Duality - Do you feel the tension?

[litewave]

CONSERVATIVISM <-------> LIBERALISM
Differentiation <-----------> Unification
Individualism <------------> Collectivism
Justice <--------------------> Mercy

Conservatives have a keen sense of differences, uphold them, emphasize them and keep them in structures. Liberals look for similarities and commonalities, try to reconcile, remove or downplay differences and relax structures.

Conservatives emphasize individual differences, freedom and responsibility. Liberals emphasize togetherness, mutual help and care.

Conservatives focus on rules and consequences of one's actions and uphold them even if they are painful; this is justice. Liberals focus on freedom from rules and consequences and try to alleviate pain; this is mercy.

Economic policy: Conservatives prefer economic individualism - free market and little redistribution of wealth; people get what they earn. Liberals prefer a more collectivistic economy, with larger redistribution of wealth and measures to help the needy and disadvantaged. The conservative direction stimulates individual initiative but can lead to reckless competition and suffering of the weaker people. The liberal direction alleviates the suffering of the weak and, if possible, helps them return to economic activity, but may also suppress individual initiative of many.

Abortion, death penalty, euthanasia: Conservatives hold that an unborn baby is innocent and therefore deserves to live, while the criminal on death row is guilty and therefore deserves to die. Liberals' preference for mercy will lead them to minimize suffering: abortion is permissible because the unborn baby's undeveloped consciousness limits its ability to suffer, at least in earlier stages of pregnancy, and anaesthetics can be used to remove possible pain to the baby during the procedure. In the liberal view, this can be better than having the baby suffering later when it is born unwanted or having the parents, particularly the woman, suffering as a result of pregnancy and having a child they don't want or can't take care of. Death penalty is less supported by liberals because of the criminal's capacity of suffering before or during the execution. On the other hand, liberals are more willing to support euthanasia ("mercy killing") if the patient wants it in order to end their suffering. For conservatives euthanasia undermines the value of the individual and the rule that an innocent person should not be killed.

Homosexual rights: Conservatives defend the differences between a man and a woman, heterosexual union and existing family structure. Liberals are less likely to stick to these differences and structures. Their support for homosexual unions is also influenced by the fact that change of sexual orientation is difficult, if not impossible, and discrimination against homosexual people causes them much suffering.

Illegal immigration: Conservatives are less likely to forgive law-breakers and are concerned about the impact that illegal immigration may have on their personal wealth, employment and on existing ideological structures. Liberals are more likely to emphasize the humanness of the illegal immigrants and include them in society.

Foreign policy: Conservatives tend to be more hawkish (militant and uncompromising) to the enemies and in defense of the national interest, which may lead to arrogance. Liberals are more dovish (conciliatory and empathetic), which may lead to appeasement.

Environment: Conservatives are more likely to see the natural world as separate from and inferior to man and available for man to use freely in order to secure his needs and interests. Liberals feel not only greater connection between people but also between people and nature, and strive for a better protection of nature.

Interpretation of religious scriptures: Conservatives tend to interpret scriptures in a more literal way, preferring clear definitions and structure and noting the differences from other religions. Liberals' interpretation of scriptures is more metaphorical and ambiguous and less dogmatic, giving them more flexibility in applying them in their life and reconciling them with people of different religions.

Ending with the following parallel:

CONSERVATIVISM <-------> LIBERALISM
Masculinity <---------------> Femininity

[Celtaur]

I don't feel the tension personally, but I can see that many do. I choose to take a stance back and see the game for what it is.

I live in Canada and have no liking of either the conservatives or liberals. It seems that these two are diametrically opposed to one another and have a main interest of winning the battle to get to the top for personal reasons. I'm tired of one attack after another, and find politics to be a strangely illusionary thing. I think politics is very dirty and with the top two, representing both good and evil depending on which side one resonates with, it is always about the battle. It's always about what the media loves to focus on, getting under peoples skin so they fight against what they disagree with, and vehemently so. At the top of the game it has more to do with saying what people want to hear, even though they'll be doing what they want when they get in. I don't like to support the battle, it's against my ethics and morals to get drawn into hating the other, and it's so easy to get pulled in.

