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Why am I a Conservative? (On the Neurobiology of Political Affiliation)
Anonymous Conservative Blog ^ | November 21, 2012 | Anonymous Conservative

Posted on 11/24/2012 9:41:18 AM PST by AnonymousConservative

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To: GBA

Biology and even psychology is not destiny, fortunately.


21 posted on 11/24/2012 5:01:29 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (How long before all this "fairness" kills everybody, even the poor it was supposed to help???)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

As near as I can tell, personal destiny seems to be more about answering the question “how bad do you want it?”


22 posted on 11/24/2012 5:05:33 PM PST by GBA (Here in the Matrix, life is but a dream.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Op-Ed: Humans evolving into bigger idiots? Stanford professor thinks so
Digital Journal | November 21, 2012 | Paul Wallis
Posted on 11/24/2012 5:54:09 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2962578/posts


23 posted on 11/24/2012 5:25:07 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: AnonymousConservative

It’s a good movie that tackles some of your questions. Worth seeing.


24 posted on 11/24/2012 6:45:28 PM PST by JCBreckenridge (They may take our lives... but they'll never take our FREEDOM!)
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To: GBA

>which is the greater motivator: avoiding pain or seeking pleasure?

Actually, as one example of how this discussion can illuminate, that can vary with previous experience, and amygdala development (as well as the related dopmaine receptor density in the brain). One example might be addiction. Eliminate pain completely, crush dopamine receptor density, and suddenly one might do anything to avoid returning to reality.

The argument I am trying to make, in the hopes it will spread, is that the GOP’s avoidance of conflict is counter productive, as all it does is foster converting the moderates into conflict-avoiding pansies.

If the GOP gets out there, and starts kicking in Liberal teeth, they might be surprised at how quickly the populace becomes more Conservative, and repulsed by the Liberal brand. By highlighting the amygdala mechanism, I am trying to create an arugument for this which bypasses the emotional reasoning that Republican Liberals tend to use, and focuses instead on a simple logical mechanism to explain why this would work.

I just can’t believe these guys could have Reagan show the way forward, clearly see how successful he was, and then turn their back upon it, and go with this pathetic appeasement strategy they are going for now.


25 posted on 11/25/2012 10:14:18 AM PST by AnonymousConservative (Why did Liberals evolve within our species? www.anonymousconservative.com)
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To: GBA

>As near as I can tell, personal destiny seems to be more about answering the question “how bad do you want it?”

“How far am I willing to go, to avoid the alternative?” can be just as strong, if not stronger. Many will run faster from poverty than they will towards wealth.

The amygdala was designed to keep us alive, and thus is a part of the strongest drive of mankind.


26 posted on 11/25/2012 10:17:17 AM PST by AnonymousConservative (Why did Liberals evolve within our species? www.anonymousconservative.com)
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To: JCBreckenridge

Thank you. I wil take a look.


27 posted on 11/25/2012 10:17:44 AM PST by AnonymousConservative (Why did Liberals evolve within our species? www.anonymousconservative.com)
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To: AnonymousConservative
What the republican party needs is an understanding of how to sell, a love for and belief in their product and an understanding of the needs and wants of their consumer.

It doesn't really matter beyond that, which is why your thought process examples have practical value. You've created a need/want/desire and then offer the solution.

Your examples use the avoid pain side of the equation to create the need/want/desire to avoid that pain by making that pain real and then you answer with the gaining pleasure side by showing how freedom and liberty (built in universal human traits) enable someone to satisfy that need/want/desire for themselves (another built in human trait).

How does the competition stack up? Contrast that sales approach's answer against the short term socialist answer which, like any other unrealistic, potentially harmful but addicting substance or activity, provides short term pleasure but at a long term cost.

It shocks me that people can figure out how to sell almost anything to almost anyone, including Pet rocks to otherwise savvy consumers, but not freedom and liberty to an alarmed population???

Whether products, ideology or your self, it always comes down to sales. Over complicate all you feel you need to, but once the biochemistry has been worked out inside each individual, it's usually simple selling know how that made it happen and gets it done.

The real problem? The GOPe doesn't know how to sell. It/They doesn't/don't believe in the product, understand the consumer or the market.

You go out of business with a team like that. And here we are, having been sold even more poorly made crap and stuck with lousy customer service.

Time for real competition from people who know how to sell!!!

28 posted on 11/25/2012 11:06:20 AM PST by GBA (Here in the Matrix, life is but a dream.)
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To: AnonymousConservative
It all depends upon how either is sold to you and how much you believe it and then, of course, how you act upon that belief.

One of our greatest strengths and greatest flaws is our ability to rationalize ANYTHING, good or bad, right or wrong, altruistic or just plain evil.

History is full of examples of each and all, along with the consequences.

29 posted on 11/25/2012 11:11:13 AM PST by GBA
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