Oddbean new post about | logout
 What distinguishes progressives from conservatives?

Progressives exhibit traits of subservience, weakness, self-pity, victimhood, and resentment towards anyone who is stronger, more successful, or individualistic. They do not seek to exert their will by improving their own situation but through careful subversion, inverting values to drag others down to their level.

Conservatives agree with slightly diluted versions of everything progressives push for. As progressives push the Overton window further left, conservatives begin to agree with the progressives' original positions and claim their new stance is based on principles. Meanwhile, progressives claim to fight oppression and inequality, moving even further left.

Both groups resent individualists for not participating in this ever-changing shift of values and seek to corrupt them by inverting their values, convincing them that their virtues are actually vices. Conservatives accuse them of not respecting tradition or authority and advocating chaos, while progressives accuse them of being selfish, racist, oppressive, or capitalistic.

In our minds, the right wing remains conservative, and the left wing remains progressive, but this is merely a matter of semantics. Both groups move in the same direction, with progressives in the front and conservatives following not far behind. As Michael Malice said, "Conservatives are progressives, driving the speed limit." 
 I used to think I was progressive bc I went to high school during the George W. Bush days. Now I realize they all suck on both sides lol. 
 Yes, school indoctrinates us into believing that there are only two sides in politics: left and right. I'm glad to hear that you've broken free from that binary mindset. 
 🎯 
 I mean, MAGAs are the biggest sore loser victims we’ve ever seen.  

“Immigrants are taking our jobs.” Waaaaaa!

“The DOJ is weaponized against us.”
Waaaaaaa!

“The election was rigged and stolen.”   Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! 
 Indeed.

"Trump want to drain the 'swamp', but the deep state tried to kill him" 
 If you think trump actually tried to drain the swamp then you never paid attention to who he put in power around him 
 You are not paying attention, I was being sarcastic. I hate all politicians. 
 I’m gonna credit that one to poes law :p 
 The difference between them is the the right believes truth is power the left believes power is truth.  

You cannot argue with leftists about facts because they hold no legitimacy unless they are attached to power.  One believes truth brings legitimacy the other believes legitimacy brings truth.

One is grounded in logical thought the other solely exists in emotional realms.  

You have adults who think like adults and you have adults who think like children. 
 Conservatives are not more grounded in "truth" than progressives. They are just as willing to construct their own "truths," which they use as a weapon of control. For example, religion, traditions, or law are popular methods of fabricated control, altered to fit their current agenda.

If by "power" you mean the ability to control others, then both conservatives and progressives use an inversion of values to gain power over people they otherwise would have no influence over. There is no fundamental difference in how conservatives and progressives view truth and power. They use different tactics at different times, but on a long timescale, they are both pushing in the exact same direction. On a short-term basis, they often appear to be complete opposites, but that will change once either side moves the Overton window.

Both sides use emotional tactics, albeit in different ways. Progressives might use overt outbursts of emotion like crying, screaming, or rage more frequently to get their way, while conservatives prefer to use more subtle emotions for manipulation, such as guilt, moral superiority, and virtuousness.

If you compare progressives to children having emotional tantrums to get their way, you can compare conservatives to dependent children looking for someone else to take care of their problems.