The conservative image

[Larraque]

As a foreigner, I'm fairly new in my understanding of American politics. Recently, while doing some research on another topic I came across this site:

http://conservapedia.com/Main_Page

It's a good read - I don't think I've ever been more consistently offended by a web site.

Sure - you've got the usual liberal bashing rhetoric (a good deal more insulting than I usually see, however)...

The Worst Fiscal Crisis Since The Great Depression. No worries, the President of the United States has the time to personally post on his Twitter account.

Another topic:

Dumb, dumber and dumbest: "Michael Moore will be guest on Keith Olbermann's first new 'Countdown' show tonight" [9] ... in front of a clueless liberal audience.

Some of the primary topics they have on their first page deal with creationism - and 'fighting against the atheistic evolution movement'...

The popular Christian YouTube video maker Shockofgod is rolling out the creationist tanks in Texas. A team of creationists is telling Texas churches about Creation Ministries International's Question evolution! campaign this week![1]

The Shockawenow blog reports multiple ways the campaign is being spread. Texas is a key state when it comes to U.S. biology textbooks. Shockofgod says a team of creationists is going to take "massive action"!

and

Government-funded atheism leads to an absurd, untestable claim that "at least 30 million black holes had formed before the universe was 1 billion years old." [25] Was there Al Gore-style global warming then, too???

Government funded atheism? WTF is that?

So I was curious how they define a conservative:

http://conservapedia.com/Conservatism

Alternatively, a conservative is willing to learn and advocate the insights of economics and the morality of the Bible for the benefit of all, recognizing that the Bible is the most logical book ever written. Specifically, conservatives seek or support:
Limited government and balanced budgets
Capitalism and free markets
Classroom prayer
Prohibition of abortion and respect for human life
Abstinence education
Traditional marriage, not same-sex marriage
Respect for differences between men and women, boys and girls
Laws against pornography
The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms
Economic allocative efficiency (as opposed to popular equity)
The death penalty
Parental control of education
Private medical care and retirement plans
Canceling failed social support programs
No world government
Enforcement of current laws regarding immigration
Respect for our military ... past and present
Rejection of junk science such as evolution and global warming
Low taxes, especially for families
Confederationism (less power for the federal government and more for local and state governments)
A strong national defense

- Limited government and balanced budgets

I can't argue against that. But some of those ideals they strive for are downright scary. Particularly:

- The Death Penalty

It would be cheaper than stuffing people into prisons I guess....  I do realize there's arguments for both sides - but even one person killed accidentally is too many.

- Laws against pornography

The only law against pornography is that it shouldn't be sold to minors under 18. Everything else is fine.

- Traditional marriage, not same-sex marriage
- Classroom prayer
- Prohibition of abortion and respect for human life
- Abstinence education
- Rejection of junk science such as evolution and global warming

This group I lump together because they are absolutely terrifying to me as an atheist. Calling Evolution junk science is basically saying they are rejecting reality. (Disclaimer: I am not a scientist. As such, I haven't really gone into the research behind evolution and instead I have accepted it on the basis of collective human reasoning) Classroom prayer? That doesn't make sense if you don't go to a christian school. Abortion? I'm not a woman - therefore my vote does not count. Abstinence education - I would rather teach common sense. In my roman catholic school, I was never shown how to use a condom - and my parents never showed me either. So... that was extremely embarrassing the first time. Think 40 year old virgin embarrassing.

A small percentage of conservatives are like this... right?

[Scraper]

I didn't go to the site. But it's apparent from the quotes that you pasted that it's a site run by Christian Conservatives, of which we have a lot in the US. Especially in the South and Utah. Of course it's not that simple to label all conservatives with the labels that the site is giving them. But they do seem to be the most prominent and outspoken brand of conservative in the US since the 90s.

It's too bad too, because they really don't see how insulting to everyone they truly are who don't step right in line with them. My hope is that conservatives like Ron Paul can one day rise to prominence and have actual fiscal responsibility without cramming the bible down our throats and into our law. This next election will be very telling as to where we are as a country.

[Ironrod]

the Bible is the most logical book ever written.

I do not think that word means what they think it means. That might be the most illogical sentence ever written.

We have our share of conservatives and Republicans and Christians in the Northeast, but very few are of the fire-breathing bible-thumping variety. The Bible Belt is chiefly in the South, with some outlying colonies (like my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI).

[iloveplywood]

Just responding to random bits for fun:

Death Penalty:  Al Gore wasn't against the death penalty, has any democratic presidential candidate been for abolishing the death penalty (Obama switched to a pro-death penalty stance while running for president)?  Which is worse -- people that run for office believing in the death penalty or people believing the death penalty is heinous but changing their position because of political expediency?  I'm against the death penalty but the argument that killing one innocent person is too much can be applied to keeping one person locked up in a cell for life too -- should we free all the prisoners?  Frankly I think I'd rather be killed than spend my whole life locked up (of course I might feel differently in a non-hypothetical situation) for a crime I didn't commit.  Anyway, I get your point that in a wildly imperfect judicial system the death penalty is scary.

M. Moore and K. Olbermann being called dumb:  Would it offend you if someone called Glenn Beck dumb?  Probably not -- that's how most conservatives feel about M. Moore.  Anyway, I'm surprised this would really offend you all that much.

The Twitter stuff and Obama:  Would it have offended you if people called Bush stupid?  Again, liberals and conservatives demonize people fairly equally they just do it to different people.  



Obviously, if you're an atheist any site that wants to mix politics and religion is going to scare you.  I can't really help you with that one, it scares me too.

