EPISODE · Nov 10, 2025 · 5 MIN
Conservatives Are More Likely to Engage in Self-Harm and They Need Help
from Walter Rhein Podcast · host Walter Rhein
I know that Americans are disinclined to listen to facts, but I’ll provide some anyway. Conservatives are more likely to die than liberals. Republicans are also more likely to kill themselves than Democrats.Honestly, I read these statistics and it made me feel sad. Let me just state this from the beginning, I don’t want people to commit suicide. I don’t want anyone to be hurt.When I’m out there fighting for education and healthcare and basic human dignity, I want Republicans to be the recipients just as much as I want those things to go to my own kids. The only way to ensure my own kids are treated well is by ensuring that everyone is treated well. Full stop.Ironically, this approach is similar to the conservative approach to gun rights. They say that any infringement on the 2nd Amendment is unacceptable because it dilutes that fundamental right. I agree with the argument, but I don’t agree with applying it to the ownership of military grade weapons. I think it should be applied to reproductive healthcare. But when you start to mention how restrictions on reproductive healthcare end up killing women, Republicans stop listening.Well, let’s stop focusing on our differences. Let’s start focusing on how we’re the same.I don’t want to see my fellow Americans indulge in self-harm. How do we fix that? Maybe if we start having honest conversations about how we’re all hurting we can start to implement some changes that will make everybody’s life better?Of course, another study that I looked at suggested Republicans are more likely to report that they are in great health. According to them, they’re doing just fine. They’re skipping and laughing and giving liberals the middle finger right up to the day that they keel over dead.According to Republicans, it doesn’t matter to them that their own daughters don’t want to talk to them ever again. According to Republicans, they’re just fine with that.Well, the mortality statistics of the United States say otherwise.Look, we know who owns all the guns. Yes, there are some liberals who own guns, but guns are not an identity crutch for Democrats. Guns are an identity crutch for Republicans.Around 60% of gun deaths are suicides.Put these two statistics together and it shows that a lot of Republicans are shooting themselves.When Republicans read this they’re going to get mad and deny it, but I hope they recognize what I’m trying to tell them. Friends, I don’t want you to kill yourself. You don’t have to commit self-harm. There is a better way to live. Try to recognize that the things you believe are literally going to kill you.Don’t argue with me, look at the facts!This is a problem because Republicans are also more likely to commit “suicide by violence.” Again, you can look at the statistics. It’s always Republican men that march into schools and shoot people, or who engage in political violence.Conservative ideology is the ideology of violence. Conservative on conservative violence exists, but the media has such a pro-conservative bias that they don’t report on it.I know that conservatives are very skilled at deflecting from the fact that they believe a hate ideology. However, there’s a reason that there is never any political momentum to get the KKK designated as a domestic terrorism organization. Conservatives go on record defending white supremacy under free speech.Again, they’re getting the argument all twisted. It’s the same as how they defend the right to guns, but not the right to reproductive healthcare. At some point the United States has to wake up and recognize that the proliferation of hate speech is killing us.We live in an era where Republican thugs have taken to the streets to round up anyone who doesn’t look like them. They’re hurting innocent people. They’re depriving us all of our civil rights. They’re illegally throwing tear gas into peaceful crowds.A lot of them feel so ashamed about their actions that they cover their faces and refuse to show their identification. They already know that they have to hide. That’s the first sign that they’re on the pathway to self-harm.If they were proud of what they were doing, they’d wear a nameplate on their back like a star athlete.Instead, they’re scurrying around in secret like child predators. This is a national emergency. This is a mental health crisis. Again, conservatives are more likely to engage in self-harm.All we have to do is look to history for the precedent. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, all ended their lives in suicide. I’m sure they denied it right up to the moment they pulled the trigger.But hateful beliefs are a one way ticket to a life of misery and self-harm. In fact, every time you think a hateful thought, you’re inflicting harm upon yourself.I urge you to try love instead.Accept your neighbors. Accept your friends. Accept your children. Accept your fellow citizens. Accept people who are in our country who are citizens of other nations. Accept that you are a citizen of humanity and we are all one.If you are a repentant conservative and you need help, please reach out. I will help you. There’s no reason you should have to live a life of misery. There are kind people out there who can save you. All you have to do is stop hating them, and start to listen.Your sponsorship makes this possibleTwenty dollars a year.Upgrade at 30% offUpgrade at 40% offUpgrade at 50% offUpgrade at 60% offI’m so happy you’re here, and I’m looking forward to sharing more thoughts with you tomorrow.My CoSchedule referral linkHere’s my referral link to my preferred headline analyzer tool. If you sign up through this, it’s another way to support this newsletter (thank you).I'd Rather Be Writing is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to I'd Rather Be Writing at walterrhein.substack.com/subscribe
NOW PLAYING
Conservatives Are More Likely to Engage in Self-Harm and They Need Help
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m