"[P]olitical
forms [cannot]...be comprehended whether by themselves or on the basis
of a so-called general development of the human mind, but...on the
contrary they originate in the material conditions of life... It is not
the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their
social existence that determines their consciousness." - Karl Marx, "A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy," 1859
Leftists look at the world through a Marxist lens. Karl Marx reduced every struggle to class conflict. Liberals are influenced and educated by leftists and it is no surprise therefore that liberals too, consciously or not, are constantly blaming the system or class conditions as the true cause of destructive and dangerous behavior. They don't like Marx, however, only look to economic class. The politics of the left is defined by categories of thinking tied to perceived oppressed classes needing protection. If you are not any preconceived protected class, you may become a target of the left.
Yesterday, State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf stated, "We cannot kill our way out of this war [with ISIS]. We need in the medium to longer term to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups...[such as] lack of opportunity for jobs." Time Magazine published "In Defense of Rioting" during Ferguson with the author writing that "in our capitalist society...[u]ntil I have had to walk in a person of color’s skin...I will be inherently privileged." Extremely high violent crime and murder rates in the black community are chalked up to "poverty" and blame is placed on "the system." After the 9/11 attacks, in a Newsweek cover essay, "Why They Hate Us," Fareed Zakaria argued that jihadism was a result of political/social/economic stagnation of Arab societies. The left launches campaigns to demonize Israel and blames all Palestinian jihad terror on Israeli "oppression" and "occupation." The left's refrain is that "the rich" must pay their "fair share." Abortion is viewed as a "women's rights" issue and a "woman's right to choose." Sexism, intolerance, xenophobia, Islamophobia, homophobia, intolerance, racism, and bigotry become the knee-jerk epithets of choice against anyone that dare take a position the left disagrees with. Only a Marxist-style framework could produce this kind of thinking.
On the other hand, conservatives view the world through a moral prism. This requires unabashedly making moral judgments and disavowing moral relativism. This morality mindset looks to values and ideology rather than perceived oppression and protected classes. Misconduct is more often attributed to downright evil ideologies, backwards cultures, warped or absent values, or an inability to distinguish between right and wrong.
Conservatives refer to a "clash of civilizations," and are far more unembarrassed in calling out and blaming the Islamist ideology of America's enemies. George W. Bush at least at times referred to "Islamofascism" or "radical Islam," while Obama and his minions are incapable. ISIS is a deeply religious Islamic millenarian group, with a theology that must be understood to be combatted. Ronald Reagan called the Soviets an "evil empire," and George W. Bush warned of an "axis of evil." Black crime rates are disproportionate because of a culture in need of repair and moral fiber in need of strengthening far more than any white racism. No one seems to have imparted a basic moral constitution or meaningful values into Ferguson rioters. Israel is a vibrant democracy facing a primitive evil enemy bent on her destruction since her birth. The right believes that taxation is a species of "legalized larceny" without a compelling public interest. Instead of gender guiding the entire opinion, the conservative asks when the moral obligation to protect the unborn child comes into being. Refusing to stand up to evil or with perceived justice is far more ignoble than any particular set of pre-packaged group-based insults.
This is not all-extensive list, more examples could be given if more issues were examined closely. Granted, this is merely my proposition, but it's also a thought experiment I challenge you to take. Listen to the debates of our day and see if you can find examples constantly, on your own, that too neatly fall into this left-Marxist, right-Morality dichotomy.
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Leftists look at the world through a Marxist lens. Karl Marx reduced every struggle to class conflict. Liberals are influenced and educated by leftists and it is no surprise therefore that liberals too, consciously or not, are constantly blaming the system or class conditions as the true cause of destructive and dangerous behavior. They don't like Marx, however, only look to economic class. The politics of the left is defined by categories of thinking tied to perceived oppressed classes needing protection. If you are not any preconceived protected class, you may become a target of the left.
Yesterday, State Department Spokeswoman Marie Harf stated, "We cannot kill our way out of this war [with ISIS]. We need in the medium to longer term to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups...[such as] lack of opportunity for jobs." Time Magazine published "In Defense of Rioting" during Ferguson with the author writing that "in our capitalist society...[u]ntil I have had to walk in a person of color’s skin...I will be inherently privileged." Extremely high violent crime and murder rates in the black community are chalked up to "poverty" and blame is placed on "the system." After the 9/11 attacks, in a Newsweek cover essay, "Why They Hate Us," Fareed Zakaria argued that jihadism was a result of political/social/economic stagnation of Arab societies. The left launches campaigns to demonize Israel and blames all Palestinian jihad terror on Israeli "oppression" and "occupation." The left's refrain is that "the rich" must pay their "fair share." Abortion is viewed as a "women's rights" issue and a "woman's right to choose." Sexism, intolerance, xenophobia, Islamophobia, homophobia, intolerance, racism, and bigotry become the knee-jerk epithets of choice against anyone that dare take a position the left disagrees with. Only a Marxist-style framework could produce this kind of thinking.
On the other hand, conservatives view the world through a moral prism. This requires unabashedly making moral judgments and disavowing moral relativism. This morality mindset looks to values and ideology rather than perceived oppression and protected classes. Misconduct is more often attributed to downright evil ideologies, backwards cultures, warped or absent values, or an inability to distinguish between right and wrong.
Conservatives refer to a "clash of civilizations," and are far more unembarrassed in calling out and blaming the Islamist ideology of America's enemies. George W. Bush at least at times referred to "Islamofascism" or "radical Islam," while Obama and his minions are incapable. ISIS is a deeply religious Islamic millenarian group, with a theology that must be understood to be combatted. Ronald Reagan called the Soviets an "evil empire," and George W. Bush warned of an "axis of evil." Black crime rates are disproportionate because of a culture in need of repair and moral fiber in need of strengthening far more than any white racism. No one seems to have imparted a basic moral constitution or meaningful values into Ferguson rioters. Israel is a vibrant democracy facing a primitive evil enemy bent on her destruction since her birth. The right believes that taxation is a species of "legalized larceny" without a compelling public interest. Instead of gender guiding the entire opinion, the conservative asks when the moral obligation to protect the unborn child comes into being. Refusing to stand up to evil or with perceived justice is far more ignoble than any particular set of pre-packaged group-based insults.
This is not all-extensive list, more examples could be given if more issues were examined closely. Granted, this is merely my proposition, but it's also a thought experiment I challenge you to take. Listen to the debates of our day and see if you can find examples constantly, on your own, that too neatly fall into this left-Marxist, right-Morality dichotomy.
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