Fundemental difference between Liberals and Conservatives

[blunttech]

Parents also play a huge factor into how people think.

Then there are optimistics and pessimistics.
My friends who are liberal are optimistic and think that all these bail outs MIGHT work because people MIGHT be nice to each other.
I'm pessimistic and know they won't work because humans as a race are greedy and selfish. It is what it is.

i dunno man, im as right as can be and both my sons are libs. of course they dont own much besides cars right now. i may be seeing the same rebellion i went thru as a kid but my oldest is hardcore lib to the point we get in furious debates over shit. hes very hard to argue with too because hes smarter than me. my youngest isnt as hardcore but hes definitely left

[iamsam]

The way i have seen it at college is that the hard core liberals don't believe there is a greater purpose than life on earth at all, and live for the moment, and don't think about death and stuff. I worked with one of the most hard core raging liberals that the world has ever produced and he firmly believed there was no God and that people ceased to be when they died. I asked him if that bugged him, apparently it doesn't.

So there is one difference i see. But of course there are Libs who believe in God and vice versa.

[Alkasquawlik]

Parents also play a huge factor into how people think.

Then there are optimistics and pessimistics.
My friends who are liberal are optimistic and think that all these bail outs MIGHT work because people MIGHT be nice to each other.
I'm pessimistic and know they won't work because humans as a race are greedy and selfish. It is what it is.

[iamsam]

A question that has genuinely intrigued me for a long time, and after reading a few threads here with some pretty nasty debating, i figured i'd ask this.

For the record, i think my avatar gives my viewpoint away....;)

So, lefties and righties are SO different in opinion, mentality, and in their general outlook on life. Each side wants to better the world and their lives (obviously), but with a common overall goal, how can there be such differing ideologies?

a few theories i have come up with that cause differences

Belief in God (clarify: belief there is a greater afterlife/purpose rather than not) - my strongest theory
Adherence to logic
Adherence to emotion
Financial status
Demographic upbringing

Now none of these factors clearly defines who is a Liberal and who is a Conservative, so input time!


note: if you think this thread is useless, idiotic, and pointless, that's fine, no one is forcing you to take part in it.