Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - A question wiith a very good answer....or "Get to Know Me"

06-06-2003, 10:43 AM

Found this and realized that the answer fit my perspective quite closely and being the narcisist that I am, I just knew all of you would want to know me better

Q:My favorite question I ask of conservatives is: "What fact or facts would it take to move you substantially to the left?" If it could be proven to your satisfaction that conservative policies were the cause of millions of deaths, would that do it?

A: First, remind me to carve out my spleen with my plastic spork if I ever sit next to you on an airplane. Okay, now: This is an interesting question and I’m really scared I might step on an ideological landmine trying to answer it, given how tired I am. So, let’s see. I guess I’d say that any policy — liberal or conservative — which resulted in the deaths of — presumably innocent — people wouldn’t get my support. Indeed, framed in that form it’s a pretty dumb question when you think about it. There’s almost nothing about conservatism which could be “proven wrong” that I can think of that would make me switch sides. Conservatism, rightly understood, is not a checklist of ideas, it is a checklist of sentiments. The proof I would require to move leftward would be evidence that socialism of one flavor or another worked. If you could prove that welfare in one form or another didn’t erode or undermine all sorts of important values and virtues, for example, I’d be eager to see the evidence. If nationalizing industry actually made people richer and freer in the long run, I’d reevaluate a great deal. But for that to be proven true, we’d have to learn something new and unimagined about human nature. I’m not holding my breath. Note: I reserve the right to revise and extend these remarks.

06-06-2003, 10:43 AM	#1
MagiK Guest Posts: n/a	Found this and realized that the answer fit my perspective quite closely and being the narcisist that I am, I just knew all of you would want to know me better Q:My favorite question I ask of conservatives is: "What fact or facts would it take to move you substantially to the left?" If it could be proven to your satisfaction that conservative policies were the cause of millions of deaths, would that do it? A: First, remind me to carve out my spleen with my plastic spork if I ever sit next to you on an airplane. Okay, now: This is an interesting question and I’m really scared I might step on an ideological landmine trying to answer it, given how tired I am. So, let’s see. I guess I’d say that any policy — liberal or conservative — which resulted in the deaths of — presumably innocent — people wouldn’t get my support. Indeed, framed in that form it’s a pretty dumb question when you think about it. There’s almost nothing about conservatism which could be “proven wrong” that I can think of that would make me switch sides. Conservatism, rightly understood, is not a checklist of ideas, it is a checklist of sentiments. The proof I would require to move leftward would be evidence that socialism of one flavor or another worked. If you could prove that welfare in one form or another didn’t erode or undermine all sorts of important values and virtues, for example, I’d be eager to see the evidence. If nationalizing industry actually made people richer and freer in the long run, I’d reevaluate a great deal. But for that to be proven true, we’d have to learn something new and unimagined about human nature. I’m not holding my breath. Note: I reserve the right to revise and extend these remarks.