Regarding your comments about "more conservative than they ever imagined", I do find the greyness you find around interesting, as opposed to the black and white of the theoretical chalkboard conservative/Republican and progressive/Democratic differences. I was watching TV not long ago and Buchanan said we need to lower H1-B visas. I stood up and started clapping, I didn't even know any talking head cared about that. I saw Tancredo talk about that later.
Honestly, I am surrounded by conservatives. I live in a very "red" bastion of a very blue wider area. American flags everywhere, church goers, Support our troops stickers on cars. The alpha and omega of me being on the left are my economic beliefs.
Anyhow, I could go off on a bunch of tangents from the whole gray area thing.
You do seem VERY confused, dear.
It has been several months since we have seen a pseudo-intellectual DUmpster diver. If you have had an epiphany, welcome to the conservative capitalistic anti redistribution forum. Progressive? Come now, prithee enlighten all of us Appalachian's and Rednecks to the glories of this progressive movement. Afore we go an' fetch a shootin iron.
Let people work as hard as they want, and then let them keep their earnings: why is that such a distasteful idea to anti-capitalists?
Want to discuss this hatred of capitalists?
The term "capitalism" was coined by Karl Marx to describe a free market system. Capitalism is the opposite of statism, or rather free-market capitalism (basically our economic system) is the exact opposite of state capitalism (what Marx supported).
When you say that you "hate capitalists", what you are really saying is that you hate our economic system, yet, it is that very system that has secured this nation's liberties and an above average standard of living for quite a long time for her citizens.
You've lasted this long, haven't been zotted. Good. Stick around, welcome aboard, from a former Democrat, more of the Henry Jackson variety.
Suggested reading:
The Road to Serfdom, by Freidrich A. von Hayek. von Hayek was hated by both the Nazis and Stalin. His colleague, Ludwig von Mises, had the misfortune of remaining in Austria, wound up in a concentration camp, and then the GULAG.
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. I will admit that she gets a bit preachy, and I also disagree with her atheism, among other things, but she does have some valid points.
The above some may consider more libertarian than conservative - yes we got some infighting here between the two groups, but that's another discussion altogether.
Stick around, have fun!
Ruh roh! It's not as black and white as you've been led to believe is it? Not only talking heads but many republicans are concerned about H1-B visa's being issued in areas where we have sufficient Americans to fill the jobs.
As far as being class conscious and hating capitalists, have you ever noticed some of the more wealthy people around are democrats? Quite a number of them didn't inherit the wealth either they earned it using good old fashioned capitalism. There's nothing evil about wanting to be better off than we are financially. I don't particularly find struggling financially all that noble.
You'll find many on this board are working people just like you are. You say you're surrounded by conservatives, how well do you know these people? Are you under the impression they don't give a darned about the environment? If you are then you're working under a misunderstanding. We more than likely believe in a more balanced approach to conservation than most who wear the tag of green do but it doesn't mean we don't have concerns about the environment.
You'll see all sorts of responses on FR about all sorts of different problems facing America today. Some will be kneejerk, some will be well reasoned, if you can take the time to read about conservative beliefs I think you'll find quite a few areas we will be in agreement about.