Sorry this post is so long.
I don't identify as a democrat, but I definitely and defiantly don't identify as a republican.
Ever since I started realizing how I feel about economics (It's obviously more complicated than this, but I'm am most assuredly a Robin Hood type. Whether the people hoarding the money and power are government or big corporations, if they are perpetuating poverty and misery, then I would most certainly rob from the rich to feed the poor they are oppressing.)
Ever since I started realizing how I feel about economics, and started debating politics with republicans, I have felt there has to be something I was overlooking. How could these pleasant people really be so callous and cold-hearted towards the needs of the suffering? How could they put corporate profits over providing healthcare for adults and children born into poverty, even when confronted with empirical data from other countries that proves universal healthcare isn't going to destroy our country's economic system? Are all republicans really so cold that they aren't able to see the inherent injustices being perpetuated? It hurt my heart. Made me cry, makes me cry, that these people who I care about are so unfeeling, so lacking in basic values.
They (republicans in my life) have never expressed, in a way I understood, those values which they hold in esteem. It took a study for me to (perhaps) see and understand them a little better.
This study had people identify where they stood in the political spectrum. Then they were given a test to determine what they would choose when given choices between the following values:
• Harm/care. It is wrong to hurt people; it is good to relieve suffering.
• Fairness/reciprocity. Justice and fairness are good; people have certain rights that need to be upheld in social interactions.
• In-group loyalty. People should be true to their
group and be wary of threats from the outside. Allegiance, loyalty and
patriotism are virtues; betrayal is bad.
• Authority/respect. People should respect social hierarchy; social order is necessary for
human life.
• Purity/sanctity. The body and certain aspects of
life are sacred. Cleanliness and health, as well as their derivatives of
chastity and piety, are all good. Pollution, contamination and the
associated character traits of lust and greed are all bad.
Now, I don't have to take the test to tell you where I stand in this spectrum:
Harm/Care is my leading value which, when I honestly view all the other traits, will always take priority. Since it is my leading value, I feel that it is obvious why, and that it needs no explanation, which is probably a mistake on my part. I feel it is very obvious that hurting people is wrong, and helping people who are suffering is good. I also think this is something that is largely recognized in religion (so I don't understand why so many 'Christian republicans' don't feel the same way).
Purity/Sanctity is a close second, and, to me, these first two go hand-in-hand. For example, I feel that the sanctity of human life is one of the reasons why Harm/Care is so important. The description of this trait illustrates my views very clearly, it is right on point in every aspect. I would like to add that I have a STRONG negative view towards greed, I don't just think that it is 'bad.'
Fairness/Reciprocity is next, and it is usually rated higher for liberals, which is why I think I'm constantly getting senseless arguments from republicans who are arguing against the logic of fairness, when I really don't disagree with them as much as they think I do. However, I do think it is important to have justice, and I don't think it's right that workplace pay is so skewed in a man's favor, etc.
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This is where the scale starts to tip. These last two values are almost negatively viewed in my eyes, and they are typically the top values for republicans. Which helps me understand... why I don't understand them.
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In-Group Loyalty. It takes a lot, and I mean, A LOT for me to become loyal to a group. Growing up I feel like I was betrayed by people (who I should have been able to trust) on such a regular basis that I learned that no one will ever be loyal to me. So why should I be loyal to them if they are going to betray me as soon as it benefits them? Also, I don't think that belonging to a group automatically makes opposing groups bad, and I don't view opposing groups as threats we need protection from, rather as organizations we can maybe learn from.
Authority/Respect. Honestly, I despise the existence of a social hierarchy. I think of myself as someone who isn't a "respecter of persons," meaning that I try to treat everyone with the same amount of love and respect, and if you think I should give you extra respect because of your position you are sorely mistaken. You WILL NOT get extra deference or respect from me simply because you're my boss, my boss's boss, or the president of the United States. Come to think of it, this is probably one of the reasons why I haven't succeeded in the business world...
There is an interesting story regarding this that I'll post in a different post someday.
