http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122609751643109681.html

An interesting article examining the absence of right-wing thought or personalities in the world of Theater.

I'll surmise that writing fiction (novels or plays) involves getting into characters' psyches. I think it's hard to willfully travel outside of your own worldview and experience without developing some level of empathy. It's also hard to maintain a rigid "this is the way the world SHOULD be, there's one right way of being" mentality when it is your job to explore different ways of being. I think conservatives, like the name implies, tend to want to conserve; hold on; maintain things in a rigid good-bad / black-white world. Liberals have that moral relativism that allows them to be a little more loosey goosey in their interpretation of the world, which I think lends itself more to imagination and the creation of complex, interesting "other" worlds. Not saying conservatives are bad at all--just that it makes sense to me why some professions mesh more with one philosophy than another. I doubt you'll meet many liberal cops, as that job description fits a lot better with the control and order valued in conservative philosophy.

Dora, to some extent this issue is a subplot to what happened last Tuesday, and an explanation of why the Republican philosophy failed to get traction with the American public.

Conservatism by its nature tends to be defensive. In many cases, defensive of the status quo, on the assumption that time-tested solutions are preferable to risky experimentation. In many cases, there is a strong argument to support that view. There are also intriguing experiments underway that suggest people are pre-wired to a particular world or political point of view.

But a defensive mindset is also uninspiring. What were many of the themes in the past election centered around? Fear. Terrorists at the gate. Traditional values under attack. Fear of Soviet style social engineers snatching infants from the crib and educating them in state approved doctrines. Fear of unaccountable government officials appropriating the assets and income of citizens and redistributing them in a manner designed to gain political support and ensure their continued grasp of power. The potential objects of fear are limitless.

Fear can be a potent uniter. It's very appealing to the elderly, who tend to gain a fearful worldview as their bodies and ability to defend themselves physically decline. It's appealing to the ignorant, who do not understand the forces rocking their worlds and seek a villain to fight to defend their lives. It's appealing to the successful, who deeply resent threats to the rewards they've earned by enduring hard times in the process of gaining success, and the redistribution of those rewards to others who may have paid no price at all.

A call to the ramparts to defend the garrison can work- for a while. But people also want to see progress, and live lives once threats are contained or warded off. It's much more inspiring to call people to march forward, rather than stand and guard.

Until conservatives learn to send their messages in terms of positive progress and action, they will continue to decline.

What is a more inspiring message?

"There are people out there who want to take your paycheck and give it to folks who refuse to work. They've got to be stopped."

Or,

"Under my administration, we'll see to it that every American who wants to work can find a job".

I would say that the second is a far more inspiring message, and addresses the same problem in a positive manner.

On the other hand, what are artists and actors? Challengers. Critics. People who find fault in the status quo and demand change. And as I once told a TV writer, people find much more satisfaction in hearing about David chucking a rock at Goliath's head than they do in hearing of Goliath kicking David's young *ss.

So there you have it, in short form. There's a book in there somewhere, methinks.

Totally agree, Thrice, on all counts.