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FastShark85 · 08-05-2003, 09:15 AM

When I was in college, taking one of my political science classes, the professor asked his run-of-the-mill line, "Are there any questions?"

Completely off the subject, I raised my hand and asked, "Are there any conservatives in the political science department?"

The professor, caught a bit off guard, composed himself and smiled. "What do you mean by 'conservative'?"

I responded, "Are there any capitalists in the department?"

"No."

Despite being educated by liberals (the professor admitted to being a Socialist), both in undergraduate and law school, my conservatism became more embedded. It was almost as a reaction to what I felt was an overwhelming, unspoken support for liberal agendas.

So what if I'm averse to fencing-sitting? I see value in reaching solutions and closure on issues. Otherwise, it's the Socratic method: endless debate that leads to nothing other than more debate. No action.

It's entirely too predictable to watch my younger friends and relatives, who have little or no opinion of politics, economics or other similar topics head off to college, only to return home for break having accepted, with little thought, the liberal ideologies spoon-fed to them on so many campuses. They come home criticizing Republicans because....well, they don't know why for sure whenever I ask them to defend their criticisms.

I have no problem with people who can articulate their views and defend them intelligently. It irritates me whenever someone takes up a cause because it's "hip" or "trendy" on their campus. Most college students don't have a clue what the real world is like, except for what their professors tell them. My real education came after my formal one. I understand what it's like to pay ridiculous taxes while seeing first hand the corruption involved in entitlement programs. I feel the frustration when I pay so much in taxes and work so many hours, just to see a neighbor down the street get fired again (and go back to welfare/unemployment at my expense) because she slept in again or called in sick agian because she didn't feel like working. I see the irony in someone who believes that the government should redistribute wealth because he skipped grad school and don't make as much as the so-called "rich" people earning more than him. I understand what it's like to want to come down hard on criminals after acquiring property and having children that I want to protect.

Someone once said, every liberal is a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet.

08-05-2003, 09:15 AM	#20 (permalink)
FastShark85 Psycho Location: In the garage, under the car.	When I was in college, taking one of my political science classes, the professor asked his run-of-the-mill line, "Are there any questions?" Completely off the subject, I raised my hand and asked, "Are there any conservatives in the political science department?" The professor, caught a bit off guard, composed himself and smiled. "What do you mean by 'conservative'?" I responded, "Are there any capitalists in the department?" "No." Despite being educated by liberals (the professor admitted to being a Socialist), both in undergraduate and law school, my conservatism became more embedded. It was almost as a reaction to what I felt was an overwhelming, unspoken support for liberal agendas. So what if I'm averse to fencing-sitting? I see value in reaching solutions and closure on issues. Otherwise, it's the Socratic method: endless debate that leads to nothing other than more debate. No action. It's entirely too predictable to watch my younger friends and relatives, who have little or no opinion of politics, economics or other similar topics head off to college, only to return home for break having accepted, with little thought, the liberal ideologies spoon-fed to them on so many campuses. They come home criticizing Republicans because....well, they don't know why for sure whenever I ask them to defend their criticisms. I have no problem with people who can articulate their views and defend them intelligently. It irritates me whenever someone takes up a cause because it's "hip" or "trendy" on their campus. Most college students don't have a clue what the real world is like, except for what their professors tell them. My real education came after my formal one. I understand what it's like to pay ridiculous taxes while seeing first hand the corruption involved in entitlement programs. I feel the frustration when I pay so much in taxes and work so many hours, just to see a neighbor down the street get fired again (and go back to welfare/unemployment at my expense) because she slept in again or called in sick agian because she didn't feel like working. I see the irony in someone who believes that the government should redistribute wealth because he skipped grad school and don't make as much as the so-called "rich" people earning more than him. I understand what it's like to want to come down hard on criminals after acquiring property and having children that I want to protect. Someone once said, every liberal is a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet.