Makers and Takers

I found this article on CitizenLink interesting. The article is about Peter Schweizer’s new book, 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. Here is a quote from the article.

Seventy-one percent of conservatives say you have an obligation to care for a seriously injured spouse or parent, versus 46 percent of liberals.

Liberals are 2 1/2 times more likely to be resentful of others’ success and 50 percent more likely to be jealous of other people’s good luck.

Fifty-five percent of conservatives get satisfaction from putting someone else’s happiness ahead of their own, nearly three times the number of liberals: just 20 percent.

Young conservatives are more likely to volunteer for a charity, any kind of charity, than young liberals — although young liberals are more likely to say they have attended a protest rally.

Fifty-nine percent of those who describe themselves as “very liberal” think it’s wrong to cheat on your spouse, compared to 86 percent of those who self-identify as “very conservative.”

The data come from a treasure trove of scientific surveys that have been out there for years, but never really gone through in this way. Schweizer's conclusion after mining it: “Liberalism … allows one to claim the moral high ground on just about any issue while in effect ‘outsourcing’ your personal responsibility for doing something about it to the government.”