An American Carol
 

I'd be interested to know what the boards think of this one. I for one find it kind of humerous.

The conservatives get their movie, I think the premise is kind of interesting, and who doesn't like amazingly bad exageration?

Hit me, MB.

I saw the preview for it when I went to the movies the weekend before last. It looked horrible and nobody in my theater laughed at all. That's a pretty bad sign for a comedy, and we were going to see a comedy so it wasn't like the audience wasn't in laughing mode or anything. It left me wondering why conservatives tend to be so bad at comedy and lead to a further conversation with my wife about why conservatives have such piss-poor artistic output in general.

What makes you say that? I don't know that conservatives are any better or worse at art than any other grouping.

It's just something I've noticed over the years. Try making some lists. See how many classic films, albums and books you can think of by people with well-known conservative views, then do the same thing with people with well-known liberal views. See which list is longer.

You could also try it the other way (it might be easier). Think of some of the great musicians, writers, actors, directors, painters, etc. of the past 50 years or so. Then read up on them and see how many were big conservatives.

Yeah, I'm not too sure how many would be for larger government given the devices its seen go against them.

The FCC is no friend, you know?

Yeah, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that artists for obvious reasons tend to favor free expression, something that is often at odds with conservative values.

i consider myself pretty conservative but dont find myself at odds with free expression at all -- see my post on chan4 thread

perhaps its more that a person wouldnt want to be known as a 'conservative artist' which sounds like an oxymoron anyway
and peer pressure is a fact of life whether youre in high school or the white house

That's good. I think it's pretty rare though. Where are you from, out of curiosity? I ask because what is considered conservative tends to vary from culture to culture.

i think it's going to be stupid.

Although bigger government is a liberal idea, not a conservative one...


I didnt know this was a conservative movie until this thread, hahaha.

Yeah, I don't know, I tend to be somewhat conservative, since I consider myself a libertarian, and I guess all the movies and music I like are made by liberals. Not because conservatives arent funny, because most great music tends to be made by those 20-35 years old (an age group that tends to be liberal) and filmmakers tend to be older people a tad bit seperated from reality. Plus, conservatism doesnt sell as well.


Oh, and also, this movie looks fucking atrocious.

I had that notion in my head for a long time too (probably because my father is a libertarian) but I don't think it's really true. Both liberals and conservatives have their big government and small government strains. In recent history in the United States it has been the conservatives who generally have been pushing for bigger government.

True, it's wormed its way into neo-con ideals, but a 100% true 'conservative' not affiliated with the republican party, believes in smaller government.

And while I agree conservatives are more into meddling government these days, thats not to say liberals arent for even BIGGER government. Its just that alot of the high profile big gov. stuff- censorship, drug war, etc. tends to be more republican backed, while stuff like government interfering in free trade and moving towards a more socialist nation is all liberal.

I don't think it's accurate to say that 'true' liberals are fundamentally for big government (think anarchists) or that 'true' conservatives are fundamentally for small government (think fascists). Like I said before, there are different strains under the umbrellas of both liberal and conservatives, some are for bigger government, some are for smaller.

Yeah, I meant in general. And I feel in general the entire country is moving towards big government now regardless. But it is true that one of the old ideals of pre-Reagan conservatism was smaller government.

Republic of Texas, USA :laughing:

On the political scale, anarchy is more hardcore Libertarianism than hardcore Liberalism. Communism or Socialism is the farthest left, not anarchy. And yes, fascism/dictatorships are the farthest right you can go, not small government. Sorry to be nitpicky, no hard feelings or anything.

I disagree. While it's true that some anarchists are not liberals, overall it is a left-wing philosophy. From Wikipedia's "anarchism" entry:

I guess everyone has their own definitions. I'm just basing what I said on a few online political charts and various party platforms. I suppose you're right.

on what grounds would an absense of political control be able to be given a political identity?

Funny that Bill O'Reilly got really pissed off that Religulous got good reviews but American Carol didn't.

Must be media bias right?

This of course, is the same guy who think Chronicles of Narnia got snubbed for best picture.

I don't go to O"reilly for my movie reviews generally.

On the grounds that it is a political philosophy that involves ideals that are largely left-wing.

thats one of the most unfounded arguments I've ever heard. Never in all of my political altercations have I ever encountered anything close to this.

What about no government support is left wing? the liberals tend to want social support nets, nationalized health care, their the PC police when it comes to language and speaking, they tax the holy **** out of anyone and everything, and you're suggesting as we move closer and closer to bigger and better we will eventually achieve...nothing?

In the only probable way this would be possible, government may get so big it ultimatly collapses, but it would be foolish to suggest this is the aim of the left-wing of the american political system.

Mean while, the republicans continue to push for less government intervention, even in the economic crisis House Republicans want market forces to sort this out, they want to remove "government schools", they loathe unions, welfare and federal spending. They don't even want public libraries. The only reason libertarians aren't anarchists is becuase they believe there should be taxes taken for national defense and to support they very fringes of the federal government, i.e. the SJC, Execuitve and Congress. No programs, no federal prisons, no IMF, no nothing...

and this isn't closer to anarchy?

not to mention by the way, anarchy is an absense, not a philosophy. You can't think the best government is no government, you can't rank it. its like picking the best hockey player on a team that doesn't exist, or the best milk producer when there aren't cows, or even a farm.

if you're walking through the bad lands, you can't say this is how government should function. Nothigns functioning.

Look, I don't really feel like getting in a huge debate about this, but suffice it to say I don't think you have a very good grip on what most anarchists actually believe in. There's a lot to it and many different schools of thought within it but most of them are left-wing. If you get the chance take a look at the Wikipedia article about anarchism and you'll see what I mean.

Oh damn wikipedia! He showed you!

Hey, if you have a better source for a quick overview of it please post it.

What's hard to understand about anarchy meaning no government? Why do I need to give you an overview of that, it's pretty simple and straight-forward isn't it?

It's not that simple, that's the whole point.

No it really is that simple.

Honestly, are you just trolling here?

No, anarchy is no government and the definition is that simple.

I can see his point. While the definition may mean no government, many people who would label themselves as anarchists may want something else or even have a separate political platform labeled as anarchy. There is no denying, however, that the definition of anarchy is no government or any lack other form of control over people's life's.