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Bill Moyers
February 3, 2012
Bill talks with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt about the moral underpinnings of our contentious culture.
Jonathan Haidt: The real difference between liberals and conservatives
TEDtalksDirector on Sep 18, 2008
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies the five moral values that form the basis of our political choices, whether we’re left, right or center. In this eye-opening talk, he pinpoints the moral values that liberals and conservatives tend to honor most.
From the archives:
Richard Wolff: Replace Capitalism
Moyers & Company: How Big Banks are Rewriting the Rules of our Economy
Parasite Capitalism: Human Awakening Calling Time On the Beast by Finian Cunningham
Michael Parenti: Democracy and the Pathology of Wealth (2012)
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I guess I should appauld conservatives trying to live up to the rules of
karma. But sadly in fact the result is survival of the fittest. Children
should not suffer from the vageries of the ecomony and their parents’
luck or unluck in trying to find employemnt. The welfare society is part
and parcel of our move towards civilization and escape the temptuous
nature of the natural world.
I would suggest that we move beyond blame and demonanizing in trying
to correct the distorions of allocation of resources in our vey complex economy but rather trust that karma will allow blessings for you in your
faith in a christ that ask that we help the least of us.
For the first time, I’m a little disappointed in Bill Moyers…why didn’t he ask his guest about the wealth distribution nightmare, in this country? the proof is in the pudding….as long as we’ve had a safety net for those who have fallen through the cracks, we’ve had a vibrant middle class. It’s not to say that we can’t improve our social welfare system…of course it would be wonderful to have no need for govt help, but it isn’t that easy. There are legitimate reasons why food stamps may be necessary, etc.
Hoe come the wall street and the banks were bailed out? The poor slob, in many instances did what he was supposed to do but when he lost his job, there is no safety net…The banks screwed up…why didn’t we let them twist in the wind?
I listened the Moyers segment once through. And at least this analysis goes beyond calling conservatives reptile brained which seemed to be all the rage among liberals only a short time ago. Plus, the analysis seemed to slip into identifying liberals and conservatives with Democrats and Republicans as if they are the same thing — which they are not. However, he does make some good and interesting points. But it seems to me the the analysis would be more useful putting more emphasis on cultism and group think which is at the core of our duopoly politics — because as he says, its very human to put reputation, image, and group identification above most other considerations. And that is where I think problems arise in our politics — they arise more from tribal or party loyalty and identification than with an honest identification with worldview or ideology. And that often seems to be where I run into problems with people in discussions who are wedded to one party (or tribe) or the other. And whereas I do identify more with liberalism than conservatism, I am far more critical of other people who identify as liberals than I am of conservatives.