Quote:
Originally Posted by rubecube
I would say most of the topics I feel the strongest about probably have very little direct impact on me personally. The only exception I can really think of is my stance on mandatory vaccinations/vaccine passports because I'm immunocompromised and I've already contracted COVID once. I would like to be able to live my life without constantly being worried if I'm going to contract a deadly virus.
Economically-speaking, I'm fine with where I'm at and I'm mostly concerned with seeing the people who work hard and can't get ahead be lifted up.
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There are essentially 2 things governments provide:
1) essential services (health, safety, infrastructure, etc)
2) redistribution of wealth
While there can be plenty of debate on where to draw the line on essential services, virtually all people in Canada are in agreement with those things provided, to a reasonable extent. Yes, we can debate what reasonable is, but that isn't for this thread, and I would assume that most people aren't all that far apart on it.
The second one is more relevant to your comment about conservatives being selfish. This will be a huge over-simplification, but it basically boils down to this:
Those on the right believe that the economy works, more or less, and that, while some redistribution is beneficial, the best thing for everyone is a healthy economy. And too much redistribution has a net negative effect, because it hampers the economy (smaller pie).
Those on the left believe that the economy doesn't work all that well, and that more redistribution is needed and is more beneficial.
Here's the thing: while everyone is different of course, and have their own personal perspective, there is a fairly strong correlation between how successful people are, and where they stand on that spectrum. I am not saying it's black and white by any stretch, I am saying there is a fairly strong correlation.
So, suggesting conservatives are selfish is fine,
but it is disingenuous to imply that those on the left are not: most of the people clamoring for more redistribution of wealth are the people that would benefit from said redistribution. In other words, they are being selfish also.
In other words, most people are - at least to some extent - somewhat self-interested.
I think it is at a minimum naïve, and probably closer to obtuse, to suggest that only one side of the spectrum is selfish.