Fromz, believe what YOU want, maybe you and Anne Coulter would make a perfect pair.

Here's more from your bible...

Makers and Takers: Why conservatives work harder, feel happier, have closer families, take fewer drugs, give more generously, value honesty more, are less materialistic and envious, whine less … and even hug their children more than liberals

by Peter Schweizer

...and Fromz, no matter if this is said about conservatives or liberals...........they are stupid comments. But some conservatives, such as yourself live in a black and white world, so they believe that these comments are true.

Sorry Anita, here's my Bible.

... So let's take your analysis. ...

I did not analyze anything. I merely observed that self-reporting is the only inexpensive practical method for conducting such surveys.

...Did they lie about being liberals? ...

Lying involves volition. I didn't observe the respondent's behavior, let alone read their minds, so I don't know if they were lying. One can be mistaken without being a liar. My implied point was that respondents may describe themselves in ways no independent observer would agree with.

For example: I think of myself as conservative, but my conservative friends tell me I am not, since I oppose the death penalty. The same goes for my liberal friends: many of them think I'm a conservative because I favor preferential tax treatment of capital gains. Actually, they're both wrong: I'm a Mavericks fan.

The rigorous method for such research would start with a definition of both groups, e.g., "For the purposes of this study, Conservatives agree with these statements (1,2,3...n), while liberals agree with these statements (1,2,3...n)", followed by observations that confirmed that their walk matched their talk.

It doesn't help sell books, but it is the intellectually proper way to proceed if you intend to reveal a link between political philosophy and personal moral behavior. If the studies the author cites used such methods, great. Otherwise, he's just cherry-picking.

...Who cares why one group is more likely to steal than another.[sic] ... FIrst [sic] we have to find out they are. Then we can worry about why. ...

Don't play dumb, man. Are you going to tell me you don't think liberalism causes amoral behavior? If you don't, why did you start this discussion? Mind you, I'm not saying you're wrong for believing that, I'm just saying I think you believe there's more than simple correlation at work here.

As I have already pointed out, we have not reliably defined the two groups. I certainly don't care why anyone, conservative or liberal, steals: it's wrong, period.

...Hmmm, still leaves us with liberals more likely to be dishonest than conservatives. ...

No, it leaves us with self-described liberals more likely to be dishonest than self-described conservatives. That's the problem.

If Fromz is not interested, I have extensive dating experience. I am doing some field research that Ms. Coulter may find fascinating.

LoL Dallas.

I leave the field open to Ms Coulter. She’s sometimes exceedingly funny but I haven’t played hangman since probably Jr. High. And that’s the last time I was interested in a stick figure.

Your example with the death penalty is a perfect example of why I believe going with self-reported liberals is a perfectly fine way to go. As another example, Limbaugh does not think McCain is a conservative. I think Limbaugh, besides being a pompous ass, is a radical. Yet if forced to grab a label from the common universe of political labels, we all reach for conservative. (Though, obviously, I’m not since I’m also a Pastafarian.)

The point being that “liberal” or “conservative” is much more than small, easily defined universes.

So, “it leaves us with self-described liberals more likely to be dishonest than self-described conservatives” really isn’t a problem.

In fact, since there is no universally agreed upon single set of core values – things you must believe and practice – for either description, self-described may be the only valid indicator.

If that gives you pause, think of Christianity. Mormons believe they are Christian. Catholics think they are, as do Protestants, Orthodox Greeks (Some of whom don’t feel Catholics are real Christians), and even some Jews.

Fromz,

Thanks for the AC give-up ... I like 'em lanky.

Do Pastafarians worship M.F.K. Fisher ?

Your point about there being a spectrum, rather than slots, of political thought and your observations of the oddities of religious identification are good ones.

Limbaugh's opinion of McCain or even my opinion of Bob Marley aside, I just wish we knew more about how the respondents in these surveys arrived at their classification of themselves.

Well, off to eat BBQ...have a great weekend, everyone !