Go back
Is 'conservative' becoming a pejorative?

Is 'conservative' becoming a pejorative?

Debates

t
True X X Xian

The Lord's Army

Joined
18 Jul 04
Moves
8353
Clock
03 May 09
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult.

It seems though that over last few years this has been changing. In fact, I wonder if after the Bush years 'conservative' isn't starting to lose some of its charm. Where in the past it has been associated with sensibility and prudence, I think it's starting to pickup the negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?

rwingett
Ming the Merciless

Royal Oak, MI

Joined
09 Sep 01
Moves
27626
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult. ...[text shortened]... negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
It's going to take a long, long time to undo all the damage done by the "free market" Svengalis over the last three decades. Hopefully, though, their complete moral bankruptcy has been made plainly evident and we can get back to resuscitating the New Deal. A long overdue national health system should be the cornerstone of that.

S
Done Asking

Washington, D.C.

Joined
11 Oct 06
Moves
3464
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Ideologues of both extremes are becoming suspect. They should be. The sort of conservative who parrots the Rush Limbaugh sort of line is beneath contempt. The leftist who parrots the various different flavors of the left today are equally so.

Political thought need not be a choice between two football teams.

It should be a pragmatic exercise in seeking to reach consensus among a variety of possible viewpoints and interests so that the result that is the best that can be agreed on wins out.

Else, all those from either side who are given free rein will piss in the well and cause some sort of catastrophic societal failure of which the one we're now going through is a sample.

Yes, the label "conservative" is now a pejorative -- for it invites mockery on its face. A conservative now is one belonging to a tribe that came down from the trees a bit later than most other people.

STS

Joined
07 Feb 07
Moves
62961
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

My guess is the word "conservative" will become a compliment in the next four years.

d

Break-twitching

Joined
30 Nov 08
Moves
1228
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult. ...[text shortened]... negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
It's called secular progressivism. The Republicans no longer represent middle America; in fact, no party represents anyone just right of center. What we have today are leftwing lunatics and rightwing retards. Many people are now self-described Independents, such as myself. If conservatives are picking up 'negatives' such as 'pigheadedness', 'callouseness', and 'smugness' as you suggest, and you may be right, then liberals are becoming 'misguided',
'self-righteous', 'tax-and-spend' 'open-border-idiots' who want to confront terrorism with 'kid gloves' and give us a 'queue'-type healthcare system while taxing us into oblivion. I could be wrong, so this is just my opinion.

Lundos
Back to basics

About

Joined
11 Dec 04
Moves
70613
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
My guess is the word "conservative" will become a compliment in the next four years.
Lol. You must be used to being wrong, so why not continue the trend, eh?

Btw 'liberal' and 'conservative' have completely different meanings in Europe, so I'm guessing were talking American definitions.

d

Break-twitching

Joined
30 Nov 08
Moves
1228
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by rwingett
It's going to take a long, long time to undo all the damage done by the "free market" Svengalis over the last three decades. Hopefully, though, their complete moral bankruptcy has been made plainly evident and we can get back to resuscitating the New Deal. A long overdue national health system should be the cornerstone of that.
"moral bankruptsy"? Is abortion considerd moral enlightenment?

shavixmir
Lord

Sewers of Holland

Joined
31 Jan 04
Moves
89775
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult. ...[text shortened]... negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
Only in America.

d

Break-twitching

Joined
30 Nov 08
Moves
1228
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by shavixmir
Only in America.
I suppose Holland is a model society? 🙄

D
incipit parodia

Joined
01 Aug 07
Moves
46580
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by shavixmir
Only in America.
Indeed - this is a totally insular question, as 'conservative' and 'liberal' (and, indeed, 'socialist'😉 have very different meanings in Europe as compared to America, as another poster stated.

K

Germany

Joined
27 Oct 08
Moves
3118
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by dystoniac
"moral bankruptsy"? Is abortion considerd moral enlightenment?
Did you know abortion rates (per capita) in the US are seven times higher than in Holland?

Z

Joined
04 Feb 05
Moves
29132
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult. ...[text shortened]... negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
as the great chris rock has said "There are some things i am conservative about and there are some things i am liberal about". if you are just one thing all the time, you are not a sentient being. too much of anything, even good things becomes bad.

sh76
Civis Americanus Sum

New York

Joined
26 Dec 07
Moves
17585
Clock
03 May 09
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult.
negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
I suppose "conservative" is losing some of its charm, but "liberal" isn't picking any up. Even liberals don't call themselves liberal any more. It's "progressive" or something to that effect.

Hopefully, people are begining to realize that mindlessly hugging to one side of the political spectrum, regardless of which side that is, is the problem.

g

Pepperland

Joined
30 May 07
Moves
12892
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by telerion
As long as I can remember the word "liberal" has generally been used as a negative. It implies naivete, irresponsibility, and highbrowism. I'm not sure why this is the case. Perhaps it was a result of the failure of the Carter and popularity of the Reagan administrations. Maybe it was the growth on rightwing talk radio that used "liberal" as an insult. ...[text shortened]... negatives of pigheadedness, callousness, and smugness.

Any else seeing this change?
It depends.

Not all conservatives are like limbaugh, and not all leftists are potential castros.

d

Break-twitching

Joined
30 Nov 08
Moves
1228
Clock
03 May 09
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Did you know abortion rates (per capita) in the US are seven times higher than in Holland?
I'm not surprized....should I be? We have retards here, both the guy and girl, who fornicate w/o thought to contraception, and when they become pregnant, abortion is just a "simple doctor's vist". Maybe you have better sex-education in Holland, ready access to the abortion pill for any age, etc....I don't know.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.