[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=CA renter]
Conservatives are more likely to take personal credit for their success rather than acknowledging the role of luck (and other people, among other things) in their lives, IMHO, while a more liberal person is probably more likely to acknowledge the fact that they are not individually responsible for the successes (or failures) in their lives — giving more credit to coworkers, good timing, intellectual or physical gifts, the role of public infrastructure, etc…luck. [/quote]
CAr, that assumes that conservatives are “successful.”
Can we say that conservatives voters in Mississippi, the lowest per capita GDP state in the nation, are successful?
With regard to empathy, I think it’s easier to dismiss problems out of hand than to try to understand them.
I have a friend who’s conservative. Former military. So his attitude is always “pull your head of your ass, and do something about it.” Everything is a one-liner. He would send me links to news articles with remarks like “because of Obama and fucking liberals like you.”
One day, I was sick of being circumspect and let him have some of his own medicine. Needless to say, we’re not talking much anymore. He has alcohol, obesity and pain issues and is living in a clusterfuck man-cave.
Can we say that “unsuccessful” conservatives are f’ing losers and deserve it? Would they agree?
I’m thinking that it’s a weakness to be empathetic towards people who lack empathy. You’re giving something and getting nothing in return. That’s a raw deal that a shrewd business person would never accept.[/quote]
While you and I might not think of them as “successful,” I’m willing to bet that they think otherwise. Based on my personal observations of what we would describe as “redneck Republicans,” this group of conservatives tends to put “being a white (usually male) American” at the top of their list of successes.
Many of them really do work hard as well, and they manage to make a life for themselves — however simple it may be — based on this hard work. In their minds, they are successful.
For those who are on welfare of some sort, yet still manage to be conservative Republicans…I can only guess that a low IQ and tons of peer pressure and brainwashing are responsible for their beliefs. Far too many of them don’t even realize that they are net recipients of government largesse.