This year, I am choosing to go another route. Instead of voting for a party because I don't want the opposition to go in, I'm choosing to vote for what I believe. I'll vote in the underdog that holds my ideals on the environment this year, I'll be voting for the Green Party and pleased to say so. Sure, they aren't organized enough to hold a majority of any kind, but I'm fine with that. With my vote I'll be helping them get their foot a little further in the door to help push causes I believe in. Rather than putting my focus on what I am against, I'll be putting my energy towards what I am for. If I chose to vote for one or the other main teams in the battle, the same game would continue anyway of arguments, corruption, lies and generally unethical, unproductive behavior. I've watched over the years, one party go in then the other, back and forth and things are generally not to my satisfaction either way so, I won't bother giving my vote to either. It is definitely sad that the current government won't allow the Green Party to part of the debates, with 9-10% of the vote surely millions could benefit from what could be brought to the discussion. I think it's important for more voices to be heard, to open dialogue on areas that could make small shifts in thinking that could be meaningful.

I think if people chose to put their attention towards what they are for rather than what they are against, the world would be a much different place. Politics brings out a lot of hate in people in general, a lot of disdain and general unpleasantness. I find it quite ridiculous how people who have a bias will fight tooth and nail to defend anything and everything their side of the coin has done, while attacking anything and everything the other side of the coin has done. To me, its the same coin, just different faces.

There's not much wonder religion and politics is so difficult to pull apart in the U.S. With a system based on 2 polar perceptions of good and evil, with us and against us views, with no voice for a more balanced alternative, the tension will continue. Until people choose a new way of seeing things, and choosing things, not much will change. The game of ego's battling for power to the top will continue from the top of the pyramid down to the base.

[Celtaur]

Good news for an alternative voice to be heard. The leader of the Green party may get a chance to actually be in the debates this year. She was pushed out with non-sensicle reasoning by the big two, but with the promise of going to court over being shunned, she may get back in.

Another point I wanted to make about the extremes of differences pointed out above, is that I think that it becomes quite hyped up by the media. There's a lot of money to be made by having people fight over their beliefs. It creates a lot of jobs for commentators and draws a wide audience. People love to hate I think, even if they are not aware of it, mostly what they are doing is focusing on what they are against, and the media brings the game with heightened perceptions into everyone's living rooms with great rewards of financial success.

[Haruth]

...even if they are not aware of it, mostly what they are doing is focusing on what they are against, ...

Of course. How obvious it seems! I had never made the link - but that is exactly what happens.

No-one votes in a positive way any more, supporting a political ideal which they believe in. Instead, it seems most choose to vote against policies with which they have no truck!

No wonder voter apathy is at an all time high - since all politics, mix-and-match style, now appear as vague, subtle shades of the same watered down hue...

Well, certainly here in the UK they do...

[Echo]

Agreed Haruth. Sometimes it takes a glimpse in a different mirror to see thngs clearly. I hadn't made the conection either!

( I see you are burning the midnight oil too)

[HuongNhien]

Since I live in California and have the added bonus of being "ruled" by the "GOVERNATOR" the only rational and humane thing I could do was to register with the "Peace and Freedom Party". It truly has given me peace and a feeling of freedom knowing those in the media spotlight are not speaking on my behalf.:p

[Celtaur]

I just wanted to correct a statement I made in an earlier post here.

I think the statement "People love to hate" is a bit overstated and blanketed. Rather, I think that people are conditioned by society to focus on what they are against, and this often develops emotions and reactions in many with dispute as a focal point. This brings out a seemingly natural tendency of many people to emphasize opposition which often becomes very hateful in their opinions and interactions with others. This often displays outwardly in what could be considered as people having a strong desire for opposition, and may be viewed as unconsciously "loving to hate".

It is of my experience that many people "Love to Love". It is simply a shame when we see people drawn into the mosh pits of opposition to such degrees that they are unaware of what they are contributing to. It is as a spell of unconscious, egoic self righteousness overcomes people hooked by powerfully conditioned ideologies that create a veil over their lighter side, but exposes their darker side.

There is so much more power when people look for their similarities and celebrate those, expand on those and work together to create positive outcomes. When we do this we become so much more productive, than we do when we are in battles of opposition.