| − | Finger-pointing is a characteristically [liberal] behavior pattern. When a problem exists, the first impulse of liberals is frequently to find a way to deny blame for that problem, and to affix that blame on [conservatives] or conservative principles. This occurs despite the fact that many of the problems were clearly the result of liberal positions, values, or policies. For example, liberals frequently accuse conservatives of being [fascists], despite the fact that liberals have consistently demanded a more powerful, more intrusive federal government and conservatives have consistently opposed this. Likewise, liberals accuse conservatives of not valuing education, despite the fact that liberal educational policies (such as [whole-language instruction], [grade inflation], and [social promotion]) have led to a decline in learning and academic performance. | + | Finger-pointing is a characteristically [[liberal]] behavior pattern. When a problem exists, the first impulse of liberals is frequently to find a way to deny blame for that problem, and to affix that blame on [[conservatives]] or conservative principles. This occurs despite the fact that many of the problems were clearly the result of liberal positions, values, or policies. For example, liberals frequently accuse conservatives of being [[fascists]], despite the fact that liberals have consistently demanded a more powerful, more intrusive federal government and conservatives have consistently opposed this. Likewise, liberals accuse conservatives of not valuing education, despite the fact that liberal educational policies (such as [[whole-language instruction]], [[grade inflation]], and [[social promotion]]) have led to a decline in learning and academic performance. |
| | Conservatives, by contrast, accept responsibility for their own actions. Moreover, they tend to focus on how to fix a problem, rather than on finding someone to blame. | | Conservatives, by contrast, accept responsibility for their own actions. Moreover, they tend to focus on how to fix a problem, rather than on finding someone to blame. |
| − | *Former Vice President [Al Gore] frequently points the finger at conservatives, industry, and America in general for [global warming]--despite the fact that he has repeatedly been observed engaging in the sort of behavior he condemns. | + | *Former Vice President [[Al Gore]] frequently points the finger at conservatives, industry, and America in general for [[global warming]]--despite the fact that he has repeatedly been observed engaging in the sort of behavior he condemns. |
| − | *Liberal Democrats repeatedly condemned President [George W. Bush] for economic problems beyond the power of the President to control--but refused to give him credit for the positive results of his policies. | + | *Liberal Democrats repeatedly condemned President [[George W. Bush]] for economic problems beyond the power of the President to control--but refused to give him credit for the positive results of his policies. |