This post is a bit of
self-exploration. In the recent election season, I have been thinking
a lot about the divergent views of conservatism and liberalism, what
lies at the root of each, and what is positive and negative about
each. Mostly, though, I've been asking the question of why I have the
biases that I do. Ultimately, those biases are much more liberal than
they are conservative. However, this is by no means an attempt to
convince anyone that my views are correct, it is rather a
self-examination, to try to understand why I think the way I do. So
without further ado:
I think there are two major issues
responsible for my liberal bias. First, the conservative emphasis on
free-market economy translates, to me, as encouragement of
profit-driven consumerism, which is entirely against Christian
values. Related is a general mistrust of of anyone who values
business and profit over people. I don't trust someone who inherited
his daddy's business to understand what life is like for someone who
lives in a trailer park surrounded by drug addicts and child
pornographers.
On the other hand, an alternate
conservative narrative is that of the hard-working struggler who
pulled himself up by his bootstraps, a narrative which I can relate
to. However, this narrative seems to have been co-opted by liberal
parties.
The second issue that concerns me
about consevatism, indeed it angers me, is an implied necessity for
cultural homogeneity. Conservatrism seems to be equivalent to middle-
and upper-class white values. This, too, is far from Christian
values. Biblically, all man and all cultures are equally created in
the image of God, and all reflect that image in some way. They are
also all equally fallen, which means that middle class white values
are not the only legitimate values.
Moreover, and more deeply-seated, such
cultural homogeneity is an affront to my sensibilities as an
intellectual, writer, poet and generally creative person. Creativity
lends itself to questioning, challenging, and sometimes outright
defying the status quo, Conservatism violently defends the status
quo, it seems.
These two issues, of profit-focused
consumerism on the one hand, and fierce demand for cultural and
social homogeneity (which means white middle-class values) deeply
disturb me, and I believe they are the source of my bias against
conservatism.
There are many other reasons, no
doubt, but as I realize them, I can explore them further here on this
blog. As a preview, though, one thought that has occurred to me
recently has been that both conservatism and liberalism are based on
fear. The fear goes in opposite directions, but it is the same for
both. Conservatives fear abuse and bullying by the government - but
they fear this because it hurst the businesses that fill their
coffers. Liberals fear the abuse and bullying of big business and
other private sector organizations, and look to the government put
reigns on these abuses. I think more exploration of this will have to
be another post, however.