So... It might not sound like it... but I'm trying to understand (despite my bull-headedness). It would be great if some of the republicans in my life (and anyone else!) could tell me if they think this study is accurate, and list their values and reasons in order of importance.
http://www.psmag.com/culture/morals-authority-3775/
I pretty much agree with you in each of the categories except in group loyalty. No person is an island, and folks need to surround themselves with allies if they want to do big things.
ReplyDeleteI do not beleive the government is ever humanist, however much it claims to be. I think that is the crux of the political differences between us. Governement is not altruistic, not charitable, not generous. Goverment trades money for power, and power for more power. Government is "powerist"...that is its role in our culture...which isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes it can be.
Will you take that list and put them in order? You say that loyalty is more important to you than it is to me. So when forced to rank them is it #3? that bumps fairness to spot 4 and keeps authority at 5. I would be actually surprised to find out that you rank Respect/Authority last out of all of these things. I remember you repeatedly telling me to show respect, and that they are addressed as "Officers" not "Cops" which has always been a distinction I thought unnecessary. I know you're trying to be agreeable so that "Scary Alicia" doesn't come out, but please know that I'm also trying to keep her under control.
DeleteWill you actually take the five and list them in order of importance?
I agree with that last paragraph, Daddy, and let me add something:
ReplyDelete"I do not believe [large corporations] are ever humanist, however much [they] claim to be. I think that is the crux of the political differences between us. [The corporation] is not altruistic, not charitable, not generous. [Corporations] trade money for power, and power for more power. [Corporations] are "powerist"...that is its role in our culture...which..." gets easily out of control and quickly becomes a bad thing.
Studies in psychology have examined group mentality in detail. In an effective group, members sacrifice a little of their own interest to serve the interest of the group. When an individual unites with a group, he or she commits to it. In order to feel confident in the decision, the person much be loyal to the group. Over just a short amount of time, we see what's called GROUP POLARIZATION. That is, the lefties drift further and further left, and the righties drift further and further right. After a while, the reason an individual originally connected with a group fades away. We form this team mentality, "We're good, they're bad. We're right, they're wrong." We change our own thoughts, attitudes, and even VALUES to be in line with the group. Groups change and become extreme. If you are associated with a group, and an issue comes up, you're more likely to defend the group, even if you would have once disagreed.
A little loyalty is a good thing, but we are also blinded by group polarization. It is good to be in a group, and it is good to sacrifice for the well-being of others, but it is also essential to retain our individual rational thought and humanity. Most people would do anything under the right circumstances.
To me the Republican party and the Democratic party are essentially the same. Both have become radical and blinded. Both think they are "the good guys" and the other group is "the bad guys," when in reality, neither is true. We are humans. We don't need to belong to the red team or the blue team. In fact, society, in my opinion, would be much more efficient without these silly clubs.
For the Republicans, it's the corporations. For the Democrats, it's the government. They're the same.
Obviously what follows is quite a bit pure speculation:
DeleteI think what the article is saying is that overall liberals dislike this group mentality (I know I do), but that conservatives view loyalty as a positive thing. So even your view (Krista) on group polarization is typically a liberal view. It's only when liberals find a group that aligns with their beliefs of harm/care and fairness/reciprocity that they choose to align themselves with them, but only so long as that group's beliefs continue to align with their values.
Conservatives strongly believe in nationalism and defending their group from outside threats. And in order to protect what really needs protecting, they are willing to band together and promote people who don't necessarily share all of their views in order to protect the group.
I am proudly a third party voter, though I consider myself generally liberal. But when I've told daddy this he points out that voting 3rd party only works against me, and that it's actually a betrayal to my 'group.' So for conservatives it's more important to band together and fight side-by-side against a threat than it is to individually stand up for what you believe is right. That is why there are typically a lot more specialized liberal 3rd parties than conservative 3rd parties. The only way the tea party got ahead was by claiming to be the 'true americans' or 'true republicans' and accusing the republican party of being the actual people who betrayed their beliefs.
Also, Krista!! I also want you to take those 5 things and list them in order of importance to you.
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