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Posted by Pete on January 20, 19103 at 11:17:03:
In Reply to: Re: Conservative thought posted by sore loser on September 17, 19102 at 23:15:03:
Just being a conservative doesn't necessarily mean that you should be greedy, it just means that you want to be able to make that choice yourself. I consider myself a conservative. This does not mean that I am not active in my community, that I do not work towards a sustainable environment or that I am frivolous with money - or even that I have a hefty wage.
I think equating greed with conservatism is a slight distortion of the ideology. Conservatism sees market forces as the easiest way to an optimal allocation of resources. The inequalities in wage are more to do with the individuals own merit - if equal opportunity to succeed is given then it cannot be argued that inequalities are immoral or unfair. I take dispute with your view that simply "siphoning money" from the economy is somehow immoral. Unless someone, somewhere found value in what you do you would not be paid to do it. It really is that simple - if you get paid then there is a worth to society in your doing it. To only see agriculture, medicine and bridges as worthwhile is to completely misrepresent the other things that are made. The ultimate "Yuppie" occupation must be work as a banker, but even this can be defended as a commercial activity. Whether you like the idea or not, all commercial activity does benefit the least well off, although mostly through indirect channels.
I would like to add one last comment. My father worked for many years as a highly successful manager. He spent his days "repressing" the workers underneath his command by modernising their work practices and making the company more efficient. Decadent, you might think, except for the fact that during his time in the recycled synthetic fibre he would save europe the environmental cost equivalent to providing energy for a town of 20000 each year. He was awarded the European award for energy conservation.
If this is conservatism at work, it is hardly decadent and dispionate.