Study: Conservatives More Honest Than Liberals

[Texatru]

I'm conservative and this even shocked me:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1419425~Peter_Schweizer__Conservatives_more_honest_than_liberals_.html

Some interesting snippets from the above article:
Consider these results:

Is it OK to cheat on your taxes? A total of 57 percent of those who described themselves as “very liberal” said yes in response to the World Values Survey, compared with only 20 percent of those who are “very conservative.” When Pew Research asked whether it was “morally wrong” to cheat Uncle Sam, 86 percent of conservatives agreed, compared with only 68 percent of liberals.

Also embedded in the article is this:

Why? The quick answer might be that liberals are simply being more honest about their dishonesty.

However attractive this explanation might be for some, there is simply no basis for accepting this explanation. Validation studies, which attempt to figure out who misreports on academic surveys and why, has found no evidence that conservatives are less honest. Indeed, validation research indicates that Democrats tend to be less forthcoming than other groups.

YMMV...

[historic salve]

Liberals were more willing to “let others take the blame” for their own ethical lapses, “copy a published article” and pass it off as their own, and were more accepting of “cheating on an exam,” according to still another study in the Journal of Business Ethics.

Wow...

[Seasanctuary]

Liberals are plagiarists.
Shakespeare was a plagiarist.

Ergo Shakespeare was a liberal.

(I like to make my bad logic blatant.)

[Zeluvia]

The difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals don't lie on surveys, and conservatives do.

Liberals for example don't lie about being homosexual or atheist, but conservatives do. = )

I would like to see more of their "validation" studies.

Also, many of these questions seem Socio/economic tier dependent. Since "progressives" are usually economically less well off than conservatives, I would like to see an income range breakdown.

If conservatives making under 40,000 a year would cheat on their taxes, and so would progressives, than I think that blows the "bad liberal ideas" thing out of the water.

I think there are too many other factors to jump to the "bad liberal idea" conclusion.

[Texatru]

Liberals are plagiarists.
Shakespeare was a plagiarist.

Ergo Shakespeare was a liberal.

(I like to make my bad logic blatant.)

Seasanctuary likes to make his bad logic blatant.

Shakespeare used logic.

Ergo Seasanctuary is blatantly, like, Shakespeare's bad logic.

?

[Jaltus]

Also, many of these questions seem Socio/economic tier dependent. Since "progressives" are usually economically less well off than conservatives, I would like to see an income range breakdown.

Hold on there, the major players in the Dems are Hollywood types, how are they economically disadvantaged?

That said, I do think an income range breakdown would be helpful.

[Dave G]

The difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals don't lie on surveys, and conservatives do.

Liberals for example don't lie about being homosexual or atheist, but conservatives do. = )

I would like to see more of their "validation" studies.



And I would like to see your support for the broad brush of liberals not lying, but conservatives doing so. I would like to see more of your "validation" studies.

[Nicholas]

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't trust the results of this type of survey even if it found the opposite was true. There are honest and dishonest individuals on both sides of the political spectrum, and we should look at people as individuals rather than as some monolithic group.

[One Bad Pig]

(I like to make my bad logic blatant.)
We noticed.

[historic salve]

I wonder though, if there are any surveys like this on moderates.

[Texatru]

Also, many of these questions seem Socio/economic tier dependent. Since "progressives" are usually economically less well off than conservatives, I would like to see an income range breakdown.

If conservatives making under 40,000 a year would cheat on their taxes, and so would progressives, than I think that blows the "bad liberal ideas" thing out of the water.

I think there are too many other factors to jump to the "bad liberal idea" conclusion.

Zeluvia - you make some pretty good points, it would be good to see the income breakdown. Someone making $30k a year may be more willing to cheat on their taxes simply because they have less to lose than someone making $300k per year.

Yet (assuming both the survey and you are correct) this only explains the motives for cheating and wouldn't alter the conclusion that conservatives are more honest than liberals. It only explains WHY they're more dishonest.

Another problem is that someone making more money is generally more invested in the system itself, and thus more likely to be honest to preserve the system in which they've made more money. So, whatever the motives, the conclusions would still remain the same.

If all of this is correct (an admittedly large leap) then you would appear to be falling into the further conclusions of the author that you somehow think that dishonesty is okay as long as your income level is low. In other words, you think honesty is subjective.

[Tladatsi]

Conservatives are not only more honest than liberals, they are better looking, taller, smarter, more morally upright, cook better, more favored by God, have above average IQs, and even sing better. In fact every conservative is the the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever met. Like to play some solitaire?

I'm conservative and this even shocked me:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1419425~Peter_Schweizer__Conservatives_more_honest_than_liberals_.html

Some interesting snippets from the above article:


Also embedded in the article is this:



YMMV...

[Zeluvia]

Zeluvia - you make some pretty good points, it would be good to see the income breakdown. Someone making $30k a year may be more willing to cheat on their taxes simply because they have less to lose than someone making $300k per year.

Yet (assuming both the survey and you are correct) this only explains the motives for cheating and wouldn't alter the conclusion that conservatives are more honest than liberals. It only explains WHY they're more dishonest.

