The origin of conservatism [View All]

[Speck Tater]

My theory of the day: When mankind lived in small hunter-gatherer communities survival depended on close bonds in the community and a shared view of everything from morality to how the hunt ws to be conducted. Innovation was deviation from what was proven effective, and as such presented a clear and present danger to the survival of the tribe. Conformity had to be enforced because anything that threatened the social cohesion of the tribe threatened the very survival of the tribe.

So our brains were wired to fear anyone who was different, and to be afraid of anyone who deviated from the tribal customs. The conservative mind is still trapped in this hunter-getherer mentality and feels genuine and deep-seated fear of anyone who does not conform to the tribal standards in every way.

Modern civilization has outgrown the need for absolute conformity. We have a better understanding of how to make crops grow without fearing that our "deviant" behavior might offend the earth fertility gods. We can try new things without the danger that one small mistake might wipe out the whole tribe.

But the conservative has never outgrown this primative fear of innovation. It's not their fault, they are just trapped by their fear-based mentality, wihtout even recognizing it for what it is. They honestly feel that having a gay couple living in their neighborhood is a dire threat to the survival of the tribe. How do we bring these people out of their neolithic mind-set and into the modern age?