Values

[sarahmichigan]

It's interesting how the liberals and the conservatives are both playing on the idea of "values" in their campaigns. I heard a piece on NPR a few days ago that helped me sort out some thoughts on this. I think it's great that the Kerry campaign is getting out the message that Republicans aren't the only ones with mainstream values, traditional values, family values, or whatever. When Republicans talk about values, they generally mean something more like morals. Their values are to prevent gays from marrying, interfering in people's abilities to commit consensual sex acts and commit other consensual, victimless crimes like smoking pot, and coercing unhappy people into staying married. OK, so they have other values that I agree with, like working hard, keeping the money you've earned through your hard work, etc. But liberals have values, too. Things like tolerance and "live and let live." Values like: "Don't single out a particular group of people to deny civil rights to" or "Don't trash the environment for short-term economic gain."

Truth is, everybody has values, it's just a matter of which values you think are the right set of values, and whether a candidate's values match your own. And frankly, G.W. Bush's values scare me most of the time.

Comments

You and me both.

[ladyteal.livejournal.com]

Let's just say that there is probably little that GW and I agree on.

Peace,
Teal

[jenx.livejournal.com]

I was reading this week's copy of "The Nation" and there's an interesting perspective from Howard Dean. He says that Democrats believe that they have some responsibility toward their fellow human beings, and Republicans don't. Which sounds about right.

As for values vs. morals - I don't agree. I have some very firm moral beliefs - but they aren't the same morals that other people (most neocons) have (not by a long shot!)

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

I don't think we're in disagreement so much as I stated it badly.