Another problem is that someone making more money is generally more invested in the system itself, and thus more likely to be honest to preserve the system in which they've made more money. So, whatever the motives, the conclusions would still remain the same.

If all of this is correct (an admittedly large leap) then you would appear to be falling into the further conclusions of the author that you somehow think that dishonesty is okay as long as your income level is low. In other words, you think honesty is subjective.

I think honesty when it comes to dealing with the government is subjective yes.

Honesty between individuals is not.

It all depends on your attitude toward the government doesn't it?

I think it is strange that conservatives are more honest about paying taxes, but want LOWER taxes, and less social programs.

Liberals think taxes are a GOOD thing if used wisely, and want MORE social programs.

In general.

Now how does that make sense in the light of this study?

Do you think people who have comfortable incomes are more honest than people who are struggling to survive?

At some point, doesn't honesty become a luxury when it comes to money and survival?

[jordanriver]

I think honesty when it comes to dealing with the government is subjective yes.

Honesty between individuals is not.

It all depends on your attitude toward the government doesn't it?

I think it is strange that conservatives are more honest about paying taxes, but want LOWER taxes, and less social programs.

Liberals think taxes are a GOOD thing if used wisely, and want MORE social programs.

In general.

Now how does that make sense in the light of this study?

Do you think people who have comfortable incomes are more honest than people who are struggling to survive?

At some point, doesn't honesty become a luxury when it comes to money and survival?

i know i'm thick, so I don't get your puzzlement.

Why do you think it strange that conservatives would want lower taxes if they're more honest?

It seems to me that if they were dishonest they wouldn't care how high the taxes are because they wouldn't intend to pay their true taxes to begin with, likewise, it appears no surprise if liberals want more taxes if they don't have any qualms about cheating on taxes.

In fact that seems consistant with a mindset of being generous with other people's money.

JR

[shadowmaster]

Conservatives are not only more honest than liberals, they are better looking, taller, smarter, more morally upright, cook better, more favored by God, have above average IQs, and even sing better. In fact every conservative is the the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever met. Like to play some solitaire?

and

“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”

[Texatru]

I think honesty when it comes to dealing with the government is subjective yes.

Honesty between individuals is not.

The government is just a collection of individuals. Granted - a VERY large and sometimes unwieldy collection of individuals, but especially in the 'free world' the government just represents a bunch of folks like you and me. Its really theft from the honest individuals forced to pay for the dishonesty. (And a lot of the times this is being paid for by our children and grandchildren)

It all depends on your attitude toward the government doesn't it?

So honesty is subjective to - attitude?

Do you think people who have comfortable incomes are more honest than people who are struggling to survive?

At some point, doesn't honesty become a luxury when it comes to money and survival?

From that perspective, honesty is always 'a luxury' when it comes to money and survival.

[Jaltus]

Honesty is a luxury like breathing is a privilege.

[Tara_Hallie]

Conservatives are not only more honest than liberals, they are better looking, taller, smarter, more morally upright, cook better, more favored by God, have above average IQs, and even sing better. In fact every conservative is the the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever met. Like to play some solitaire?

LOL! Agreed!

[historic salve]

The difference between liberals and conservatives is that liberals don't lie on surveys, and conservatives do.

Liberals for example don't lie about being homosexual or atheist, but conservatives do. = )

I would like to see more of their "validation" studies.

Also, many of these questions seem Socio/economic tier dependent. Since "progressives" are usually economically less well off than conservatives, I would like to see an income range breakdown.

If conservatives making under 40,000 a year would cheat on their taxes, and so would progressives, than I think that blows the "bad liberal ideas" thing out of the water.

I think there are too many other factors to jump to the "bad liberal idea" conclusion.
Did you read the whole article? This isn't just about taxes, so a breakdown as far as income goes wouldn't overturn what these studies are saying.

[shadowmaster]

The article lies

Read the actual bill.

[Ryokan]

I think the thing may be conservatives respect process more than liberals. Recognize plagarizing and cheating on taxes are things you do to authority. When it comes to interpersonal morality I bet there is no gap. Also I am going to guess liberals are more inclined to be the people who, say, stood up to the Nazi's when they seized power in germany because of that ingrained opposition to authority, while conservatives, respectign authority, tried to work more within the system. Its simply different incentives, not one better or one worse. Maybe. :shrug:

[historic salve]

The article lies

Read the actual bill.
What?

[shadowmaster]

sorry, wrong thread

[historic salve]

Oh. :teeth:

[Tara_Hallie]

Did you read the whole article? This isn't just about taxes, so a breakdown as far as income goes wouldn't overturn what these studies are saying.

I don't think anyone said the article was just about taxes.

The point was an interesting one -- the relationship between the alleged findings that liberals feeling it's okay to cheat on taxes while supporting social programs; and conservatives not cheating on taxes while still holding firm to a 'less government' platform.....I was actually thinking the same thing when I first read the article -- the alleged findings don't really gel with typical political stances on the subject....