Is the US more conservative or more liberal than the 1930s? (vanity)

self | 4/17/02 | TenthAmendmentChampion

[Cold Heat]

Spinoza who? LOL!

[Roy Tucker]

Forgot to add that the world today is more vulgar than it was then. There were more social constraints on individual's behavior than there is today. Societal constraints not government-imposed constraints.

[Cleburne]

I think socialist thought was perhaps more pervasive and far reaching- ie not confined to the "elite" and intellectuals- in the 30's, namely bacuse many people were desperate and quite willing to try any manner of things. However, at the same time, it would be a stretch to call any period of American thought "socialist" if you mean the much more pure European variety, which is considerably further reaching than any socialist program attempted in the US. I do not think that at any one period of American history that there has been a very wide-ranging consensus to eliminate the free market system, to abolish property, to nationalize everything, etc. Rather, when socialism comes in America it is very incremental, very slow, and often diluted: it has to be, for Americans are not Europeans, and even the most radical union striker was unlikely, by and large, to wish to see a society completely socialist or Communist. We have very far-reaching ideals relating to hard work, making your own money, and the like, that can not be taken for granted. Our culture developed in such a way that Communism would be esentially unthinkable for even many traditional American leftists. Socialism has had its proponents, but the drive has been lacking.

And then there is the major problem of your defenition of "liberal". Conservative is an easier term to establsih, as it can be best taken to mean one who maintains something, though it may not be the status quo (a modern conservative trying to maintain marriage in its godly form is not maintain a status quo for example- it no longer exists in the essence conservatives wish and must thus be restored). "Liberal" is a harder term to define, and in 1930's America

[Cold Heat]

Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was a Jewish-Portuguese-Dutch Philosopher.

His thought widened, and continues to widen, the horizons of modern man

See! I looked him up at least.

[Cleburne]

Oops! LEft this bit off below:

And then there is the major problem of your defenition of "liberal". Conservative is an easier term to establsih, as it can be best taken to mean one who maintains something, though it may not be the status quo (a modern conservative trying to maintain marriage in its godly form is not maintain a status quo for example- it no longer exists in the essence conservatives wish and must thus be restored). "Liberal" is a harder term to define, and in 1930's America liberal could well mean- at the beginning of the decade- one who advocates free market ideals. Obviously by the end of the decade this had changed completely.

[Roy Tucker]

We are losing everything and every bottle.

They won't get my bottles! Join me in a round of "100 bottles of Beer on the Wall"

[Cold Heat]

Philosophy is not one of my great interests, although I find it to be interesting, I just don't like to weed through all the gobble/gobble to get to the meat.

[Cold Heat]

I was going to do that but the subject matter was too serious.:-)

[RLK]

I guess you are an old bastard, probably born in the 30s, like myself. I can remember when there was an atmosphere of optimism and respect and honor. Somewhere along the line the John Waynes were replaced by the Woody Allens.

[Cold Heat]

Actually, I do believe that life(in regard to society and social morays) has a lot in common with geometry.

Just look at any community. See the geometric patterns of the social interaction of groups and sub-groups.

Ahhhh I digress.

[RLK]

We are losing everything and every bottle. They won't get my bottles! Join me in a round of "100 bottles of Beer on the Wall"

----------------------

That was meant to be battle. I'm having difficulty seeing the screen tonight.

[ladyinred]

I totally disagree with your fascism statement, and I must say, I resent it too!
Because you believe in law and order, and God and Country that does not make you a fascist. Sheesh!

[Cold Heat]

When Adam and Eve started to think in terms of "good and bad", i.e. subjectively; instead of "true and false", i.e. objectively; they self-thrust themselves from the Garden of Eden, i.e. they were subject to loss of °Peace of Mind.

Interesting stuff

[Cold Heat]

one real burglary a year in homes, and dozens in businesses

Could it be because homeowners tend to shoot the SOBs. Or at least the threat is there.