How to Win An Argument With a Conservative (idiots!)

Utne Reader ^ | 4.8.04 | Jacob Wheeler

[mhking]

Whether you're looking for clear differences between the Republicans and Democrats to convince a friend not to vote for a third party, sleuthing for information on campaign funding sources, or just want a few juicy statistics proving that companies are actually given larger tax breaks when they buy gas-guzzling cars, The American Voice website featuring Dr. Dave as its resident expert could be your lucky find.

Dr. Dave's Fact of the Day may shock you, or simply back up your already-firm opinion with useful statistics. Did you know that just over 30 percent of all 18-24 year-olds in the United States voted in the 2000 presidential elections, compared to more than 50 percent in 1964? Did you know that "the minimum wage has not increased in eight years" or that "its effective buying power has dropped to its lowest level since 1949?"

In his "Pocket Guide to Issues and Allegations" Dr. Dave chronicles the backgrounds of issues as confusing as Social Security or as polarizing as Capital Punishment, and offers both the conservative and the liberal perspective. For instance, "The death penalty promotes public safety, as those executed will never commit crimes again," say the conservatives, while the liberals counter with, "the death penalty is irrevocable, eliminating the chance that a defendant could be exonerated by new evidence coming to light."

Or ask Dr. Dave a question yourself. He'll be happy to help out with both the technical (How do I register to vote?) and the theoretical (Can one vote make a difference?) And he's sure to help you win an argument with a conservative, or a liberal.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[dr_who_2]

What I want to know is, who bothers reading "Utne Reader"?

[woofie]

I read it once ....a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away

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[JohnBDay]

http://www.americanvoice2004.org/factoids/index.html

Where are the sources for all of these numbers?

[stylin19a]

um......did 18 year olds have the vote in 1964 ? (come on, you all know that answer.) Thanx for playin.

[Marauder]

"the death penalty is irrevocable, eliminating the chance that a defendant could be exonerated by new evidence coming to light."

Abortions are irrevocable, too. The main difference is that the one put to death is irrefutably innocent.

[syriacus]

I've found the Uncle Eric books to be very helpful.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"just over 30 percent of all 18-24 year-olds in the United States voted in the 2000 presidential elections"

This could be a very damning statistic if the liberals thought about it. So we've had 40 years of concentrated brainwashing in the schools and the "children" have become less politically active.

Not surprising though the kids have to spend their time having sex and doing drugs!!

[GrandEagle]

Did you know that just over 30 percent of all 18-24 year-olds in the United States voted in the 2000 presidential elections, compared to more than 50 percent in 1964?
Pretty darn interesting considering:

Amendment XXVI

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.

Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Added
1971

[William Martel]

I could have wrote this article.

How to Win an Argument With Conservatives:

Try using facts and logic and leave your emotions out of it.

[Mike Bates]

Try using facts and logic and leave your emotions out of it.

Facts? Logic? Bringing those up to a Lefty is like holding a cross in front of Dracula.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[William Martel]

That's true. I guess that means they just can't win an argument with us then. Oh well.

[KarlInOhio]

Facts? Logic? Bringing those up to a Lefty is like holding a cross in front of Dracula.

Now that's just fighting dirty. :-)

[weegee]

"The death penalty promotes public safety, as those executed will never commit crimes again," say the conservatives, while the liberals counter with, "the death penalty is irrevocable, eliminating the chance that a defendant could be exonerated by new evidence coming to light."

The left opposes the death penalty even when there is no doubt as to the identity of the killers. Among the reasons cited are:

- "the death penalty is not evenly applied, minorities are more likely to be executed for the same crime"

- "it is cruel and unusual punishment" (the SAME thing that Thomas Jefferson reportedly said of life inprisonment which he also reportedly said puts an undue financial burden on the tax payer)

- "it doesn't reduce the occurrance of crime"

- "it doesn't allow for rehabilitation"

- "it doesn't take into account mental ability or upbringing of the individual"

Executing the "wrong" person is hardly the reason they oppose the death penalty any more than they support abortion because a fetus "is not human".

[weegee]

Lots o' laffs here:

Dr. Dittohead

"I assume you're not a Limbaugh fan," I ventured, assured that this woman, so nuanced in her thinking, couldn't possibly be a Dittohead. She was so reasonable that I couldn't imagine her getting off on Rush's demented tirades. She didn't seem square enough for his politics, and I was certain no hate radio fan was capable of her intellectual sophistication. Besides, she was an educated urban Jewish professional, and Rush's audience consisted largely of white suburban males.

She held my gaze a few excruciating seconds longer. "Actually, I am," she said. My moral compass began spinning wildly. I was suddenly sitting with someone new. The levelheaded sage in whom I'd confided for nearly a year had been replaced by an off-the-rack ideologue.

Rather than believe their own eyes and ears, facts and reasoned arguments, liberals cling to cliches, innuendo, and myths.

[weegee]

"Never argue with a donkey. It makes the donkey look smart and you look foolish."

[Fedora]

This article is kinda like if someone wrote an article called "How to Win a Fight with Muhammad Ali" and gave it to a 98-pounder with no boxing experience: it might help them practice hitting the bag, but it's not going to help a whole lot once they step in the ring. Or as Bruce Lee put it: "Boards. . .don't hit back."

[Mike Bates]

"I assume you're not a Limbaugh fan," I ventured, assured that this woman, so nuanced in her thinking. . .

I had read this on another thread, but when I saw "nuanced" I thought it was a spoof. Silly me.