Of Politics, Odours and Soap

Caveat: I have not read the book discussed in the column I am about to link.

Get a load of this.  Seems conservatives understand liberals, but liberals don't understand conservatives.

The difference between liberals and conservatives, argues psychology professor Jonathan Haidt, is simple: the liberal moral prism reflects three values (caring for the weak, fairness, and liberty). Conservatives supposedly share these views, but also value loyalty, respect for authority, and sanctity.

Interesting, but overgeneralized. I can tell you that, as a liberal, I value loyalty highly and that I respect the authorities that I recognize. Those would be the ones who (a) know something about what they purport to have authority over and (b) do not exercise their authority arbitrarily and without restraint.

Actually, come to think of it, I don't hold with blind loyalty either. Staying loyal to something just because 'it's always been that way' or because 'daddy told me to' -- which, to me at least is the very definition of conservatism -- is stupid at best and possibly fatal at worst.  But loyalty in general? Being loyal to friends and family? That's not strictly a conservative value.

 I don't have much respect for sanctity, granted. That's a function of having seen it so horribly abused by so many. When you elevate one group to holiness, you debase another; that's something I would judge as evil, and it's especially evil when it's done in a deity's name. You'll pardon the crassness, but religion is like a penis. It's great that you have one, but I'd prefer you don't try and jam it down my throat.

I do find it interesting that I think conservatives would become liberals if they'd only grow out a little; conservatives have been telling me for years that I would understand them better once I grew up. The patronizing attitude doesn't help either way, but damnit, it's hard to eradicate. Every time a homosexual gets married, I want to send Rick Santorum pictures of the ceremony. See, Rick? The world's still spinning.
As I age and become more liberal with each passing year, I confess I do find it harder and harder to understand how conservatives get (let alone stay) the way they are. So that part of Haidt's hypothesis makes sense to me.

Haidt cites some other studies that are fascinating: apparently bad smells or an admonition to wash your hands with soap can make you at least temporarily more moralistic and judgmental. I can't speak to that, having never taken part in such studies. What I wonder is if there are circumstances that would loosen the moralistic attitudes of conservatives, and if so, how we can get those circumstances to obtain everywhere, all the time.