We take care of our own. This is true for everyone, no matter one’s race, class, political orientation or outlook on life. The difference is in the “our own”.
Fortunately, in times of crisis such as recently with Katrina, Americans are very generous on who they consider their own. Even though the people who suffered the most were poor and black, most Americans have been outraged by the additional suffering caused by the mismanagement of the crisis. Most people feel that we, through government agencies, must take care of those of us most affected by this disaster.
Even in normal times, we tend to take care of our own. Some may argue that that’s exactly the problem with the left: we want to take care of everyone. But when you get right down to it, the only difference between progressives and conservatives is the scope of “our own”. Conservatives claim to be for smaller government and self reliance, but in practice they don’t miss any opportunity to take care of their own. From government handouts to corporations, to giving jobs to friends and friends of friends (cronyism, old-boy network, its all the same), routing contracts and government grants to your pet projects, all is a form of taking care of your own.
“There but for the grace of God go I”, otherwise known as “chance and probability”. That is why both conservatives and progressives are moved to action in times of disaster. Natural or man-made disaster can affect any of us. We take care of others in times of need, and we expect that others will take care of us in times of need.
Progressives understand that “There but for the grace of God go I” or “chance and probability” apply to every part of our lives. Luck is a big part of why you are where you are in life. Therefore, we need to take care of those who have had less luck or who by chance are less fortunate than ourselves.
A conservative is more likely to believe that he got where he is all on his own. He’s where he is in life solely because of skill and hard work. But there are lots of talented people who never make it big, and lots of successful people with little talent.
Progressives get upset when government resources are used to take care of those who least need it. Tax cuts for the rich, corporate welfare, etc. We have more pressing problems that need to be addressed. Conservatives get upset when government resources are used to take care of those who are too different than themselves. They see those people in need as having caused their own problems. Why should we bail out people who have caused their own problems? But its easy to claim to be for self reliance when the system is already gamed to take care of your own.
Katrina exposed many problems in this country, poverty being the most significant. Those on the far right claim that when you give money to the super rich, it will trickle down to everyone else. It didn’t work under Reagan. It’s not working now. Those on the left claim that investing in schools, housing, job training, paying a living wage, programs to keep jobs in the US will bring up everyone’s standard of living. Move people in poverty into the middle class and you now have more consumers to buy your products.
Instead, we have Bush suspending the law that requires companies with government contracts to pay prevailing wages.
Tim, I’m often speechless with anger over the current administration’s arrogance. I would hesitate to tar all conservatives with the same brush but it seems by voting for Bush that is part of the Compassionate conservative message