At least according to a post over at the Daily Mail. Here’s some choice excerpts:
The full-scale embrace of the importance of self-awareness, self-discovery and being ‘true’ to oneself, along with the idea that the State should care for the less fortunate, has created a swathe of Left-wing people who want to outsource their obligations to others.
The statistics I base this on come from the General Social Survey, America’s premier social research database, but they are just as relevant to the UK, as I believe political belief systems drive one’s attitudes, regardless of where you happen to live.
I’ve also noticed these particular quirks of liberalism. In charity, one gives of what they have to another without expectation of reward. In the liberal world, charity is a tax-deduction. Tally up how much you’ve given, then get it back from the government somehow. That’s not charity.
What’s worse is that it doesn’t put a face on the problem. If you want to help the poor, then help the poor. Don’t demand the government help the poor, then have the government tax everyone (even those who don’t want to help, or those who can’t afford to help) and then help the poor by 3rd part extension. There is no charity there, and that’s the essence of socialism. Charity by society, and society’s needs are driven by the elected. So, that means you give to the government and expect the government to give charitably, it’s all moot, as the money you give to the government to assist those you think it’s assisting may not be assisted at all.
Let’s see some more from the article:
Those surveyed were asked: ‘Is it your obligation to care for a seriously injured/ill spouse or parent, or should you give care only if you really want to?’ Of those describing themselves as ‘conservative’, 71 per cent said it was. Only 46 per cent of those on the Left agreed.
Liberalism, at least the progressive, neo-hippie version, is very self-centered. Feminism was incredibly selfish (and still continues to be). Dodge the draft, blame your crime on a disease-du-jour, blame all of society’s evils on conservatives but none on Democrats– it’s all about shifting the blame off their shoulders in any way, as it’s perfect realization of individual and empowerment of individual Conversely, this means there is necrosis of society and community, as those who look out only for A#1 are not going to contribute to the well-being of the community unless there’s something in it for them. Oddly enough, this is a complaint liberalism has of conservatism. Let’s move on…
To the question: ‘Do you get happiness by putting someone else’s happiness ahead of your own?’, 55 per cent of those who said they were ‘very conservative’ said Yes, compared with 20 per cent of those who were ‘very liberal’.
Mmm hmm… More:
When asked by the World Values Survey whether parents should sacrifice their own well-being for those of their children, those on the Left were nearly twice as likely to say No.
Ouch.
Scholars at Oxford and Warwick Universities found the same sort of behaviour when they conducted an experiment.
Setting up a computer game that allowed people to accumulate money, they gave participants the option to spend some of their own money in order to take away more from someone else.
The result? Those who considered themselves ‘egalitarians’ (i.e. Left of centre) were much more willing to give up some of their own money if it meant taking more money from someone else.
Much of the desire to distribute wealth and higher taxation is motivated by envy - the desire to take more from someone else - and bitterness.
And that’s the key. There’s rarely a “oneness of giving” from the modern liberal. They give, but they want something back in the process. That’s not charity– that’s investment!
I know liberals who are exceptions to these general patterns (as you will find in any political group), but mine the Hollywood crowd, the local Ivory Tower University, or a Democratic fundraiser, and you’ll discover that the majority believe in giving to charities that support ideological progress rather than assistance to the poor, homeless and sick.
Conservatives, the surveys say, are generally nicer, and have a softer edge, regardless of how much money it could possibly make them.
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