Respect Liberals

I had lunch today with three liberal co-workers, Bob(my boss), Gay (his wife and Director of Health Programs), and Jeff (Network Admin). It was a great lunch at the Thai place and Bob picked up the check. Anyway, we had the mandatory discussion about work and then the conversation turned political.

Bob and Jeff know that I tend to be a conservative-leaning libertarian (if you can even put a label on me). I know that Bob and Gay are very left wing (bordering on socialist, although, I think they would not see themselves that way) and Jeff tends to a left-leaning libertarian (although, he has never labeled himself). Anyway, even though I was out-numbered, the conversation was respectful, though not beneficial (I didn't change their minds and they didn't change mine). The conversation reinforced three principles that I try to hold when talking politics with liberals.

1. They care. They really do! They have a fierce fire in their belly’s. They cannot be swayed by analytical argument. They have come to realize they are enlightened. They know it is their personal duty, personal calling to help those who have not yet reached a state of liberal enlightenment. They really believe what they are saying, wholeheartedly. They HONESTLY do not understand why anybody with heart would be against them. They simply cannot comprehend someone not seeing things their way. Liberals are fanatically in love with their espoused values and ideals. You have to respect their passion.



2. They are the many. Thus, they are the powerful. They carry pride, commitment and a super secular form of righteousness as their shield! They grow and prosper completely immune to any consequences of their actions. Are they not gods? You have to respect their commitment.



3. They are bright. They are intelligent. They are the modern age intellectual heroes who easily sway the youth of today to their points of view. Every motivating story identifies a "bad guy" opposed to them (as the good guys). Every argument reaches an emotional crescendo, tears and screams for all! All of this forces one to make a simple looking decision based on "we a band held together by the love of something", this makes us good, peace loving and earth saving individuals. You must respect their rhetoric.

You must respect that power. Once you respect something, you understand it for what it is, you speak its language and it becomes something new - beatable.