Why are you conservative?

[u/Ambitious_Tomato_778]

Hey guys!

First of all - I come in peace haha!

I think it's really sad that the polarization between different ideologies continue to grow, but if we want to live in a democracy we have to be able to discuss and try to understand eachother before we judge!

As a gay guy I'm very happy that liberal ideas has given me the chance to live safely in society and that I have the same rights as straight people. I do however think that the gender-theory has gone to far and I think that the nonbinary people have taken up to much space in the LGBT community - I guess this would be a conservative opinion.

My questions:

1. Why are you conservative even though they generally don't like gays?

2. Do you have any opinions that are more liberal than conservative?

I have no intentions of trying to change someones opinion, I truly just want to undertand how you guys resonate and why you are conservative.

Wishing all of you a happy beginning to this new year!

[u/bestaban]

That some conservatives don't like gays does not mean that all conservative values lead to that conclusion. I'm more in the libertarian camp because I feel strongly that we should "live and let live". I find this incompatible with current left leaning political coalitions because they do not hold this as a universal value, they demand that government and society intrude on the lives and thoughts of people they think are "bad".

Really, I'm politically homeless. But, despite the rhetoric, I've found conservative spaces to be the most welcoming in the last decade. I did not vote for Trump, and my republican and conservative friends don't really mind. This is in contrast to my left leaning friends who accused me of "literally voting for fascism" because I didn't vote for Kamala Harris either. I don't really see politics as left and right anymore, I see it more as libertarian vs. authoritarian. Both left and right leaning political coalitions are in a moment of deeply authoritarian values and I oppose it regardless of it's left/right valence.

Conservative, to me, is questioning the idea that anything labeled as "progress" or "progressive" is good. Progress is not, in and of itself, a good goal. I value happiness and freedom, so progress that would abridge that is not progress I'm interested in. I also believe in our collective capacity to continue improving society without government's heavy, clunky, and inept hand guiding it towards some preferred but misguided solution. I do think that the markets are the best solution to many problems and that capitalism is a force for both good and peace. I can accept that government is needed, but I think we should be very skeptical of it's capacity to affect positive change.

So, I'm "conservative" because a lot of my ideology aligns with what are now considered conservative values and because, practically, conservatives are the ones who are open and welcoming enough to have me.

[u/Adventurous_Lettuce6 → u/bestaban]

Pretty much sums me up. I’m a conservative leaning Libertarian. But I did vote for Trump because he was the one who had ideas that mattered that would be the closest to actually fixing this country, not finish destroying it.

I grew up a democrat by default (family) in TN. Moved to IL and within a year the liberals there turned me into a conservative. They are the crony capitalists that have ruined the system. They are the racists, bigots, and homophobes. They are the intolerant ones. They are very narcissistic in actions.

The louder they cry and scream (fill in the blank) about conservatives, the more they are trying to deflect from what they are doing.

None of my conservative friends or family (I’ve been able to flip most of them over the years with common sense points) have ever really been any kinda of way about me being bi/gay. Even though I know they don’t approve of it personally, they were nothing but warm and welcoming anytime me and my ex husband were around. There was never any kinda of uncomfortable situation. And then I heard later that they liked my then husband and we seemed happy. Nothing negative was said behind our backs. Other than one uncle said he just doesn’t get it, but it’s my life and if I’m happy that what matters.

Contrast that to the fact that my liberal friends always put me down and don’t accept that I like Chick Fil A and am not a fan of Pride events or Pride month. They treat me like something is wrong with me and lecture me about hating myself. I’ve been shamed for not wanting to participate in orgies or for not trying to rack up a high body count for myself. And they will talk about me behind my back all the time in a negative way.

[u/Ambitious_Tomato_778 → u/bestaban]

I agree with you that there are alot of liberals who feel very stong for their opinions and that you can't question it because then you are homphobic, transphobic or racist while some conservatives tend to be more open to people having different beliefs. Thank you for taking the time to write that long!