Politics, Human Nature.
Homo Sapiens evolved on the plains of the Serengeti.
Homo Sapiens' ancestors were Prey animals.
Homo Sapiens became Predators only after inventing tools (and weapons).
Homo Sapiens' original genetics causes their default instincts to be based on fear, anxiety and caution, and only allow the organism to relax and pursue other other experiences such as social bonding, in the absence of fear-inducing stimulus.
Humans become less fearful when they are holding weapons.
In a safe environment, humans can be creative with tools.
In an unsafe environment, creativity is stifled, social bonding is suppressed, and humans prefer holding weapons rather than tools.
Conservative politics is all based on fear.
(Fear! Fire! Foes! The Visigoths are at the gate! Doom and Gloom! Batten Down the Hatches! Slam the Doors and Shutters! Tighten your Purse Strings and your Belts!)
Progressive (ie. creative) politics cannot thrive in a stressful, fearful environment.
The modern economic systems that most governments want in their countries are based on the assumption, the hope, and the need for humans to be creative.
But the Conservative factions in the governments think that they can goad the population into being extremely creative at sword point/gunpoint, with the Air Raid sirens blaring through every News outlet.
In times of fear & uncertainty, most people vote Conservative. Because Progressives (hope & creativity) cannot save us from scary stuff.
@soundwave
This is an interesting thesis. I think fear interferes with thinking generally, but sometimes stress can be the “mother of invention”.
Creativity is all about change – making something new or finding a new way to do something. Conservatives, by definition, don’t want change, they want things to stay the same. So I’m not sure about the assertion that conservatives want people to be creative. Conservatism tends to emerge more when there is more change going on. They feel it threatens their “way of life”.
Yes, economic systems in free countries work on the assumption that competition will drive people to be more creative so as to become more competitive, but ironically, when new ideas come forth the incumbents often feel threatened and become reactionary.