Would conservativism even exist without "enemies"?

[arbusto_baboso]

It's my opinion that ultra-conservatives need some kind of "enemy" upon which to place all blame. Historically, that list has included communists, socialists, trade unions, liberals, gays, Jews, gypsies, American Indians, African Americans.... <deep breath> well, you name it.

Would - COULD - conservative "thought" even exist without an enemies list? Not on your life.

[gmoney]

1. Their enemies are change and progress

[eppur_se_muova]

14. No, that's fundamentalism ... oh, no, wait ...

OK, I guess that's true of both of them. :)

[ck4829]

2. That's the basis for conservatism. Slowing progress towards equality for those "uppity minorities"

Conservatism is about using political means to delay equality and progress.

[laughingliberal]

4. Even that is just a strawman by which they get the right leaning masses to vote against their own

self interests. Our side just sells different boogeymen to acheive the same goals. The goal is to keep funneling the money to the top and make sure no one who is not at the top can get any of it.

[Echo In Light]

3. No. Remove the need to hate & attack an 'enemy' & RW movements cease to be

[ClassWarrior]

6. Wrong. They'll just invent an "enemy" to hate and attack. It's a psychosis. Read...

...John Dean's "Conservatives without Conscience."

NGU.

[Echo In Light]

8. Since you're backing up what I wrote, how am I "wrong?"

[ClassWarrior]

10. Because you can't "remove the need." It's a psychosis. Read the book.

NGU.

[Echo In Light]

12. You're splitting hairs. My point stands.

[Laura902]

5. They create their own enemies, their self-sustaining n/t

[andym]

7. The #1 Conservative enemy is the govt, the #1 Progressive enemy is the (big) Corp.

Fear of control by powerful forces is the common element.

Does the govt impose rules (laws) on us? True
Do big corporations wield tremendous influence on our lives? True

The difference:
But is the government really out to control us? Not true.

[Kutjara]

9. That's why the term for much right-wing thought is "reactionary."

Rightists "react against" the ideas, beliefs and actions of others. They are incapable of positive, constructive thought.

[DuckyCase]

11. You know, I've often thought about the religious and political continuum of conservatism...

...and I have to say that I think people don't become bigoted because of religion, they see religion as a way to validate their bigotry. And this, in turn, allows them to make their bigotry a political opinion in the name of upholding their religion.

[City Lights]

13. Repukes care about two things and two things only:

making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it.