Conservative Politics
So. lothi suggested I blog on "the merits of conservative politics." It was tempting to just post a blank entry ;), but I told myself I'd actually give this a halfway serious attempt.
It's no secret I don't sympathize with many traditionally conservative viewpoints. In all honesty, the first thing I thought of as response to this prompt was that they make wonderful fodder for Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert (though S/C mock the left wonderfully too). There are heated moments I almost wish I was more sympathetic to conservative viewpoints, because then the current state of affairs in Washington DC might be - marginally - less vexing for me.
In some ways I think the most positive thing I've experienced with conservative politics is that by living in a state overflowing with them, I've had to develop a thicker skin on a lot of issues. When my stepmom starts going on about gays, or the woman in my German class tells me I'm wrong when I say Hillary's not a card-carrying Communist who as President would cause the USA to end up subservient to the European Union, I can internally roll my eyes and move on more easily than I used to. Though of course there's still work to be done.
They've prompted me to become more educated about my own stances. I've looked at the other side's viewpoints, their logic, and in figuring out how to articulate why I disagree, it strengthens my arguments. It makes me more confident about believing what I do, instead of just the knee-jerk irritated response when I see a blogger or pundit go on about some issue that raises my hackles.
I do think it necessary for a healthy government to have varying points of view. You need one side to balance out the other, keep each other in check, keep discussion varied. (Not that I think the current incarnation of the Democratic Party, especially the part 'in control' of Congress, is in danger of becoming a bunch of hippies any time soon.) America is - in theory :P - supposed to be a society that embraces/encourages differing points of view. However much I sympathize with the more typically liberal platform, the conservatives have as much right to be here as I do.
(The operative phrase in that previous paragraph being "in theory." If neither side is willing to work with the other, as seems to be the perpetual predicament of the United States Congress, then you just have a bunch of old men bitching at each other and getting the entire country pissed off at them because they're not getting jack done.)
In short, the right's simply made me happier that I'm on the left. Or center-left, or whatever I am. I'd certainly call that a merit.
I'm still thinking of an equally maddening prompt for your own blog, lothi. ;)