Scott Wells at Boys in the Bands enters a discussion on the radical-conservative-liberal continuum, and asks for our thoughts. As this is something I've been meaning to post about for some time, I'm grateful for the invitation! Although there are some specific meanings to the terms "liberal" and "conservative" in specific vocations- judicial, for example, or theological- the general mindsets are much the same in most any arena, so I will discuss how I see the differences.
To begin with, both Liberals and Conservatives see that things need improving, and both seek the greater good for all. But...
The conservative believes that the world didn't just appear one day, with the systems and institutions we have picked at random. Things are the way there, generally speaking, because that's the way they must be- or, originally must have been- to function properly. The reasons why may not be obvious, may be counterintuitive, but the reasons do exist; and therefore the conservative will be reluctant to change unless there are clear and compelling reasons to. "Invisible hand" and "unintended consequences" are frequently heard in conservative circles.
The Liberal abhors the negative aspects of status quo more than he fears unintended consequences. While the conservative trusts the collective wisdom of those in the past who created what we have now, the liberal trusts the collective wisdom of those in the future who will administer what we create today. Thus, the liberal is more willing to create new programs with profound consequences, while the conservative would prefer to do it in reversible stages, to gauge effects and make corrections. Phrases such as "Surely in a country that can do ___, we can..." and "If we just..." are frequently heard from liberals.
The conservative sees the liberal as unrealistic, feet not on the ground. It's been tried before, it never works, climb down from your ivory tower and see the real world now and then. The liberal sees the conservative as pessimistic, or even uncaring. Can't you see it doesn't have to be this way? Don't you care? If we just... To my mind, both attitudes, forever in tension with neither side ever gaining permanent ascendancy, are necessary for survival of a person or a society. A society that never gambles never progresses; a society that gambles too much soon dies. History is replete with examples of both failings.
And the radical? A radical can come from either direction; the difference is what he is willing to do, how far he is willing to go. Rita Rudner said "”Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them. My mother cleans them.” Her mother is a radical.
Evidence that the liberal/conservative is a general mindset, rather than a specific doctrine, is amply provided by the UUA. There is no theological requirement I'm aware of that a liberal church must be liberal politically, but if you look at all the Statements of Conscience, Immediate Witness, etc., the UUA has passed, you'll never see a greater collection of (to my conservative eyes) hare-brained, ivory tower, loony-lefty schemes. I'm convinced that someday a bunch of UUs attending a séance will be accosted by the spirit of Karl Marx himself, saying, "Whoa, slow down with the wobbly stuff already, don't got carried away..." But that doesn't bother me, for rarer than the UU conservative is the UU radical. Without radicals, a society doesn't act at all, it merely discusses things. A society without radicals comes to believe that by writing a letter to their congressman or holding an after-service forum on a given issue, they have actually done something about it. A radical wouldn't be so fooled.
5 comments:
Reminds me of one of my favorite Shavian quotes:
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
Of course, whether you call it "progress" or "being unreasonable," it's all a matter of degree.
And what do you call someone who tells us what we MUST be thinking ?
And what do you call someone who tells us what we MUST be thinking ?
A Democrat...
But a Chicago Democrat doesn't care what you think but makes you sell ten tickets to the Regular Democratic Organization golf outing.
OK Bill...
First, let me start with some disclosure. Yes, I live in heavily Democratic Massachusetts. I'm also registered unaffiliated, and have voted for Dems, Republicans, Greens, independents and the occasional cartoon character.
So whenever someone tells me that "the other party" is the one which "tells people what they MUST be thinking," I like to remind them of why I'm not a member of any party.
There are plenty of such folks in every party.
So I'll vote for the candidate who shows the right balance of ideals and practicality, whatever label they prefer to wear.
And if there isn't one on the ballot, I'll write one in. Come to think of it, I tend to do that more than check boxes.
Diggit- I would imagine that someone who tells us what we MUST be thinking would be a radical. People tend to judge by their own standards; both liberals and conservatives have nagging doubts now and then- radicals do not. They are utterly convinced, and so they think their opposition mjust be, too... and since they know what they think, then of course they know what you MUST be thinking as well.
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