So which is it economic or moral -
Exporting jobs and causing a recession?
That had more to do with failure to keep the Sabbath for the Land than anything to do with morality.
There never were clear definitions of “conservative” and “liberal”, or of any similar term. Precision in meanings never was. People are too varied.
If you want a thorough survey of what “conservative” has meant in the US, I recommend starting with Russell Kirk.
All such are fuzzy concepts, and they mutate. At best they define sets with their centers at some distance from other sets.
I don’t disagree with the desiderata in your ideal conception of conservatism, but let’s be real.
Social liberalism creates liberal voters and larger government, conservative economics require social conservatism among the voters and in the culture.
I’ve noticed that a lot of, not all, but a lot of folks who say they’re fiscal conservatives and social liberals end up sucking at the fiscal end as well.
It really boils down to this:
Do you really think that someone who believes (morally) that anything goes - that you can smoke your brains out, have an abortion for any reason and at any time, give lots of free welfare to anyone who asks for it, sex with anyone means nothing and equate the LGBT lifestyle to just another another “normal” way of life...
is really going to
have ANY kind a fiscal discipline or say no to any kind of spending?
Bum for later
No what they mean is financially conservative and at the same time willing to help the widow and the sick.
Anyone who believes abortion is ok is evil.
and homosexual relationships are forbidden by God
Uhh, the Persians rescued the Jews from oppression. There is no record in the Bible of oppression by the Persians. There is the partial exception of the Book of Esther, but the Persians wound up in practical terms on the Jewish side.
The whole idea of conservatism had been linked to traditional moral issues, and only in the past couple decades has it been delineated as fiscal or moral or both. I agree with this writer. You cannot divorce the moral values from fiscal conservatism and it continue to be considered conservative for very long before the immoral values of the person corrupt the whole. One of the reasons I had for quitting the libertarians was for this reason. They espoused fiscal issues and the Catholic writers were great writers on many conservative issues, but when it came to actually supporting traditional values, the libertarians vote with the Communists....all the way down the line. Their argument was that the “state” should not be having anything to say or do with moral issues, which I totally could agree with except for this one fine point: Once the state has already ruled on an issue, how does one get it back to just the local states to deal with, unless you bring the issue to vote and overturn the immoral law? They could NOT ANSWER that for me. Once the State (federal government) has its say, then they were unwilling to do ANYTHING to help undo that horrific law. ONe would have to conclude that they are okay with abortion, same-sex marriage, and any number of sins that have become prominent. I cannot go back to supporting libertarians again. The difference between them and Communists is one issue alone..that one being fiscal conservatism. They might as well say they are fiscally conservative Communists.
The majority of the people on this planet do not look to the same God you do to know that they are right or wrong.
You judge everything by what you believe that your version of God said, wants, and expects.
Others have a right to set their own standards according to what they believe or do not believe. You have a right to believe as you will but your rights stop completely just short of imposing them on others. That is why we have laws.
Living in a christian theocracy would be no better than living in an islamic theocracy. I refuse to be ruled by religious zealots no matter what flavor they are.
On the social, or moral, side, I think it normally boils down to two issues..."
You think? You think? Is basic reportorial research too much to ask for before commentary? Worthless.
Strawman setup to fill up his blog.