Reply #121: I agree with you, to some extent

[Cats Against Frist]

I mean part of what pre-disposes someone to be conservative in the first place is an amazing psychological defense mechanism -- which, if the conservative is argued into a corner -- replaces all logic and discourse.

What I do, when I run into a conservative is turn into a libertarian. I AM, technically a libertarian, but a left-wing one, who believes in the cooperative, the commune and the union -- but what I generally do, when I confront a Republican is show them the myriad ways that the Bush-type Republican is actually a right-wing authoritarian, and that that is NO DIFFERENT than the left-wing authoritarians.

Some democrats have stated here that they would ask a Republican: "why is it that you believe that we should legislate morality, but not legislate the morality of helping the poor?" The question could be as easily reversed, to be asked to a Democrat. Also in the context of: "Why do you believe people should be "free" to do whatever they want, except for with their hard-earned money?"

This is why I am a libertarian. In the words of Dieter, from SNL's "Sprockets:" The setup has become tiresome.

So, what I generally try to do is explain to the people that the GOP isn't libertarian at all, but quite corporatist. Many, MANY of the GOP people are that way because they've been taught to hate the government -- why? If you point out to them that the right-wing is a bunch of corporate authoritarians, it makes a dent.

UNLESS...

They are freepers or religious right types, in which case, I am THOROUGHLY convinced that there is no "middle ground." I mean, if a person says, "I am better, more civilized, and stronger than you, and I will exploit you to meet my needs, or try to make you live by my way," (which works for both supremacists and Christians) and they have no problem with this -- there's not too much you can say. It's a fundamental difference in philosophy.

Which is where you turn to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At that point, in dealing with Conservatives, it's important to have a firm grasp of the conflict between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, and the COMPROMISE that became the Constitution. It is VERY important to know about the Anti-Federalists, and Thomas Jefferson and Rousseau and the Bill of Rights and the Enlightenment, because right-wingers have been COMPLETELY BRAINWASHED by quote pages that have "taught" them that the U.S. was founded on Biblical Fundamentalism.

And then you tell them that they're the tools of big-government fascists, no different from the big-government left, and the intellectual, elite of the right wing, which is no different (just meaner) than the intellectual left they feel look down on them. Their heads usually explode, at that point. If you start talking about Strauss and how their own neocon leaders have contempt for them, it gets even better.

BUT, as you said -- to get to this point, you have to first minimize the possibility of them throwing up their defenses, which takes tact.