Monday, January 17, 2011

Conservative or liberal; you make the call

My daughter, Emily, is in her first year of college. She’s at the University of Georgia. I would have preferred the University of Tennessee, but what’s a dad to do?

She knows I’m conservative, and she has always been very proud of her liberal ideals. She’s been ecstatic since President Obama took office and has supported his quasi-socialist agenda, including a redistribution of wealth. (She was pained when he sided with Republicans to extend the Bush tax cuts.)

Now those of you with kids in college, or have had kids in college, know there’s a very liberal mentality that permeates most campuses across the country, and Georgia is no exception. After sitting in on several lectures, she came to the conclusion that I must be some sort of uber-conservative for always railing against what I believe are blatant attempts to turn this country into a socialist nation.

Emily was home over the Christmas break and decided she would challenge me on my opposition to higher taxes and the need for more government entitlement programs. She kept referring back to a particular lecture for support for her argument.

Out of nowhere, I asked how she was doing in school. Now, Emily has always done very well, so I wasn’t shocked with the answer. She fired back with that condescending tone she takes when she has an answer nailed down that she had a perfect 4.0. She started complaining rather quickly right after the proclamation about how difficult it is to maintain, given her tough schedule and that she had to study constantly to keep it up there. She said she didn’t have any time to really enjoy being away at college because she was always studying.

So I listened politely, like a good father does, and then asked her how her roommate was doing. She said her roommate was barely getting by and might flunk out. She said she’s always out partying and doesn’t show up for half her classes because she’s too hungover.

I knew the answer I was going to get. I set her up like a bowling pin. I told Emily to go to the dean’s office and ask him to take 1 point off her grade point average and give it to her roommate.

That way, both would then have 3.0 GPAs. Boy, was she ticked.

I got an earful of how crazy an idea that was because she works so hard to get her grades and her roommate doesn’t do anything to earn hers, and basically, I must be losing my mind for suggesting such an outlandish idea.

I just smiled and said, “Sweetie, welcome to the conservative side of the aisle.”

I have to stop here to let you know the story above was sent to me by my wife, Sue. I wish I could take credit for it, but it was sent to her in an e-mail.

However, if you can think of a better example of the difference between a conservative and a liberal, I’m all ears. The e-mail she sent contained the following as well, and I thought you might enjoy reading how other people define the differences.

If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one.

If a liberal doesn’t like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat.

If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.

A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. 

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.

A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

And that’s where we stand today, folks.

There was absolutely no doubt in anyone’s mind that health care needed reforming, but what we ended up with is a socialist policy that requires us to pay for health care for all. It’s time to repeal the health care bill.

So the question stands, are you a conservative, or are you a liberal?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

One of your best articles Stan - Thank You Sue! Well I am a Conservative no doubt about it. I can thank my Mother that got involved in politics in 1925. A great woman and lived her whole life as a Republican.

Anonymous said...

Stan your article is the perfect example of the need for changes in politcal dialouge and the lack of willingness of some (aparently you) that fail to try and realy understand the views of others who may think diffrently than they do. Your grossly inaccurate and condesending charaterazation of liberals showed a complete lack of understanding of the issues of the day. To try and categorize all liberals with silly quips should be beneth someone with your uncontested pulpit. Sound bites for mases. Weak Stan- very weak.

Anonymous said...

Really, Stan? Passing off an hackneyed, ages-old chain letter as original material?

There's a big difference between someone who parties their way to a 2.0 GPA and someone who (like the average American) works hard every day, then suddenly finds themselves too sick to work, and then unable to pay their bills or keep a roof over their heads because they lost their insurance.

But I'll answer the question. I'm a liberal.

I have no problem with gun ownership. I've fired a Tommy gun, it was kind of fun. A number of my left-leaning friends are gun owners and enthusiasts.

I'm a vegetarian, and I don't care what kind of meat you eat.

"Legislated respect" for homosexuals? I wish equal rights didn't require legislation, but apparently they do. Good job, though, parroting this tripe on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

I don't wonder who's going to take care of me, I wonder how I'm going to take care of myself. I do wonder who is going to take care of other people, though.

I haven't heard a lot of liberal talk radio that sounds like screaming "fire" in a crowded theatre. That being said, I don't agree with calls for Beck and Limbaugh to be off the air. They should be accountable when people act on their violent rhetoric, though.

