When you write "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."

Granted, there are most definitely right-wingers act as you suggest, but I don't think it's fair to whitewash (probably a poor choice of terms, but there you have it) all conservatives with the same brush.

I think maybe many conservatives react to the world--in a way--not unlike yourself. They understand viewpoints diverse from their own, without necessarily agreeing with those viewpoints.

I've seen, first hand and more than once, liberals react in exactly the manner you describe--they reject the validity of views different from their own in an almost violent way, and shun people for their beliefs. I've seen classrooms and discussions shut down, in no uncertain terms, by liberals because they disagree with views that were being expressed. To shut down an argument before it can even be stated...could there be a more determined way to undermine mutual understanding?

I've personally felt the shocking condemnation of liberals who don't understand my position because they haven't allowed me to express it. It's a depressing, whithering feeling--I know.

So while what you describe is indeed a problem, it's a problem that straddles the political fence.

I do try to understand others, Bowser. I try to understand your aguments. You've made me think twice about the plight of the Palestinians and their reaction to Israel.

Perhaps we're somewhat trapped by terminology. We're trying to define all these political "isms," when in fact politicals and political opinions are dynamic...yes, even the opinions of a conservative (whatever the heck that is).

And conservatives can hold apparently divergent views...I beleive in budget restraint, yet I also have no problem whatsoever with a government which helps people who aren't in a position to help themselves.

Does this mean that I am, in fact, not really a conservative...or does it mean that the labels we use are insufficient to describe anything beyond the most simplistic worldview?