Left vs Right: What does each side believe

Updated 5.28.2015
The National Review Online (NRO) has begun a series to describe what liberals and conservatives (left vs right) believe. The interest here stems from frustration in personal conversations about politics. Both sides seem to talk past each other, generating more light than heat. Note: I've chosen not to archive this at Mom in the Middle because MIM has basically morphed into my outlet for diet, health and occasionally parenting writings, and I don't want to mix political discussion into that. Indeed, I'm not sure how much politics I will discuss here.

Disclaimer: My biases tend towards the left. I don't fit comfortably in the standard stereotype applied to democrats (thus I am not one) however, I definitely don't fit the stereotype of the conservative republicans (thus I am not one). In fact, I have never registered with any party. Decades ago, William Weld, Massachusetts Republican, got it correct in my view when he said, "Out of pocketbook, out of my bedroom." Today, neither major party meets this criteria. So why not be a libertarian? Libertarianism is only attractive in the abstract.

The conceit of the article is that the author, Dennis Prager, is going to help conservatives (and I suppose any liberals) who read the series to understand the other side. This requires that the author himself actually understand both sides, and the beginning is not hopeful in that respect. He claims authority here because he voted democratic in a few presidential elections and he's Jewish, but he soon goes off the rails. He provides an Obama quote, and then misrepresents what Obama said. This is not the path to enlightenment, rather it's a construction of a pre-conceived narrative. If you're going to understand the opposition, it's first necessary to accurately state its position.

This quote, Material poverty doesn't cause murder, rape, or terror. Moral poverty does., suggests that the chosen narrative is that liberals or left leaning voters are "godless," which then explains it all. This is transparently false, as there a many religious liberals. And that begs the question, if you want to know what liberals think and why, shouldn't read or listen to actual liberals?

Know Your Guru

Who is Dennis Prager? "Know Your Guru" is actually an idea inspired by my extensive reading in various diet tribes. It's very easy on the internet to set oneself up as an authority— that's what I do here, in fact. I read, listen and consider views on various topics and then write up my opinion and toss it up onto the internet, hoping to gain an audience.

The difference here though (at least the difference I hope to create) is the level of transparency I want to bring to my coverage. Too often "experts" hide the source behind their opinions. After all, if you had access to the source you might read them for yourself and come to a different opinion. Experts (in my experience) tend not like when this happens.

But the lede is buried enough, who is Dennis Prager? A conservative Jewish man who when he was younger voted democratic. Jimmy Carter was the last democratic candidate for whom he voted per the NRO linked above. Prager is also the creator of the eponymous online university, Prager University, which offers 5 minute videos to "explain" issues. Its not really a university. There's no accreditation, nor is there any cost. The site asks for an email, but you needn't enter one to view the videos or read the transcripts..

I am impressed with the concept of Prager University, even if I find many of the entries sophistic and lacking nuance. It is a conservative view of the world, and reading through it is a better way to learn how conservatives think than having a liberal guru explain it to you.

Nuance? What's that?

Nuance is very often what gets eliminated in any political discussion/argument. Because arguing nuance requires that emotion be put aside and that many more words than can be fit on a bumper sticker be used. Nuance is an unappreciated concept in the US today, and not just in politics.

Disclaimer