Why do I think the Way I do?

 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.