“But I was one of those right-wing conservatives myself - as promoted by ideals in my religion. You know, not charitable, uncaring for other classes of people, and unable to understand the hardships others go through, elitist, always thinking I had the solution for everyone. Thinking everyone had to follow my world view and if they didn't, they were somehow deficient and deserving any hardships they faced. Right-wing in a nutshell. “
Funny, before I read your last senstence, the profile sounded pretty “liberal” to me. Interesting how you see liberals as “charitable, caring, able to understand hardships.” Pretty loaded. Sorta “sheep versus goats” view, if you asked me. During the Reagan years, I was in college, and pretty much influenced by the very liberal views of the college professors. When the topic of a potential draft came up, one liberal professor told us to “tell them you’ve got a date.” Another lamented Reagan’s win, saying “all we women will be back in the kitchen wearing aprons.” I didn’t (and still don’t) understand her (liberal) fear. The cold war ended, the economy improved, the Berlin wall came down, the USSR once and for all was dismantled and no longer post a weapons threat for the first time in decades. I certainly did NOT see the liberal college crowd and faculty demonstrating any great "caring, sensitivity, charity," or in the remotest sense understanding "hardships." The college profs were all weathly, well educated. We students were fresh-faced, supported by parents who could afford to send us there...where exactly was their "understanding of hardships?"
“The difference in me as a liberal is I don't bash them for it. I don't feel a need to punish them or boycott their work.”
The issue I have with such individuals is that they want the best of both worlds. They use their celebrity status to speak out to a WIDE audience. Without that celebrity status their views would hold as much interest as yours or mine. Okay, they want to air their views. But, when not everyone agrees with them, or makes a decision not to buy their products/entertainment, they cry FOUL! " Where’s my freedom of speech?" They’ve got it, for sure. But so does everyone else. If people want to disagree with THEM they are free to. And, if consumers of their products decide not to buy them, that’s THEIR right. That is the only meaningful voice the individual has. Unlike the celebrity.
“It doesn't really harm anybody. But when celebrities start running for major offices with no real qualifications, where their opinions and decisions can actually affect millions of lives, it gets pretty scary. Especially when they are celebrities with a knack for being charming and winning votes, but have no real qualifications for the job.”
Well, it seems to have taken a career politician with all the “right” qualifications to screw up a state. I’m not sure, therefore, that your argument is too compelling.
