I always say conservatives have oppositional defiant disorder. How else could you constantly oppose things that everyone else thinks are a better way to live?
I have real issues with whether ODD is real, but I thought the same thing.
Conservatives don’t have ODD. They’ve just taken individualism to its logical conclusion and declared anything that remotely inconveniences or challenges them - whether real or perceived - is absolutely unacceptable.
I think you’re giving them too much credit. It’s not a philosophy that they’ve just taken too far. They’re just fed a constant stream of hate and propaganda that even if they think they like an idea, republicans just give it a name with the word “democrat” or “socialism” attached and start talking about how “THE LEFT WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR FREEDOM TO LET LITTLE KIDS STARVE” and then suddenly they’re pro little kids starving.
Conservatives often answer polls in favor of positive things, but publicly state their opposition to Democrats trying to do those things and elect Republicans who actively tear down anything that works. It is madness.
Conservatives often answer polls in favor of positive things
Because they see themselves as good, reasonable people. They don’t act like it, but they believe they do.
