Is Conservatism a Cult?

[barts]

"A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g. isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of [consequences of] leaving it, etc.) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community." -- Louis Jolyon West, psychiatrist and human rights advocate.

It's evident from volconvo and the wider community, particularly the world's legislatures, that conservatives inhabit a self-reinforcing society based on fear, hatred, and lies. They have a dogma that is utterly disconnected from the real world. And, rely on the brain washing of supporters, not unlike Scientology.

Conservatism is a cult, complete with its spiritual leaders like Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, Palin, etc. All very wealthy people, thanks to the followers of the conservative cult.

The cult of conservatism is further expanded by corporate media owners who directly benefit when the cultists take control of governments and create public policies and tax structures that directly benefit them, and actually harm the majority of the followers of the conservative cult.

To be a member of the conservative cult--like all cults--demands that all critical faculties by suspended and unquestioning belief be afforded to the priesthood. Any challenge to the conservative cult's belief--no matter how well-founded and factually true--are rejected, ignored, or vilified.

Like many cults, too, the conservative cults appeals to the most ignorant and uneducated and while doing so strips them of the few assets and monies they possess.

In the US, the conservative cult has merged with some branches of Christianity making it even more difficult for many followers to break away from the conservative cult. These Christian conservatives preach that conservative "principles" are consistent with Christianity which, of course, is another outright lie which even a cursory understanding of Christ's teachings reveals.

Further evidence of the fact that conservatism is a cult is that as people become better educated they reject the conservative cult's extreme dogma. That's why there are so few conservatives in the world's universities.

In my view, conservatism--and in particular, Christian conservatism--is a cult, and the people who are ensnared by it ought to be treated as victims. Those who lead it ought be treated as criminals.

It's difficult, in my view, consider conservatism and conservatives dispassionately and not come to the conclusion that conservatism is a cult--a very dangerous one--and its followers brainwashed victims no longer capable of independent thought.

[Listening]

It's evident from volconvo and the wider community, particularly the world's legislatures, that conservatives inhabit a self-reinforcing society based on fear, hatred, and lies. They have a dogma that is utterly disconnected from the real world. And, rely on the brain washing of supporters, not unlike Scientology.

Conservatism is a cult, complete with its spiritual leaders like Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, Palin, etc. All very wealthy people, thanks to the followers of the conservative cult.

The cult of conservatism is further expanded by corporate media owners who directly benefit when the cultists take control of governments and create public policies and tax structures that directly benefit them, and actually harm the majority of the followers of the conservative cult.

To be a member of the conservative cult--like all cults--demands that all critical faculties by suspended and unquestioning belief be afforded to the priesthood. Any challenge to the conservative cult's belief--no matter how well-founded and factually true--are rejected, ignored, or vilified.

Like many cults, too, the conservative cults appeals to the most ignorant and uneducated and while doing so strips them of the few assets and monies they possess.

In the US, the conservative cult has merged with some branches of Christianity making it even more difficult for many followers to break away from the conservative cult. These Christian conservatives preach that conservative "principles" are consistent with Christianity which, of course, is another outright lie which even a cursory understanding of Christ's teachings reveals.

Further evidence of the fact that conservatism is a cult is that as people become better educated they reject the conservative cult's extreme dogma. That's why there are so few conservatives in the world's universities.

In my view, conservatism--and in particular, Christian conservatism--is a cult, and the people who are ensnared by it ought to be treated as victims. Those who lead it ought be treated as criminals.

It's difficult, in my view, consider conservatism and conservatives dispassionately and not come to the conclusion that conservatism is a cult--a very dangerous one--and its followers brainwashed victims no longer capable of independent thought.

Oh gotta love this one....

First, make sure you define what it is that you are talking about. The word conservative can be found in the dictionary, but there are very few pure conservatives.....just like there are very few true liberals (as defined today). It is a continuum and it might behoove you to define the break point.

We, here in Kansas, deal with the ultra right all the time. Step out of line and they will go after you. Many many many people who consider themselves conservative have disassociated with them because they get tired of the screeching rhetoric that accompanies all their campaigns.

They don't represent true conservatives.

Our recent primary for the 3rd congressional district showed that, despite their yelling and screeming....a great many conservatives voted for a more reasonable candidate and put him in the running.

As I stated, many of us consider ourselves conservative but won't use that term so as not to be associate with the ultra cons (or RadCons as Robert Reich calls them).

So, you are whinning about a small group of people. The folks who will vote to kick out the dems in November are doing it, not because of some faith in Rush LImbaugh (one of the little sect leaders that is a nothing in the big picture), but because they have reasoned that Obama and Co. have done a great job of demonstrating they don't know what they are doing.

