MariaE:

I think that most truly conservative points of view are cohesive and reasonable, given a set of principles. I certainly don't understand positions that are based on lies or deceit, but I've found people all over the ideological spectrum holding them (maybe even myself).

I can't come up with a conservative position where I really don't understand where they are coming from. I just don't agree with their values, which invalidates most everything that follows from them.

Take something I feel really strongly about: abortion. Most conservatives are against abortion based mostly on the fact that they think the fetus has a soul. If that is the case, then of course they'll be against abortion in the case of rape - that doesn't make the soul any less valuable. I happen to think we don't have souls, which kind of negates the whole argument. But I can see where they are coming from.

Abortion is a bad example, because by nature it is gray. You are killing something. Period.

The truth is, we decided somewhere along the way, that my right to eat meat outweighs an animal's right to live.

We decided that a woman's right to her body outweighs a fetus' right to a chance at life.

For the record I do believe fetus' have the right to a chance at life and that animal's have a right to live.

I also eat meat and am staunchly pro-choice because I agree with those 2 conclusions. But that doesn't mean we picked correctly or that the "other side" doesn't have a point. These are always going to be gray.

Even if you believe a fetus has a soul, you can still be pro-choice. I think life does begin at conception. So what? If I needed a kidney transplant should I be able to force you to give me one? Why should the government, on behalf of a fetus, force you to be a portable incubator for 9 months against your will? I think it shouldn't, but these ARE tough choices.

Gay marriage? Stem cell research? Not so much. The post above is a great reason why gay marriage is right and the other side is just wonky. It'd be like saying black people can't marry white people....

As for stem cell research? Is anybody going to force those fertility clinics to use the leftovers? No? They're going to get trashed, instead of saving people.... that's a good thing because.... why? I can't figure it out....

Again, most conservative views come from a set of logic that is flawed (IMHO), but it's still logic. Some things just don't... you throw any amount of logic at them and they crumble.