5 Reasons to Read Conservative Blogs

Even if you are a liberal Democrat, there is much to gain from reading the best in conservative blogs. Here are but a few reasons why.

1. You'll receive an honest, open look at what real conservatives believe, not a bunch of spin from Washington, D.C.

A lot of times, only the most prevalent views get on the agenda of the main Democratic and Republican parties. In reality, both sides include a much wider range of political thought than the main parties give each other credit for in the media. This appears to be especially true in the case of conservatives, which aren't much represented in the liberal-leaning mainstream media.

2. You might just be surprised at the wide range of viewpoints expressed on various conservative blogs.

Not all conservatives believe that we should be in Iraq, nor do all conservatives believe that the Republican Party is headed in the right direction. There are about as many different points of view represented in the conservative blogosphere as you can imagine. There are some bloggers angry about the rate of government spending and others eager to show that not all conservatives support the amendment to ban gay marriage. There is truly a wide spectrum of political thought on both sides of the spectrum. You owe it to yourself to be informed on both sides of the important issues of the day.

3. Most conservative blogs include links to conservative news sources that might not be widely known.

For many conservatives, the mainstream media can be aggravating. Conservatives are not well represented and they are portrayed in an unusually harsh light. This is especially true in recent years. At the same time, there is much more out there than simply Fox News and talk radio. There are a lot of great blogs that provide links to websites that provide either a conservative point of view or a more neutral (less spun) look at the latest news. That is hard to find on the traditional TV networks and cable TV.

4. If you happen to come from the other end of the political spectrum, you will get to know more regarding conservative viewpoints. Understanding both sides of important current issues will help bridge the widening political gap.

Children who attend public schools are exposed to liberal ideals, which is all well and good, but what about other points of view? In our society, it has become common practice to tune out the other side, whether liberal or conservative. In reality, both sides have a lot to learn and a lot to teach. Viewing conservative blogs help teach those firmly ensconced in the liberal point of view that there are people out there just as passionate about the same issues, only on the other side of the coin.

5. There is more to conservative political thought than Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and Ann Coulter.

Let's face it - Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, and Ann Coulter represent three huge egos. None have a monopoly on what everyday conservatives believe, think, and notice. Many liberals might be surprised to learn that not all conservatives are evangelical Christians, nor do they all speak, think, and act alike. One of the best ways to truly understand exactly what is going on in the conservative camp is to view a wide variety of conservative blogs written by relatively unknown people.

While I happen to concentrate on conservative blogs in this particular article, I could have just as easily written the exact opposite article as well. It would hold true. Switch the words conservative for liberal (and vice versa), change the names, and it still rings true.