[Libhater]

It's evident from volconvo and the wider community, particularly the world's legislatures, that conservatives inhabit a self-reinforcing society based on fear, hatred, and lies. They have a dogma that is utterly disconnected from the real world. And, rely on the brain washing of supporters, not unlike Scientology.

Based on fear, hatred and lies? First fear: If a sovereign nation does not fear the enemy (as fearing the 9/11 terrorists), then they subject themselves and their nation to even greater attacks in the future. Fortunately we had Bush in office to help prevent further stateside terrorist attacks.
Second hatred: The only hate I see coming from Conservatives is the hatred of ideologies that would transform the American way of life to a progressive government controlled one where we lose all of our freedoms.
Third Lies: The lies I see emanating form this administration saying that the healthscare policy won't increse our taxes exponentially, and that they are also advocates of small businesses, which in truth is just the opposite as we Tea Partiers and Conservatives all know.

Conservatism is a cult, complete with its spiritual leaders like Limbaugh, Beck, Coulter, Palin, etc. All very wealthy people, thanks to the followers of the conservative cult.

Call them whatever you like, but since 80% of the American people are following their leads, I would say calling Conservatism a cult could be seen as a badge of honor.

The cult of conservatism is further expanded by corporate media owners who directly benefit when the cultists take control of governments and create public policies and tax structures that directly benefit them, and actually harm the majority of the followers of the conservative cult.

And how exactly do these corporations harm the majority of Americans? Seems to me they're supplying jobs to a good many Americans.

To be a member of the conservative cult--like all cults--demands that all critical faculties by suspended and unquestioning belief be afforded to the priesthood. Any challenge to the conservative cult's belief--no matter how well-founded and factually true--are rejected, ignored, or vilified.

Care to put that crap into layman's terms so that we'll be able to comprehend just what planet you're coming from.

Like many cults, too, the conservative cults appeals to the most ignorant and uneducated and while doing so strips them of the few assets and monies they possess.

I love seeing these last ditch attempts by lib loser to blame the majority of Americans for their failed ideological agendas--right before they get their socialist clocks' cleaned.

In the US, the conservative cult has merged with some branches of Christianity making it even more difficult for many followers to break away from the conservative cult.

Must be hard for you to swallow the wants and needs of the majority people, especially with the grouping of all Conservative Christians with all the Conservatives and Tea Partiers nationwide. How's it feel to be a minority?

These Christian conservatives preach that conservative "principles" are consistent with Christianity which, of course, is another outright lie which even a cursory understanding of Christ's teachings reveals.

The only lie involved with concerning Christianity is produced by liberal and atheists alike that God never existed. All else coming from you libs is pure poppycock.

Further evidence of the fact that conservatism is a cult is that as people become better educated they reject the conservative cult's extreme dogma. That's why there are so few conservatives in the world's universities.

No, Conservatives choose not to be forced into learning crap from liberally oriented professors of the ivory elitist type. That's why Conservatives are independently minded and where you'll see perhaps 100% of our inventors, business CEOs and entreprenuers having a Conservative/Capitalistic/Christian outlook on life.

In my view, conservatism--and in particular, Christian conservatism--is a cult, and the people who are ensnared by it ought to be treated as victims. Those who lead it ought be treated as criminals.

The only criminals we have in America today are those joining forces with our enemies, i.e. socialism/Marxism leaders and with the illegal contingent that have been murdering, raping and stealing American tax payers and their monies at will.

It's difficult, in my view, consider conservatism and conservatives dispassionately and not come to the conclusion that conservatism is a cult--a very dangerous one--and its followers brainwashed victims no longer capable of independent thought.

This coming from a fearful socialist like yourself that still hasn't come to grips with the thought of having both Houses in Congress become Republican/Conservative run, and with the changing of a thrust toward total economic destruction to one where (like under Reagan) we felt better about ourselves, we honored our country and its military, and where the economy begins to roar once again under the auspices of a competive free market system.

[barts]

...where (like under Reagan) we felt better about ourselves, we honored our country and its military, and where the economy begins to roar once again under the auspices of a competive free market system.

So much of your post is merely the uncritical, dogmatic rantings of someone in the thrall of cult, but I thought I'd add something about Reagan, one of the conservative cult's "prophets".

The Reagan economy was a one-hit wonder. Yes, there was a boom in the mid-1980s, as the economy recovered from a severe recession. But while the rich got much richer, there was little sustained economic improvement for most Americans. By the late 1980s, middle-class incomes were barely higher than they had been a decade before — and the poverty rate had actually risen. Source.

