Question by jesswzmn: what is the fundamental group personality flaw of liberals which leads to them losing out to Republicans ?
on issues like healthcare reform.

Best answer:

Answer by [email protected]
I was really surprised to hear this from top-level Republicans: we significantly outclass the Liberals in one area that compensates for our smaller numbers: organization.

You might think that’s funny, but it’s quite true. Republicans are way more organized and diligent. Year after year, Democrats are astonished when they lose elections, and it all came down to dogged determination, coupled with far superior organization.

Liberals excel at getting their supporters enthused, but their creativity is no match for the “slow and steady wins the race” approach the Republicans use.

It’s like playing poker. You always have some smug hotshot (Liberal) who arrogantly believes he can just bluff his way to victory. Opposing him is the Conservative who has studied all the statistics and hence knows exactly when to bet, when to raise, and when to fold.

The hotshot may win some flashy hands, but the conscientious player will always prevail.

Answer by David
I think its a values thing. We are a center right country still, and probably will be for a while. Conservatives have an advantage because they often represent the status quo: the way things are. Liberals are far more progressive, and quicker to jump on the bandwagon so to speak in terms of new programs and policies. That weariness that Republicans have of the unknown (this is one of the key aspects of conservatism). Liberals have to be far more speculative, while Republicans can point towards what is happening now. Liberals tend to look at the “positive outlook”, while Conservatives tend to look at the “negative outlook”, and that negative outlook is more safer. If The People are feeling ballsy about a particular issue, they are willing to take a risk (and be liberal in that sense).

Obama’s campaign was successfuly largely because the status quo was not approvable to the majority of Americans. His rhetoric of change was something that more and more people were willing to accept was important, because our status quo at the time was not favorable. But if things don’t change quick enough, people are quick to assume that it’s not going to work, and so revert back to the “safety” of the status quo. This is why the Republicans have an edge much of the time.

Honestly, I think it is the blend of our two parties, the switch from one to another, that is what makes our country succesful. In times of change, Democrats can make us progressive, in times of stability, Republicans can keep us going. The Democrats keep us progressive, but the Republicans keep us in check, to make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves. And since it is the people who elect these folks, we are in control of which direction our country goes. No system is perfect, but America has never been in a situation that we weren’t able to overcome sooner or later and I believe that will always be the case.