I finally asked my question: "how can you endorse total corporate deregulation when we can just look back a century and see that your claims hold no water?"

His response: "But we still have businesses abusing the system. Regulation hasn't solved all the problems".

A mind like a light switch. It's either on or off, up or down, total Utopia or Cheneyville. Nevermind that regulation has done alot better than total deregulation- it hasn't solved every single problem so we may as well scrap it and go back to kids in coal mines.

Anyway, I was just floored by the stupidity and thought I'd share it.

[demosincebirth]

1. We would be like India...where 80% of the citizens live on $2 a day

...where they have unbridled capitalism

[NYC]

3. Is that current infortation?

Just wondering.

[physioex]

7. Yes that is a very accurate description.....EOM

[demosincebirth]

17. I read that a week ago at some research groups site.

Didn't think it was important enough to bookmark.

[NYC]

19. At least you remembered it.

Thanks for reporting it.

[Mind_your_head]

21. Infortation?

Is this just a mis-spell or ???

[NYC]

22. Yes, I need reading glasses.

Information. Alas.

[Mind_your_head]

23. Phew....thanks

I thought perhaps I might be missing a whole big slice of some new concept ;-)

:hi: and peace

[pooja]

4. Is that not where our jobs went anyways

[physioex]

8. Yea no doubt..........

Use to be a person could earn an upper middle class wage with good IT qualifications. Now all the jobs are gone.....

[Poppyseedman]

9. Complete nonsense

many other factors play into the state of the citizens of India.

India actual rates fourth in the world in PPP (Purchasing power parity)

http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/gnp.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity

[NYC]

2. Thanks for sharing

the stupidity that floored you, but I have to say I encounter enough of it on my own. I find such things exasperating.

I think you handled it well. You gave it a good shot.

[Mythsaje]

5. Would you rather solve SOME of the problems

or none of the problems? Sure, regulation doesn't fix everything, but it's a damn sight better than the alternative.

[Minnesota Libra]

6. I often wonder how neocons survive long enough..........

....to reach adulthood.

I truly think some people are too stupid to think rationally for themselves and they make the perfect neocons. Have you ever noticed neocons focus on one main issue and sometimes that one issue has nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

Example; A neighbor in my apartment building was suggesting she didn't like the Iraq War. When I challenged her as to why she still claimed to be a Bush supporter her answer was, "Oh yes, I support our President because he is against abortion." I couldn't help but say, "What does abortion have to do with the war in Iraq?" Her answer was, "Our President is a Born Again Christian." I changed direction then and said, "So it is ok to commit murder by sending young men off to war based on total lies as long as you are against abortion?" My neighbor's answer was, "Well yes, President Bush is a Born Again Christian and he doesn't believe in abortion." I couldn't help a parting shot by saying, "I can tell you've thought this out thoroughly." And I walked away.

I overheard someone explaining to her that I was being very sarcastic.:rofl:

[swimmernsecretsea]

10. It's as if when they hear certain words

a taped message starts to play and they open their mouths so everyone can hear it, no longer thinking about what they're saying. I encounter this frequently.

...Iraq... click:
I support the President and our troops. Why do you hate America?

[Nay]

18. That's exactly what it's like, and it's called "brainwashing."

they don't have to stick you in a jail cell and beat you until your mind cracks. These people voluntarily sit down in front of their teevees and gladly do it to themselves. That is what is so maddening.

[teknomanzer]

29. Why do they call it Brainwashing?

Shouldn't they call it brain-mucking? or something to that effect. I'm in favor of a "clean" mind free of the contaminants of misconceptions and irrational beliefs, dirt on the brain as it were. Bring on the "scrub-brush" of critical thinking and self examination I say.

[otherlander]

12. It's like trying to talk to a brick, isn't it?

I got into a conversation with some guy this one day about the Iraq war, and he said, "I have a daughter your age." Then he went off on a thing about his daughter's best friend's father and how great he was. And I said, "oh. okay...." And then he went on to say, "Unfortunately he was killed on September 11th." And that was pretty much his main line of argument for anything I would say. It's the omniexcuse, isn't it?

[FairVotes4all]

28. A brick is smarter than most neo-cons

9/11 is the excuse they pull out when they have nothing else...

