rssAre Conservatives Happier than Liberals?
Friday, June 06, 2008 at 6:00 pm
- 6 Comments
Thanks to the "pernicious influence of liberal ideas," progressives are less happy, less generous, less honest and less hard working than conservatives, argues the author of a new book released this week.
Intrigued, The Washington Independent stopped by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation today, to listen to the author Peter Schweizer talk about his book, which has the longest title we’ve ever seen: "Makers and Takers: Why Conservatives Work Harder, Feel Happier, Have Closer Families, Take Fewer Drugs, Give More Generously, Value Honesty More, Are Less Materialistic and Envious, Whine Less … and Even Hug Their Children More Than Liberals."
Schweizer, a fellow at the conservative policy think tank Hoover Institution at Stanford University, pointed to a study he cites in his book which shows that conservatives are less likely than liberals to agree with statements like, "It is OK to cheat on your taxes" or "It is OK to cheat on your spouse." He explained conservatives are more willing to accept absolute, as opposed to relative, truth, but he did not explain how rejecting moral absolutes makes someone dishonest.
"Studies have shown that certain demographic groups that tend to be more Democrat-oriented in their politics tend to be more dishonest," Schweizer said.
Liberal contributions tend be less compassionate, donating to cultural causes like museums and symphonies rather than human-service organizations that conservatives prefer. A comparison of charitable giving by the radio talk host Rush Limbaugh and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proved the point, Schweizer argued. According to his analysis, Limbaugh gives to organizations that help Alzheimer’s patients, hospice residents, orphans and children with AIDS.
Overwhelmingly, Rush Limbaugh’s contributions to charity go to individuals who have absolute needs. If you look at Nancy Pelosi, it’s the opposite. There are contributions to the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco, which is the largest of her contributions. There are contributions to the San Francisco Symphony. Contributions to a prep school…an elite prep school in San Francisco. But with the exception of an occasional contribution to say the boys and girls club of San Francisco of maybe $1,000 or so, very little actually goes to needy individuals.
Conservatives are more generous because modern liberals believe the government should take care of the less fortunate, Schwiezer argues. "Conservatives believe responsibility is a good thing, you can improve your lot in life," he said. "Modern liberals do not."
Schweizer did find one area where liberals were stronger than conservatives. Progressives are more interested in looking for new experiences. They’re more likely to travel abroad and look for diverse cultural opportunities. But will this make them happier?
6 Comments
Comment posted June 7, 2008 @ 3:04 am
Schweizer? Oh, I thought you wrote Schweitzer. I think HE was a liberal. He was, of course, a humanitarian which should make him non-political.
Anyway, I evolved into a bleeding-heart liberal over the last 40 years. I have never seen the research or the stats Schweizer talks about. I do know one thing, however, conservatives really need to hate something or someone. Every person kept out of their narrow range of thinking is an enemy.
Some 18 years ago, I was privileged to volunteer for a non-profit here in San Francisco called The AIDS Emergency Fund. I was one of the intake volunteers, meaning I saw AIDS victims first, signed them up and saw to it that their bills were paid. Where did these people come from? Some from the Bay Area, but a lot of them were from outside the state. Why? Because they were kicked out of their homes – while they were sick and dying. By whom? By conservative “Christians” taking orders from the Falwells, the Helms’s, the Robertsons and the Thurmonds to ostracize them. As I signed in men, women and children, it dawned on me that while people were literally dying in the streets, these uberChristians were DANCING in the streets: God had given them more fuel for hatred. But it also dawned on me that there were a great many people in San Francisco (tens of thousands) and around the country who were giving their time, their energy, their money and, in some case, their very lives to helping PWAs. And those people were more Christian and more human than all the Robertsons, Falwells, etc.
Please take it from one who’s been through “the AIDS war” – “Christianity” and conservatives had their chance to shine.
They didn’t.
Comment posted June 6, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
This, on it’s face is funny. What about all these scandals concerning Conservatives? Was not Rush involved in a drug abuse charge? Of course it was prescription drugs, so these do not count. Yes, perhaps both Liberals and Conservatives rely equally on the Government to solve problems; Liberals social problems, and Conservatives view the Government as their own personal bank. My 2 cents.
Comment posted June 6, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
This, on it's face is funny. What about all these scandals concerning Conservatives? Was not Rush involved in a drug abuse charge? Of course it was prescription drugs, so these do not count. Yes, perhaps both Liberals and Conservatives rely equally on the Government to solve problems; Liberals social problems, and Conservatives view the Government as their own personal bank. My 2 cents.
Comment posted June 6, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Schweizer? Oh, I thought you wrote Schweitzer. I think HE was a liberal. He was, of course, a humanitarian which should make him non-political.
Anyway, I evolved into a bleeding-heart liberal over the last 40 years. I have never seen the research or the stats Schweizer talks about. I do know one thing, however, conservatives really need to hate something or someone. Every person kept out of their narrow range of thinking is an enemy.
Some 18 years ago, I was privileged to volunteer for a non-profit here in San Francisco called The AIDS Emergency Fund. I was one of the intake volunteers, meaning I saw AIDS victims first, signed them up and saw to it that their bills were paid. Where did these people come from? Some from the Bay Area, but a lot of them were from outside the state. Why? Because they were kicked out of their homes – while they were sick and dying. By whom? By conservative “Christians” taking orders from the Falwells, the Helms's, the Robertsons and the Thurmonds to ostracize them. As I signed in men, women and children, it dawned on me that while people were literally dying in the streets, these uberChristians were DANCING in the streets: God had given them more fuel for hatred. But it also dawned on me that there were a great many people in San Francisco (tens of thousands) and around the country who were giving their time, their energy, their money and, in some case, their very lives to helping PWAs. And those people were more Christian and more human than all the Robertsons, Falwells, etc.
Please take it from one who's been through “the AIDS war” – “Christianity” and conservatives had their chance to shine.
They didn't.
Comment posted September 11, 2008 @ 8:27 pm
I can't name any Liberals that are not in a depressed state for much of their lives. Makers realize that EVERY society will include HAVES and HAVE-NOTS. In our Capitalist society the ability to become a HAVE is available to anyone that is willing to DO.
In the Socialist Ideal World that Liberals believe they want once a HAVE-NOT, ALWAYS A HAVE-NOT.
DanV – Clearly, the Socialist OWN the Hate thing – George Bush, Dick Cheney sets them off instantly.
Religion is a personal choice that you can make here in America, but be warned they are all staffed by humans. – like Rev. J.Wright the supreme Liberal Spiritual Advisor where Hate Begins at Church…you know like Suicide Bombers train at church.
Comment posted September 12, 2008 @ 1:27 am
I can't name any Liberals that are not in a depressed state for much of their lives. Makers realize that EVERY society will include HAVES and HAVE-NOTS. In our Capitalist society the ability to become a HAVE is available to anyone that is willing to DO.
In the Socialist Ideal World that Liberals believe they want once a HAVE-NOT, ALWAYS A HAVE-NOT.
DanV – Clearly, the Socialist OWN the Hate thing – George Bush, Dick Cheney sets them off instantly.
Religion is a personal choice that you can make here in America, but be warned they are all staffed by humans. – like Rev. J.Wright the supreme Liberal Spiritual Advisor where Hate Begins at Church…you know like Suicide Bombers train at church.
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