The ragtag group of misfits fleeing an oppressive government is conservative?

Well, I suppose you could argue that since many conservatives hate "big government," that it fits.

Just playing devil's advocate.

I can argue Firefly as conservative, sure. The argument itself is ridiculous. I can make myself over and argue conservative viewpoints all the live long day, and write in that voice, if i want to. Doesn't change the fact that I'm going to vote for the biggest commie pinko on the ticket every election.

I mean, the conservative viewpoint is pick yourself up by your fucking bootstraps, and if you don't have bootstraps then pick yourself up by your fucking shins. The State isn't here to take care of your ass. How is this not Mal?

The hell? The ragtag group of misfits fleeing an oppressive government is conservative?

Well, I guess you could make some kind of case for "oppressive government"="big government"="liberal badness," the lead characters' fondness for their weapons as a shout-out to the NRA, and the ragtag group of misfits as vaguely conservative in a libertarian sort of way, if you squinted really hard and fudged things and did a lot of handwaving. But I am perfectly content, instead of making such arguments, to say Pffffft and roll my eyes forever.

Mal is a libertarian. Which doesn't match today's "conservatives" at all.

And I'm shy about stating my beliefs firmly.

Mal is a libertarian. Which doesn't match today's "conservatives" at all.

They match a little. Both think there should be no government interference in economic affairs. (Well, conservatives believe there should be some taxes to pay for the military.)

From the way Republicans talk, there should be government involved in business, to help business out. It seems to be perfectly ok to provide incentives, tax breaks, and free infrastructure support. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Both think there should be no government interference in economic affairs.

Nah, but if you make your living sucking cock, he feels free to pass judgment on that. Though he wouldn't stop you from doing it, so there's that. Also, he's not so much with the church goin'.

Mal's political philosophy is "mind your own damned business", and would that there were more of those.

From the way Republicans talk, there should be government involved in business, to help business out.

How is this different from Food Stamps? Don't both help people survive? I'm a Small Business Owner. When I plan an event, a DJ, hotel staff from maids to event coordinators, A/V employees, catering staff, printers, bartenders, and local restaurants all get a day's work because I planned an event. I've contributed a New Thing into the economy, and those people will use the money paid to them through my creation to buy gas, pay rent, purchase new shoes, invest in a stock.

So the government says, because I contributed to the fueling of the economy, to other's survival, I get to pay a few bucks less into what would otherwise be used to purchase food and clothing items for those who can't or won't find jobs, i.e. welfare.

It's a social program, like any other. It goes awry in terrible ways, like many other social programs.

From the way Republicans talk, there should be government involved in business, to help business out.

How is this different from Food Stamps?

It's not. It's food stamps for business. Which I would have fewer problems with if the people advocating it weren't against social services for people.

Mostly, it's the going awry that bothers me. Incentives to small businesses don't usually bother me. Incentives to major corporations often do. For example, we get a lot of cruise ships where I live. They don't want to pay a head tax, and pit community against community about it. They do contribute to the community, by bringing people to spend money in the community, but they also take from it. Many local businesses are actually hurt by the cruise ships, and they cause a large drain on local services such as bus service, medical services, roads, etc. Some in my community wish the cruise ships would go away. I don't go that far, but I do think that they should pay their share, in the form of a head tax. I resent how they play one community against another, and the state and federal governments against the communities.