We're Just Different People

[Sweetwater]

I've often heard people say that Conservatives and Liberals basically want the same thing, they just have different ways of going about it. But a recent Reason-Rupe Poll (Sept. 1, 2011) shows that we are very different kinds of people that have different core values.

When asked whether people succeed based on a) "hard work" or b) "luck/help from others," liberals were nearly 6 times more likely to cite luck (28%) compared to conservatives (5%).

When asked for one to become wealthy must it be a) "at the expensive of others" or b) "wealth can be grown so there is enough for everyone" 70% of liberals believed that wealth can only come at the expense of others compared to only 27% of conservatives.

Lastly, respondents were asked to indicate which of two values is most important to teach your children, a) "to work hard and be self-reliant" or b) "to learn to share with others." Just half (51%) of liberals would teach their children to work hard and be self-reliant compare to over three-quarters (77%) of conservatives.

I'd personally hate to go through life thinking that only luck (good or bad) controls my success and that my financial success can only be achieved on the backs of others while failing to teach my children the value of hard work and self-reliance.