I'm an atheist, and I don't care what myths you believe. I just don't want you using my tax dollars to spread your folklore (kind of like you don't want your tax dollars going to abortion).

The difference between you and me on health care is that I see my fellow human beings sick and dying, losing their jobs, losing their insurance, or being denied care in favor of financial decisions, and I want the government to help them when business refuses to. You'd rather let them die in order to have someone who makes more than you do pay a bit more in taxes.

I don't look at people who have lost everything due to illness and think that they're lazy and begging for a handout.

I can't carry them all to an inn, pay for their treatment, and check up on them, Stan, but at least I'm not content to pass by on the other side of the road.

Unknown said...

comhradh,

It's been a while.
Since some of my readers may not know you I thought it best to clear up a couple of points.
First, I didn't try to pass off the parable as my own. I made it very clear I received it as an e-mail from my wife.
Second, you honestly believe that Beck and Limbaugh should be held accountable for people who allegedly act out based on something they said?
Really?
Really.
What ever happened to being responsible for your own actions?
And finally, you have no idea of my charitable contributions throughout my adult life so please don't speak to my contentedness.
Of course, you just proved my point for me.
When a conservative sees someone in need he quietly helps when he can. Apparently, at least in your case, when a liberal sees someone in need he pretends he wants to help, but complains about not being able to, cries that the government should take care of everyone, and accuses the conservative of not helping without knowing the facts.

Anonymous said...

Right on Mr. Huskey!

The sybil said...

As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. Dismissing some people's beliefs as "tripe""myths" and "folklore" and labeling other people's concern as "crying" and "complaining"and wanting the government to take care of "everyone" gets in the way of looking at the real problem.

Stan says in his post that "there was absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that health care needed reforming". True. Some parts of the health care act still needs reforming, which is why Congress is wasting time posturing and blustering. Congress needs to do the serious work of figuring how to cover people who do want and need health care insurance, what to do about people who wait until they are sick, and how to pay for it in a fair and equitable manner.

A lot of ideas have been made by serious and legitimate experts, but nothing seems to get through the screen around the Beltway. What we all need to do, both liberals and conservatives, is get together and tell Congress to get back to work and do the right thing, not what the insurance company lobbyists tell them to do.

Running Back said...

One of your WORST articles, Stan, and that's saying something.
On the flip side, I would suggest all of you check out Gordon Glantz's piece in the Jan. 23 edition that is direct response to this bologna.
It not only breaks down the difference between right and left, but illustrates how an article should be written with an elevation of intelligence.

Anonymous said...

Step back, Running Back.
I think Gordon and Stan are both guilty of preaching to their choirs and missing the point.
Stan brushed with such a broad stroke, and apparently used a chain e-mail to do it, that it only serves to cause more division and less civility. What purpose did it serve?
Gordon tried to take to high road and mostly achieve his goal, but he couldn't help but throw his typical cheap shots than cheapened his otherwise profound effort.
Stan's borrowed remark about going out and getting a job with better health care might be cute fodder at a country club while those serving you appetizers and washing your dishes are the only non-white faces in the place, but it is nonsense. Unemployment is around 10 percent. Underemployment even higher. No figures on those in constant fear of losing their homes. Being that flippant about getting a different job, like choosing Coke over Pepsi, is sad to read from an editor of a newspaper.
Gordon, though, quoting a killer like Ted Kennedy? You are better than that.

Anonymous said...

We already pay for health care for most of the people. Who do you think foots the bill for people without health care who go to the emergency room?

Your list to identify conservatives and liberals is ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

At least he didn't quote Ted Kennedy!

Anonymous said...

A Conservative, yes in deed. The endorsement last eve was interesting. Castor, as I know him is a great person. How he sees County Matters sometimes is questionable. We already know how he will react and a little about Brown. We do not have any idea who will be running against them. Now, no matter which party you associate with keep your eyes and ears open and clear so that this fall you will have NO DOUBT when it comes to voting.

Anonymous said...

Most Committee People - both parties are either working for the State, County or Township. Sooo, count them and of course you will come up with the correct people taking over Montgomery County. Chester County is also in the same position.

Anonymous said...

It makes no difference when it comes to Party affiliation. Most people that run for office will be what ever you want them to be until they are elected. It takes courage to say "No" I do not agree with any opinion presented for adoption. See you at 3PM today - Dem.vs Rep. should be interesting.