Why does the future always have to be liberal?

[Reaganfan]

I mean, I can't imagine someone in 1955 saying "Thirty years from now will be conservative" or someone in 2009 saying "Just wait, the conservative populist revolt is coming".

Why does the future always "automatically" have to be liberal?

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Such a tough night it has been for you. Do you want a hug?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

In the 1970s you had rumblings of a conservative era that was to come.
There is a fair argument that Liberalism wasn't the future in the 1970s.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

It is true the "progressive" brand has allowed the left to be lazy, believing that no work is required to achieve their aims because the Natural Order Of Things is Forward. Unfortunately, conservatism and reactionary sentiment does not give up.

[senyor_brownbear]

Don't religious conservatives predict a dominant liberal future themselves? It's in their book, how the world becomes increasingly depraved and hostile to God, etc.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

Because society naturally progresses over time, public opinion naturally sh**ts leftward due to younger people and older people dying off.

[Sestak]

Because liberals are more naturally optimistic and conservatives rely on pessimism and fear-mongering to get votes.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Because liberals are more naturally optimistic and conservatives rely on pessimism and fear-mongering to get votes.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

 Because 'liberals' (which really just means 'not one of us' to the despicable class of Americans who call themselves 'conservatives' - presumably for the resemblance of their mental processes to pulped plant products) are capable of acknowledging reality and reacting to it with a degree of intelligence, empathy, and understanding. The future will always be 'liberal' because 'conservatives' are capable of of nothing but their own imaginary past.

[Joey1996]

Future represents progression in every aspect, including social and economic issues. It's why we have 8 hour work days and anti discrimination laws.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Because society naturally progresses over time, public opinion naturally sh**ts leftward due to younger people and older people dying off.

Not true


Silent Generation and Boomers were a lot more conservative than the GI generation

[Crumpets]

I think the logic is backwards here. The future isn't necessarily liberal, but if you don't like what the future appears to be, you're probably going to be seen as anti-liberal.

[Cashew]

It's not, the south was far more reactionary about slavery in 1860 than it was in 1800.

[DINGO Joe]

There are many books about a conservative future that should make you happy.

For example:

Brave New World
Handmaiden's Tale
It Can Happen Here
Fahrenheit 451
1984

[Torrain]

Because when envisioning the future, many minds imagine a world where social changes have been made to improve society, which runs counter to the conservative worldview of preserving the virtues of the past.

Also the young are typically liberal, and we assume that they’ll remain this way, when in actuality peoples’ views shift throughout life based on circumstance, culture and social factors.

[Joey1996]

It's not, the south was far more reactionary about slavery in 1860 than it was in 1800.

Yes, circumstances such as the Northwest ordinance and isolation of slavery in southern states, or Germany losing WW1 can hinder the process... but most societies progress in periods of prosperity.

[darklordoftech]

What's considered "liberal" can be subjective and can change. Prohibition was considered progressive until the end of its reign and restrictions on tobacco were considered conservative in the 1960s and 1970s.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Well, the hope is that people enlighten over time.

[Inmate Trump]

Because liberals move forward; conservatives stay behind.

[OSR stands with Israel]

It's not, the south was far more reactionary about slavery in 1860 than it was in 1800.

Yes, circumstances such as the Northwest ordinance and isolation of slavery in southern states, or Germany losing WW1 can hinder the process... but most societies progress in periods of prosperity.

The US was more conservative in the 80s 90s and 00s than 30s 40s 50s

[Dr Oz Lost Party!]

Because it's cool.

[TJ in Oregon]

Because American conservatives have spent their energy on blaming liberals rather than liberalism, and haven't tried to establish a positive alternative to liberalism, particularly as a fundamental aspect of how we see the world rather than as a purely political movement. Instead, American conservatism has simply responded to liberalism rather than building institutions on their own terms. American conservatism has tried to also frame all things in terms of rights and freedoms, essentially on liberal terms. You're not going to beat the liberals on liberal terms.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Because the people educating the next generation are mostly liberal.

[Joey1996]

It's not, the south was far more reactionary about slavery in 1860 than it was in 1800.

Yes, circumstances such as the Northwest ordinance and isolation of slavery in southern states, or Germany losing WW1 can hinder the process... but most societies progress in periods of prosperity.

The US was more conservative in the 80s 90s and 00s than 30s 40s 50s

For whom? My great grandparents were sharecroppers in the 1930s ffs.

[YE]

It's not, the south was far more reactionary about slavery in 1860 than it was in 1800.

Yes, circumstances such as the Northwest ordinance and isolation of slavery in southern states, or Germany losing WW1 can hinder the process... but most societies progress in periods of prosperity.

The US was more conservative in the 80s 90s and 00s than 30s 40s 50s

For whom? My great grandparents were sharecroppers in the 1930s ffs.

He doesn't mean civil rights. He means economic policy given his track record.