What we Value

Election times and political divides and "unrest" cause me (and most) of Americans severe anxiety. That's because we are all different and "feel" like something is being taken away from us or that some great harm will come to us should "the other" people "win."

But, because we all want to avoid conflict, we don't seek to understand the "whys" behind it all...leading to more conflict and more unrest and more anxiety and more division. Can we all agree on this?

I am guilty of not seeking to understand and of blaming "the others" for conditions and changes in our country that are occurring, like increased hate and disrespect and bullying. But, I have to understand in order to take personal responsibility in doing my best for my mental health, my family, my community, my state, my country, and our world, I must consider the whys! So, I began to research and study.

My goal is to share the resources I gathered in hopes that it might help to add to a greater understanding for us all. Some of you probably have a firm grasp on this already, but we can all improve, correct?

I find videos are a quick and fun way of grasping concepts, so here goes:

What is Moral Philosophy?

_______________________________________________

What is an Ethical Life?

_______________________________________________

How do Morality, Ethics, and our Values influence us?

_______________________________________________

How does what we Value, effect how we vote?

_______________________________________________

What Values do Liberals, Conservatives, & Libertarians Hold in Esteem?

_______________________________________________

Where Differences Become Issues and Conflicts...Why We Are Frustrated? Why it is in our Best Interest to Understand...

_______________________________________________

Moral Foundations Test (My Results):

My results show that I am basically first a Libertarian, but with Conservative leanings. Yes, I agree! I value individual freedom and limited government. but on some issues I am a true conservative.

Personally, I try to use common sense and see potential consequences in the actions that each topic/issue in politics might determine. I do believe in every American "citizen" having basic God-given human rights outlined in the Bill of Rights as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...

I also believe that with those "rights" comes a responsibility to our country, and that morally we should choose to execute that responsibility. Having said that, I also believe those personal responsibilities should be mostly voluntary and not mandated by government. Those rights should never cause harm to others or withheld, whether born or unborn, and restrictions and penalties should "rightly" be enforced if there was that possibility of causing harm or withholding good from any one of our citizens, regardless of race, creed, or gender.

For me, common sense comes into play in issues involving immigration and border policies, I will give examples:

Think of your personal home and your neighborhood. It is Friday evening, after a long and hard week at work. You are finally relaxing in your casuals in your recliner, having an economically expensive snack and a drink, watching your television, and have your rent money on the counter to pay the landlord. You are feeling satisfied and are thinking, "life is good and I'm enjoying the fruits of my labor."

All of a sudden, the door is burst open without a knock and a couple of strangers...? maybe they are neighbors you haven't met, but they barge in. They go to the refrigerator, pop open a soda, grab a bag of chips, take your rent money, and plop down on the sofa, kick off their shoes, and change the channel with the remote. You think...are they going to further rob me or harm me? At best, they didn't even knock!...I might have been hospitable, opening my door after an introduction, and might have offered them refreshments. Now I can't pay my rent because they have taken my saved budget. If I had it to give, I might have helped. Now they have stolen my trust and birthed my anger...my choices to be kind were also stolen. Wait...Now, more are coming through my door, uninvited... WTH???

Long term, "Will they be willing to work for less and take my job? Will the demand for a place to live increase, causing my rent to skyrocket? If they are willing to break our laws by coming into our home uninvited, will they break our other laws?"

Do you see the allegorical picture and the risky, unfair nature of the problems which unvetted/illegal immigrants pose...not immigrants who have gone through our proper processes in place or asylum seekers who have gone through the proper channels (those who knock.)

Another picture: You are in the local drug store to pick up your prescription. You see an American family of four, mom/dad/two small children at the counter. You are shocked when the parents pull out guns and begin to rob the clerk. She hands them all the money. But some quick-thinker has called 911. It wasn't long before you see swarms of police cars catch up to the family. They take the parents to jail and child protection takes custody of the children. It is a horrific scene. The children are ripped apart from their parents and are terrified. Everyone involved is traumatized and will never forget the event.

My point: A crime has been committed. The children were brought along and were innocent of this crime, but they will suffer, too because of the bad choices (even if for the desperate cause of feeding their family) that the parents made. They broke the law. Same with the "children and parents being separated at the border." There are always consequences. The guilt and the shame are on the parents and NOT American citizens...

(I'm sure that each voter has their own distinct philosophies)

What a Libertarian Values:

Individual freedom (https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/281399-5-things-the-libertarian-party-stands-for/)

"The idea of individual freedom defines the libertarian movement—it’s the party of limited government, in all forms. “We are the only political party that stands for your right to pursue happiness in any way you choose as long as you don’t hurt anyone else and as long as you don’t take their stuff,” party chairman Nicholas Sarwark told The Hill. This year, the party’s platform committee is looking to highlight how that differs with the two main parties with a new addition to the platform preamble: “Our aim is to keep the Republicans out of your bedroom and the Democrats out of your pockets, so that you can make your own choices and live your life as you choose.”

What a Conservative (most associated with the Republican Party) Values:

What a Liberal Values:

The short answer is "Care" and "Fairness" as outlined in the above studies. Liberals are most associated with the Democratic Party. I was unsuccessful in finding any site which establishes core principles of Liberalism. However, I did find the following:

"The Democratic Party is generally associated with more progressive policies. It supports social and economic equality, favoring greater government intervention in the economy but opposing government involvement in the private noneconomic affairs of citizens. Democrats advocate for the civil rights of minorities, and they support a safety net for individuals, backing various social welfare programs, including Medicaid and food stamps. To fund these programs and other initiatives, Democrats often endorse a progressive tax. In addition, Democrats support environmental protection programs, gun control, less-strict immigration laws, and worker rights."

https://www.britannica.com/question/What-does-the-Democratic-Party-believe-in

____________________________________________________

Have you considered how your values have influenced your vote? If your values differ from mine, please share and let each of us strive not to be "correct" in our point of view, but to see "why" others see life differently. Our minds may not change, but our hearts might be a bit kinder towards one another...a listening heart understands and brings more compassion to the table... Makes a way towards us all becoming better.