5 ms·

On one hand, you are correct in that the right is more reluctant to use governmental power to improve society. That's in part because they put more emphasis on

On one hand, you are correct in that the right is more reluctant to use governmental power to improve society. That's in part because they put more emphasis on personal responsibility, and in part because they are skeptical of the government's competence. On the hand, I think the right has done more than they usually get credit for. Median real wages rose significantly under Trump. [1] Nixon created the EPA. [2] At an individual level, conservatives donate significantly more to charities, and give blood more often. [3] [1]: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q [2]: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_... [3]: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/conservatives-are-more-giving-than-liberals/ https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/conservatives-are-more-...

CuriouslyC 4y ago
Christians do give a lot to charity, but a lot of those are christian charities that give aid on the condition that you eat a heaping mouthful of bullshit. It's really just a feel good way for them to try and proselytize.
- cato_the_elder 4y ago
  > give aid on the condition that you eat a heaping mouthful of bullshit I don't have any stats on that, but it's contrary to my personal experience. When I was a student, there was this Pentecostal group which used to give free food to everyone every Thursday. It was quite unconditional, not even means tested.
mikkergp 4y ago
It seems like if they want to emphasize personal responsibility, they could stop trying to influence laws that prevent people from getting abortions or using contraception.
- cato_the_elder 4y ago
  > stop trying to influence laws that prevent people from getting abortions I'm not sure if I follow. That seems to me like having more empathy with irresponsible people, possibly at the cost of innocent fetuses.
  - mikkergp 4y ago
    While I won't try to argue with you because abortion is the thing we won't see eye to eye on, what bout the 'or' on contraception, or do you think that responsible people only think that sex is for making babies? On another thought, you think the best thing to do is give people you judge as irresponsible a child? Also, doesn’t original sin mean the fetus not innocent? Is innocence really the important measure? Because lots of things are innocent we don’t care about.
    - cato_the_elder 4y ago
      > what bout the 'or' on contraception I don't have any particular problems with contraception. Some right-wingers do, they should speak for themselves. (I'm also not against early-stage abortions) > On another thought, you think the best thing to do is give people you judge as irresponsible a child? It's not ideal, it's just better than normalizing taking innocent lives. Also, if someone really thinks they can't be a good parent, putting up the baby for adoption is always an option. > Also, doesn’t original sin mean the fetus not innocent?(which of course doesn't really apply since it's not a person) I'm not religious, so I don't really think about the issue in terms of sins in the religious sense.
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  - CuriouslyC 4y ago
    Saying "innocent fetus" is like calling a horse with a top hat a gentleman.

CuriouslyC 4y ago

Christians do give a lot to charity, but a lot of those are christian charities that give aid on the condition that you eat a heaping mouthful of bullshit. It's really just a feel good way for them to try and proselytize.

cato_the_elder 4y ago
> give aid on the condition that you eat a heaping mouthful of bullshit I don't have any stats on that, but it's contrary to my personal experience. When I was a student, there was this Pentecostal group which used to give free food to everyone every Thursday. It was quite unconditional, not even means tested.

mikkergp 4y ago

It seems like if they want to emphasize personal responsibility, they could stop trying to influence laws that prevent people from getting abortions or using contraception.

cato_the_elder 4y ago
> stop trying to influence laws that prevent people from getting abortions I'm not sure if I follow. That seems to me like having more empathy with irresponsible people, possibly at the cost of innocent fetuses.
- mikkergp 4y ago
  While I won't try to argue with you because abortion is the thing we won't see eye to eye on, what bout the 'or' on contraception, or do you think that responsible people only think that sex is for making babies? On another thought, you think the best thing to do is give people you judge as irresponsible a child? Also, doesn’t original sin mean the fetus not innocent? Is innocence really the important measure? Because lots of things are innocent we don’t care about.
  - cato_the_elder 4y ago
    > what bout the 'or' on contraception I don't have any particular problems with contraception. Some right-wingers do, they should speak for themselves. (I'm also not against early-stage abortions) > On another thought, you think the best thing to do is give people you judge as irresponsible a child? It's not ideal, it's just better than normalizing taking innocent lives. Also, if someone really thinks they can't be a good parent, putting up the baby for adoption is always an option. > Also, doesn’t original sin mean the fetus not innocent?(which of course doesn't really apply since it's not a person) I'm not religious, so I don't really think about the issue in terms of sins in the religious sense.
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- CuriouslyC 4y ago
  Saying "innocent fetus" is like calling a horse with a top hat a gentleman.