General Discussion

In general, conservatives have a darker view of human nature and tend to believe people will behave badly if not required to behave better. (There's a LOT of explanation of conservative political choices in this.)

I remember learning to my surprise 25 years ago that a very conservative business owner kept the supply closet locked not because she considered her staff a bunch of contemptible thieves, but to maintain order by creating a structure that helped the staff not slip into wrong behavior. She liked and respected her staff (who knew?!) and was doing her duty to herself and them as she saw it.

Compared to my own more optimistic, typical liberal, "most people are basically good" attitude, the conservatives have turned out to be more right. But I think that's more because they "know" themselves better than I did and, like most of us, tend to evaluate others by themselves. Not that the left are exactly extempt, but most liberals have significantly less "dark" potential though still there. The farther "illiberal" left, the less like liberals.

Most people want to be good, we know that!, but too often get confused about what that is and end up not knowing. Whatever internal compasses we might have, too many are no match for insidious political manipulation of our notions of right and wrong and need to go along with our tribe.