Glen Beaton, a retired columnist who blogs at The Aspen Beat, writes something serious about who becomes conservative. Greatly oversimplified, he argues conservatives are those for whom the current conditions “work.” On occasion, COTTonLINE has made the same argument. Beaton writes:
I’ve observed, and many studies have shown, that conservatives are happier than the leftists that we used to call “liberals.” Conservatives are more generous, more married, more religious, more fit, more humorous and more optimistic.
Unsurprisingly for a group with such traits, they have more and closer friends. They clearly love their country more. They work harder, they play harder, and they’re more likely to see meaning in life.
I don’t think conservatives are that way because they’re conservative. That’s a big load to put on a political outlook. No, I think they’re conservative because conservativism attracts people who possess those qualities.
In some ways Beaton makes an obvious point. If the current set of rewards and constraints is one in which you are comfortable and successful, why would you want it changed? You wouldn’t, which is the definition of conservativism, keeping all that is good about the current set-up.
If the existing set of rewards and constraints chafes and is uncomfortable, you would be unhappy and seek change to something that you hope will fit you better
There is an old wisecrack: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Conservatives experience the present as “not broke” and in need of little change. They are those for whom “now” is comfortable and functional.
Progressives experience where we are now as “broke” and uncomfortable, thus in need of change. As long as there are unhappy, maladapted people there will be progressives.
