Why are Americans more conservative?

[ncabot22]

As a Canadian, I'm interested to know the answer. I know most, if not all, of the people on this board are liberal to progressive but a comment in GD Politics raised my curiousity.

I stated that I liked Kucinich and wished all Americans had access to universal health care so they wouldn't have to deal with insurance companies. A poster respectfully responded that Americans are fundamentally different. I'm assuming she/he meant from Canadians.

I guess my real question is this: why does it seem that many Americans are regressive when it comes to taxation of the rich, universal health care, etc. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around this one. I don't get it. I shouldn't criticize just Americans, though. A lot of Canadians annoy me with what I consider outdated ideals. I believe universal health care (including dental), child care and education until the university level should be paid for by the government through higher taxes. Maybe I'm weird.

Thanks for listening/reading. :)

edited to remove weird smilie that popped up

[madmunchie]

1. Most are not, most are moderates

[shireen]

7. i agree

Also ....

most of them don't know what it means to be liberal or conservative. Or even socialist! These labels are not well-defined, therefore, they can be misused in all sorts of ways.

People may not agree with everything in their party platform, yet they claim affiliation with the party. Even worse, there are people who have no idea what's in their party platform, but belong to the party due to family tradition, apathy, and/or the need to identify with some of the personalities in their party.

Meanwhile, if people choose to declare as independents, they have no say in the party nominees (in most states).


People are complex, and our political system refuses to acknowledge it. It's a pretty screwed up system. We really need nationwide run-off elections and more political parties.

[supernova]

2. Damned if I know

That's an excellent question.

I think it might possibly have something to do with the majority ethnic group (WASP like me, but steadily shrinking) never experiencing any sort of mass trauma such as war or genocide. edit: IOW, never having been in the position of being persecuted.

[leftist_not_liberal]

3. Because the capitalist Lie Machine works wonders

and is given total credibility by the media and educational establishment though this groups lies about economics (and that is ALL libertarian economics is, LIES as I posted over the weekend) is matched only by its Faustian bargain with the ultra-reactionary religious right.

The effect is bipartisan. Nixon would be a liberal by today's standards.

[ncabot22]

4. Nixon, a liberal?

Scary thought...

[EFerrari]

5. It's true. And I agree. Our RW media propagate

an image of "most Americans" that I find unbelievable.

/oops

[depakid]

6. Actually, according to research- a large majority is not

It's largely a media creation- coupled with the fact that in America, elections are bought and paid for- and many people choose not to vote.

See e.g.: Why a Conservative America is a Myth

Read the report here: http://home.ourfuture.org/reports/20070612_theprogressivemajority/

[ncabot22]

9. Thank you so much for the link!

It is much appreciated. :)

[baldguy]

8. Answer: They're not - but the corporate media wants them to believe they are.

The majority of Americans WANTS universal healthcare. The majority WANTS fair taxation. The majority WANTS workers to be treated fairly. The majority WANTS clean air, clean water & clean food.

[adadem]

10. I believe its because

we have all these mega-churches with mind controlling preachers. I pretty much compare the mega-church and tv preachers to state-controlled tv in North Korea. Even back in the 70's my mom voted repuke because "it is the Christian way". She was as brainwashed as they come when it came to church.

[Odin2005]

11. The US is not more conservative economically. It is more socially conservative, though.

The Republicans use social issues to distract people from their anti-worker, anti-consumer economic policies. A lot of "Republicans" I know are actually progressives when it comes to the economy but vote for the Pukes because of God, gays, and guns.

[Karenina]

12. The ONLY generalizations that work for Amis are

That they have suffered a coup. Most don't yet realize it.

That many are too isolated, land-locked, über (der) Teller zu sehen.
(hmmm... maybe that article needs to be den. Keine Ahnung... :argh: )

That too many refuse to be disabused of the myth of their superiority.

Paraphrasing Malcolm:

We live in a society that makes us stupid, keeps us stupid and convinces us that in our stupidity we are somehow superior.

[applegrove]

13. During the cold war America was always on alert for communists. Kids were taught

to fear commies and there was a 50 year scare. It is amazing how the fear card tends to be played much more often in the USA. In Canada we didn't have such teachings and such a level of fear..despite numeroud communist spy scandals. So we could look at socialist ideas and pick the best of them to include in our mix of policies.