[B Calm]

32. It's called brain malfunction, caused by drinking toxic sludge water

from unregulated capitalism!

[Jazzgirl]

11. I have a coworker that I generally refuse to talk politics with.

He decided he wanted to discuss Iraq the other day. I tried to change the subject but he wasn't havin' it. He asked me if I agreed that the Iraqi's were better off without Saddam because now they were free to have a democracy. I said free??!!?? Right now they're free to have maybe two hours of electricity a day, maybe go find a little water, duck bombs, bullets, and kidnappers, women now have to be escorted everywhere and can't drive, worry about death squads, live in filth because their sewer systems are jacked, and they also have an opportunity to give away all their oil! They are now free to have a theocratic government if they stay alive long enough to see it! I couldn't believe he still thought they were better off now because they had a "choice". I just can't talk to that man. :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[LostInAnomie]

15. Don't you just love their false dichotomies

As if the only options were to either leave Saddam in power forever, or to invade, destroy the infrastructure, and then have the most ham-fistedly ran occupation ever conceived.

That's how the Repukes think though. It's either black or white, good or evil, with us or against us. There can never be another choice because that would lead to deliberative, rational thinking.

[yella_dawg]

13. My approach to a small business owner.

I've managed to convince him that it's not the liberal conspiracy that is regulating, it's the big companies and corporations that push regulations to guard their own slice of the pie. Six more months and I'll have this rushbot convinced that socialism is the key to saving society.

[many a good man]

14. I believe its a matter of ideology over practicality

Some people identify with a particular ideology. This belief system becomes their standard way of looking at the world. Anything that challenges their rigidly held beliefs becomes an attack against them and all they stand for in this world. Like religion, it becomes a matter of faith and they will defend it to their last breath.

This is in sharp contrast to the general philosopy of rationalism in which decisions must be guided by reason. We don't have perfect knowledge so we must always be ready to study the affects of our actions and re-calibrate when necessary. In other words-- practicality.

Ideologues always lead us in one direction: off a cliff. Reason leads us to a better future.

[Marr]

16. One common theme I've noticed is a cult-like belief in the

"free market". Again and again, you'll hear the sentiment that 'the free market will balance everything out'. As if it's just magic.

Low wages aren't a problem because people will simply refuse to work for a certain rate, and companies will compete for the labor by raising wages. Abra-cadabra!

Global warming isn't a problem because Exxon needs to consider their public image to compete in the free market, so voila! They'll take care of it.

I say it's cult-like because these arguments almost always fly in the face of reason, if not actual evidence. I agree with you- it's a devotion to some ideological point. Usually a very simple, very stupid one.

[tabasco]

24. Due to pervasive and massive propaganda by the super-rich.

They want to be kings and queens again.

The rest of us serfs.

[Mind_your_head]

25. Words that should be set in stone......

"Ideologues always lead us in one direction: off a cliff. Reason leads us to a better future."

Although SOMETIMES (rare)....'reasonable people can appear to be idealogues' (a caution to people who want to remain sane, yet live in a "topsy-turvy" world....like NOW)

[leftofthedial]

20. most of the problems--by far the worst problems--we still have

are in deregulated industries

what a tool

conservatives should not be allowed to walk around unmonitored. they are a threat to the planet every time one of them gets loose.

[Roland99]

26. Sounds just like their response when bringing up rampant GOP corruption:

"Well, everyone in D.C. is corrupt!"



:eyes:

[Mind_your_head]

27. Yep....and perhaps the answer is "YES".....they seem to be ALL corrupt now

and that is 'not okay' with me/us.

Time for a change....

I trust that the 'very tiny' minority of truly trustworthy representatives/senators can withstand the test of time/truch and 'hang in there' (and thank you for your service ~ truly)....you will survive these most vile of adversaries if you are true to your innermost beliefs ~ which are based upon love, sacrifice....did I say love?

[rman]

30. "we can't solve all problems, so we better not solve any problems"

The occupation of Iraq, War on Drugs, NAFTA, etc - also don't solve all problems, so... on those matters we should stay the course.

Perfectly sound RW logic.

[B Calm]

31. Republicans = Corporate Freedom and Individual Responsibility

Democrats = Corporate Responsibility and Individual Freedom