"The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from the highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort."

Well, a couple of observations. First, show me the person who will crawl into the the "wanting to be controlled" box. I don't think anyone will. Everyone, literally everyone, believes themselves a free-thinker. A bit of an odious definition, really. And some good people believe in "control". They may not call it that, but work toward the goal, and it's not a bad one sometimes.

Now, it seems to me though, Christians would like to believe themselves controlled by Christ. Having a Higher Power to oversee things is one of the advantages of a strong faith.

I don't think you can leave to behave responsibly in a larger society where there is limited accountability. In my area NO one stops at stop signs, and there is ALWAYS someone who runs a red light.

I don't think you could count upon the better nature of Bush-Cheney to drill for oil responsibily, for instance. That's laughable.

I think the difference is how one views "the greatest good for the greatest number". I believe liberals recognize a stronger individual obligation to others in the community than conservatives, and a stronger obligation of the community to the individuals.

A part I find puzzling is the conservatives apparent insistence that everyone be just like them or punished. For instance, the abstinence based sex instruction, or else. Those kids who have started sexual activity are going to continue, and teaching them about health risks has no downside.

No free needles for addicts, as if that would limit drug use!! I was asked by a TV reporter once if I thought free needles promoted drug use. My reply was that free glasses probably wouldn't promote drinking.

The unwillingness to understand others, and what looks like a punitive reaction to people not just like themselves is a real downside to the right-wing, conservative political view. It can be said they have been hijacked by the religious fervor of a small element, but it seems pervasive.

So, that's how I'd characterize it - one group believing that is this world we need to live in communities, and one believing that the interests of the community are not as important as the right of each individual to do whatever that individual can afford to do.

(I didn't object to the draft as long as I thought it was fair and when I trusted my government. Those days are gone, though. The draft wasn't all bad, though, and if you were at all clever there were ways to avoid it. You couldn't avoid military service, and the draft was for only two years, but you could avoid it.)

Arf