[Knightshade Dragon]

I'm gonna chime in and say how sad I am that the words "liberal" and "conservative" have been co-opted by these religious and political idiots and turned into words used to demonize people.    Oh you are a liberal?  You are a bleeding heart and want to hug trees and love socialism.  Oh you are conservative?  You believe in equal rights for everyone who is white and Christian and enjoy screwing over everyone who isn't you.   When did these statements become divisional?  Conservative used to mean 'careful'. (He was more conservative with his lead foot as gas prices were so high) Liberal used to me 'use a lot of'.  (He placed a liberal amount of sauce on his wings)   It makes me a sad sad panda.

[TiLT]

I'm gonna chime in and say how sad I am that the words "liberal" and "conservative" have been co-opted by these religious and political idiots and turned into words used to demonize people.    Oh you are a liberal?  You are a bleeding heart and want to hug trees and love socialism.  Oh you are conservative?  You believe in equal rights for everyone who is white and Christian and enjoy screwing over everyone who isn't you.   When did these statements become divisional?  Conservative used to mean 'careful'. (He was more conservative with his lead foot as gas prices were so high) Liberal used to me 'use a lot of'.  (He placed a liberal amount of sauce on his wings)   It makes me a sad sad panda.

I dunno. I'm not terribly influenced by the party rhetoric since I'm a dirty foreigner, but I've always read those words as "traditionalist" (conservative. Let's keep doing the safe stuff that has always worked) and "supporter of freedom" (liberal. Let's think forward and pull up some roots, for liberty). Your descriptions seem to be written by conservatives, considering most people would always side with them if those were the way things really worked. Yet that's not the case. For example, the last conservative president (Bush) used an absurd amount of money and military resources during his terms compared to what most presidents do, yet a large amount of conservatives seem to support him in that.

[Victoria Raverna]

Death Penalty:  Al Gore wasn't against the death penalty, has any democratic presidential candidate been for abolishing the death penalty (Obama switched to a pro-death penalty stance while running for president)?  Which is worse -- people that run for office believing in the death penalty or people believing the death penalty is heinous but changing their position because of political expediency?  I'm against the death penalty but the argument that killing one innocent person is too much can be applied to keeping one person locked up in a cell for life too -- should we free all the prisoners?  Frankly I think I'd rather be killed than spend my whole life locked up (of course I might feel differently in a non-hypothetical situation) for a crime I didn't commit.  Anyway, I get your point that in a wildly imperfect judicial system the death penalty is scary.

Maybe the question is what is worse, a person that is stubborn or someone that can change his mind?

As for the argument against death penalty, I think the argument is that if you have someone locked up for life if the court found out later that they made mistake, they can free him/her. On the other hand if the court can't resurrect a person if they found out that they were wrong.

[hepcat]

As with any stereotype, there's both truth and falsehoods underneath it all.  I used to consider myself a liberal, but some of the unthinking, knee jerk reactionary crap that comes out of the mouths of liberal mouthholes like the highly annoying Janeane Garofalo makes me weep for the days when it wasn't the celebrity cause de jour, coopted by a group of prima donnas who simply regurgitate what the rest of Hollywood has told them.  That being said, people like Pat Robertson, Palin and Bachmann make me weep for this country if they ever attained power.

I think I'll form a new party.  We'll call ourselves the "Leave Us Alone" party.  Our symbol is a guy peeking out from behind a tree.

[Purge]

I think I'll form a new party.  We'll call ourselves the "Leave Us Alone" party.  Our symbol is a guy peeking out from behind a tree.

[rshetts2]

The concept of government funded atheism makes me laugh.  Two of the basic concepts our government was founded under was freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.  It has been proven, through out history that when you mix religious agendas and political power, people die.  From the Crusades and the Inquistion to Ireland and 911, religious agendas driven with political clout are deadly. 

You are welcome to worship as you please ( as long as your worship doesnt infringe on the rights or health of others ) but keep your religion out of my government, please.

[Larraque]

That whole site is very anti-atheist. I find it humorous. They were pounding their chest at the top of their lungs trying to get legitimized by challenging Penn Jillette (the magician) to debate atheism with them. They also had this tidbit today.

Why is everyone so outraged when a jury of her peers acquitted Casey Anthony of the most serious charges, when 1.2 million women make a "choice" similar to the charges every day and get away with it? [11]

/facepalm

Also it's the gay's fault that portugal has shitty credit.

Ravaged by liberal policies -- including same-sex marriage -- Portugal sees its debt rating downgraded by Moody's by four levels, to a rating similar to that of junk bonds.

[th'FOOL]

Yeah, Rush Limbaugh as much stated the same thing yesterday re: the Casey Anthony case. As if I needed any more proof he was a total asshole.

[Canuck]

Isn't that basically the exact same border which divided the Union and the Confederates during the Civil War?  Amazing how nothing changes.

[Fireball1244]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

[rickfc]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

Way to stereotype guys. 

[CeeKay]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

D.C., or Purge's bathroom?

[Isgrimnur]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

Signed, Germany. 

[CeeKay]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

Signed, Germany. 

dude.... they serve their potato salad hot.  HOT.

[Fireball1244]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

Way to stereotype guys. 

Is it stereotyping if it's the truth? From race oppression to integration to overt, pervasive religiosity in public life to deep-set anti-gay sentiment, is there any social issue the South hasn't been on the wrong side of long after the rest of the nation moved (or has begun to move) on?

[rickfc]

Once a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs, always a region with profoundly backwards, detestable widespread beliefs?

Way to stereotype guys. 

Is it stereotyping if it's the truth? From race oppression to integration to overt, pervasive religiosity in public life to deep-set anti-gay sentiment, is there any social issue the South hasn't been on the wrong side of long after the rest of the nation moved (or has begun to move) on?

So what you're saying is that it's ok to lump an entire group of people together because it so happens that (sadly) the governing majority hold some, if not all, of these beliefs?