Neither conservatism nor liberalism are mental disorders. They are simply philosophies based on different value systems. The
individuals who believe in each of these philosophies want government to operate and behave according to their respective beliefs, and also want everyone else to believe as they do, each secure in the notion that what they believe is right and therefore true, meaning that what the other side believes is wrong and false. When they can't convince other individuals to accept their values and political philosophy, they accuse them of having mental disorders. This is essentially why radical Muslims want to kill all infidels - they refuse to accept that other individuals have a right to believe differently than they do.
Key words in this discussion are
belief, values, and
philosophy, none of which should be confused with
facts or
truth. Facts are simply pieces of information proven to be true. But their implications take on different meanings depending on the lenses of beliefs, values, and philosophies through which they are viewed, which can be likened to funhouse mirrors that distort true reflections.
The freedoms Americans have to believe what they want as far as religion and politics go are what supposedly help make us great. It's getting tough to see that lately, though. Accusing those who hold different political views of having mental disorders simply by virtue of holding those beliefs is akin to an Episcopalian accusing a Baptist of being mentally disabled for subscribing to a different religion. There is plenty of ammunition on both sides of the political spectrum to support belief in either conservatism or liberalism. And there are plenty of opposing values from which to choose that will inform political viewpoints. None (well, almost none) are
right or
wrong - they're just different. Sure, government and society would be much different and likely easier to manage if everyone believed the same way. But that wouldn't be America. And it hopefully never will be.
Diego intimates that only conservatives buy into fake news reports. Gullibility or being taken in by that which is not true has nothing to do with political philosophy. Yet the lens through which Diego views facts might lead him to believe otherwise. Sam believes California should secede because a buncha folks were arrested there for human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children, the implication being that the state as a whole values such activity counter to what the rest of the nation values and should therefore separate itself from the Union, much like the South did prior to the Civil War based on its differing values regarding slavery and states' rights. I'm sure both of them were being somewhat tongue-in-cheek regarding what they posted, but only somewhat. It is true that California has among, if not the, highest rate of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children
due to its population, location on the border, high immigrant population, and its large economy. Texas, New York, and Florida are also high on the list for similar reasons. But none of those states' general populations value human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children; in fact, I'm sure they all find it to be as abhorrent as Sam does. The fact that law enforcement in CA rounded up as many offenders as they did during the operation is a testament to that.
I've been merely an observer rather than a participant of political discussions on this board for several years now, and for a number of reasons. Among them are that no one cares, nor should they, about what I think. Another being that no one is ever swayed by the beliefs of others here. It's kinda like watching a science project being conducted. It's also at varying times amusing, disheartening, annoying, and enlightening. And while I believe that some of you do indeed suffer from mental disorders, they do not spring from your political beliefs. They result from you just being a buncha dick slappin' knuckle draggin' forehead slopin' retards.
Keep up the good work.