Reagan became President when America was economically sclerotic. His tax changes, combined with a tight monetary policy, helped to make the country competitive again. The price paid, however, was a soaring budget deficit. Reagan and his supply-side advisers believed that big tax cuts would pay for themselves by generating higher tax revenues through greater economic growth. It never happened. Source.

As I said in my original post, the victims and followers of the conservative cult get screwed while its leaders get rich.

Also, unlike you who is caught up in the cult, I'm able to support my assertions with references to other thinkers. The few times that you do support your assertions, it's with references to your cult leaders and not to any facts are thoughtful analysis.

[Listening]

As I said in my original post, the victims and followers of the conservative cult get screwed while its leaders get rich.

This somehow assumes a correlation which has not been fully demonstrated.

In fact, several economists have attributed our increased poverty to the war on poverty. I am not saying they are right...but they have a case that has as many assumptions and facts as the other side.

You can correlate the number of rapes to the sale of ice cream in the Phoenix AZ area too, you know.

This would suggest that there are many factors to consider when trying to put together an equation or set of equations that describe economic responses.

In making this statement, you are no different that LH.

[barts]

This somehow assumes a correlation which has not been fully demonstrated.

In fact, several economists have attributed our increased poverty to the war on poverty. I am not saying they are right...but they have a case that has as many assumptions and facts as the other side.

You can correlate the number of rapes to the sale of ice cream in the Phoenix AZ area too, you know.

This would suggest that there are many factors to consider when trying to put together an equation or set of equations that describe economic responses.

In making this statement, you are no different that LH.

Conservative policies promulgated by Reagan and Clinton of corporate and particularly financial sector deregulation and tax cuts for America's wealthiest caused the impoverishment of most Americans and the current financial crisis. That is the consensus opinion.

I'd welcome a reference--rather than a bald claim--to the economists who claim today that the current economic recession and the declining wealth of ordinary Americans and the increase of the number of Americans who are now officially living below the poverty line is a result of Johnson's War on Poverty?

[Listening]

Conservative policies promulgated by Reagan and Clinton of corporate and particularly financial sector deregulation and tax cuts for America's wealthiest caused the impoverishment of most Americans and the current financial crisis. That is the consensus opinion.

Of who ?

And I'd like to know the mechanism they suspect caused this.

I have also read how our global economy and technology advances have not helped the lower end of America.

BTW: Even though he was not a liberal....Clinton was also not a conservative. Are you calling these "conservative" policies because they fit into what you would call the domain of conservatives ?

[Jack]

I don't see conservatism as a cult, just a mindset that some people adopt to a ridiculous extreme.

[Listening]

I don't see conservatism as a cult, just a mindset that some people adopt to a ridiculous extreme.

And that is what I argue against.

You can't say it happen on just one side.

And throwing the baby (conservatism) out with the bathwater (Michell Backman (sp?)) is not helping.

[Libhater]

I don't see conservatism as a cult, just a mindset that some people adopt to a ridiculous extreme.

What exactly do you find extreme about the Conservative message of less government intrusion into our lives, less burdensome taxes, less regulations against businesses that would in turn free up our production, less govt to stymie our freedoms, hatred for a totalitarian style govt, less liberal sycophants of whining and catering to our welfare leeches and support of a well oiled military machine that will in turn defend America against its enemies?

[Jack]

Just that, talking points and condemnation sans understanding and sanity.

[lsbskins1]

What exactly do you find extreme about the Conservative message of less government intrusion into our lives, less burdensome taxes, less regulations against businesses that would in turn free up our production, less govt to stymie our freedoms, hatred for a totalitarian style govt, less liberal sycophants of whining and catering to our welfare leeches and support of a well oiled military machine that will in turn defend America against its enemies?

1) Less government intrusion! Ha! Conservatives don't mind if the government intrudes into bedrooms, wombs and private phone conversations without need of a warrant, they care if the government intrudes onto someones ability to make a profit no matter what the greater social consequence.

2) Conservatives want to complain that the poor don't pay taxes and complain that the rich pay too much. They don't for one second give a shit about equity. They are not for less budensome taxes, they are for a tax system that refuses to recognize that those who control the majority of the wealth SHOULD pay the majority of the taxes.

3) Less regulation does not free up production, it frees up assholes to continue to produce even when it causes great harm.

4) Less government protections do not increase freedom. Less government protections increase the likelihood that some asshole will consider himself free to ignore the impact his or her greed will have on millions of Americans.

5) Yup, us Liberals are all for Hitler, Pol Pot and their ilk. Give me a break!

6) And what could I possibly find extreme about labeling so many of my fellow citizens as leeches? I wonder?

7) Well oiled? Well, you got that right. The money sure as shit does continue to oil that system. Northrope, et al have VERY well oiled palms. What could I possibly find extreme about that? I wonder?