Off topic but something that occurred to me the other day.

The stereotypical conservative feels that you can not educate a child to responsible sexual behavior (so you must only prohibit it) but that you can (and should) teach children about guns because by teaching them you can inculcate safe behavior and decision making.

The stereotypical liberal feels that you can not educate a child to responsible gun behavior (so you must only prohibit it) but that you can (and should) teach children about sex because by teaching them you can inculcate safe behavior and decision making.

Since I think they're both right I just find the difference interesting.

Nah. The stereotypical liberal doesn't see the point of gun ownership.

Sure they do.

Interesting question. After all, I think the stereotypical liberal has a stronger mistrust for the government than the typical conservative, so why are the conservatives more supportive of gun ownership, I wonder?

Perhaps because the stereotypical liberal lives in the city, vs. the stereotypical conservative in more rural areas?

This topic suddenly fascinates me.

Along the lines of Alex's post, I think the liberal and conservative trust/distrust of government are about equal, depending on what is being discussed. Both sides fear that the government will intrude on the particular freedoms that they hold dear. Both also trust the government to discharge certain goals that they value. For example, liberals trust the government to help the poor. Conservatives trust the government to demonize them and incarcerate them at alarming rates.

I believe both are correct. Private charitable activity could not come close to supplanting government welfare and food stamp programs that keep people from starving in the streets or turning to crime. By the same token, draconian sentencing laws and the prison industrial complex do a far better job at keeping the poor in their place than random acts of private violence ever could.

Who knew that Anti-Nookie Jewelry could spark such a conversation! :D

:rolleyes:

oh well

As another example, conservatives trust the government provide for the common defense. Liberals think that burying their head in the sand and weakening our military is preferable.

I say that in deepest sarcasm in response to the moronic statement quoted.

The consequences if a kid accidentally shoots someone in the face with a gun are usually a bit more...immediate than if a kid accidentally shoots someone in the face during sex.