all 7 comments

[–]buffalo_fart_the_IV 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

That's because conservatives believe once you pop out of your mom you now need to pick yourself up by your bootstraps put on a pair of pants and go to work. Well in some cases that's true but in some cases people need a lift up. But that's not the American way. I'm not saying perpetual welfare is the answer but helping out can't hurt.

[–]jamesK_3rd 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

A helping hand is great. The issue is who helps.

Liberals, leftists and Republicans believe that entity should be the govt.

Conservatives believe it should be independent, local groups such as churches, synagogues, lions club, golden circle, moose clubs, community groups, etc.

It's problematic that a majority of people not only believe the govt should provide aid that not only supplants the above organizations, but it goes against the very underpinnings of our society.

Our govt wasnt designed to do such things, but an increasingly secular society demand that it does.

The "American way" was never pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It was, "you have the right to do your thing. You have the right to build your XXX (for Republicans xxx meant business) without interference and hindrances from entities like the govt." That means you may make it big, but conversely you might fail big. You also have the right to sit on the sidelines.

Most people don't want equality of opportunity now, they want equality of outcome.. which is what the govt provides. This is why people complain about "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and then bail out airlines and banks, while govts dictate what is a "living wage" and dictate terms of living. They're all straw men really, for a people looking to be ruled.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Indeed, the minimum age of employment in the US should be much lower; perhaps 6, as they can be helpful in textile factories, or sorting out stones from lentils, manufacturing bullets without expensive machinery, removing dishes from tables at restaurants, running errands at semiconductor factories, or organizing the lower shelves at Walmart. They can also run munitions for Russian soldiers who are liberating Ukraine, as they can be difficult to spot. They also don't require a living wage, in most cases, and studies show that they are less likely to unionize.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Dude, what?

Is this a caricature of what people on the right believe?

[–]LearningTheLand 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Hardly: We just don't think the government should be the ones doing it through massive taxes.

[–]filbs111 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The poster of the linked "twitter tweet", blinded by partisan politics, has made an illogical leap. To expect that Carlin would have a problem with some idiots affiliated with political group A does not require believing that Carlin must see no fault whatsoever with any idiots affiliated with political group B. I suspect he would make the case that, broadly, they're all a bunch of bastards.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Yes, he didn't like political abuses in all political activities, regardless of party. He was a liberal, however, and highly critical of neoliberals as well as so-called conservatives (Ike & Reagan versions). Because was so political, spanning several decades, it's easy to select quotes that make him seem to be critical of liberals or the 'left'. But he and his audience were concerned about the abuses of politics, money in politics, idiot citizens who elect idiot politicians, global warming, authoritarian leadership, government lies, BigCorp, BigMedia, and in general any form of potential corruption. He is much like other liberals who are highly critical of their own representatives on the Hill, by contrast to the blind faith, bible-thumping, one issue voting, dumbed down, Tea Party, and MAGAtard type of crowd that have helped elect the GOP, and thereby kill funding for education, environment, Wall St regulations, voting rights, BigCorp regulations, human rights, social services, &c. He was against authoritarian leadership of all kinds. I grew up enjoying his comedy, for decades, and know that he discussed all of the concerns of liberals. Most of his live, most of us in the US didn't discuss politics at length, the way many do today. One would rarely see a politicized issue, like wearing masks during COVID. So there were many in the US who didn't vote, or didn't care, or wrote in Mickey Mouse on the ticket, and it was no big deal. But all of that was before Citizens United, and a right-wing Supreme Court, and decades of career politicians controlling the Senate. Carlin warned us about this kind of corruption. (Sorry for the long response - just thinking out loud....)