A new book by Peter Schweitzer, “Makers and Takers: Why Conservatives Work Harder, Feel Happier, Have Closer Families, Take Fewer Drugs, Give More Generously, Value Honesty More, Are Less Materialistic and Envious, Whine Less … And Even Hug Their Children More Than Liberals”, asserts that conservatives are simply different, on average, in the values they live by, and not in ways that are particularly complementary to liberals. As with all books of this sort, it won’t do to apply statistical averages to individuals. We all know honest liberals and dishonest conservatives, and vice versa. Schweitzer’s point is the trend, and the norms. So the “I know some honest liberals” disclaimer is unnecessary, and does not really blunt the point.
In the Los Angeles Examiner online edition, Schweitzer says: “The honesty gap is also not a result of “bad people” becoming liberals and “good people” becoming conservatives. In my mind, a more likely explanation is bad ideas. Modern liberalism is infused with idea that truth is relative. Surveys consistently show this. And if truth is relative, it also must follow that honesty is subjective.”
Read the whole article, and notice the sources he quotes. These are not unsupported assertions, but peer-reviewed, prestigious journals, supplying his data.
I just ordered the book.
