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To: Haro_546; quidnunc

Actually, PAN is a good example of what I am talking about. PAN is, as you say, Mexico's conservative party, and it is conservative in the traditionalist meaning of the word. They tend to be pro-business, relatively speaking, and they tend to be more openly Catholic. But ideologically they are all over the map. They began as a Catholic rebellion against what was originally a pretty leftist PRI party, back in thirties. Of course, PRI is not nearly so ideological now, it is more a machine than a party. And PAN has positioned itself to oppose whatever PRI is doing, more socialist than PRI at times (and sometimes less), usually always more pro-private-business than PRI and always more pro-Church than PRI.

But they accept the presumptions of centralized power, and so would be quite at home inside the tradional US Democratic party.

American conservatism of the Jeffersonian "classic liberal" type: limited government, rule of law, individual liberty, is not generally accepted outside the US. You will find people who admire the notions, but they will always tell you "it won't work here".

Culturally, I would say that an American Republican is more attuned to a PANista than any other, I would agree with you there.


137 posted on 11/20/2004 11:17:30 PM PST by marron
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To: marron
The reason it wont work anyplace outside the US is: American conservatism has grown from a rebellion against the enemies of the constitution, the Republican party should really be called the Constitution party. Laws shape the development of society as much as society shapes the growth of thelaw. Therefore, it's impossible to find an equivalent of American Conservatives out side the US.

There are similar parties, though. Like the Liberal/Reform/Conservative in canada, The Ancient Whigs in Britain, the liberals in Australia, and the PAN in mexico, The PP in Spain. All of them Traditionalist parties with pro-business leanings, but none have at their center the principles liberalism that are the heart of our constitution.
138 posted on 11/21/2004 12:41:49 AM PST by Haro_546 (Christian Zionist)
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To: marron
"American conservatism of the Jeffersonian "classic liberal" type: limited government, rule of law, individual liberty, is not generally accepted outside the US."

American conservatism is "classically liberal"? What a joke. Silly emotional hysteria about abortion, homosexuals, sex education, darwinism etc. among American conservatives is not something which can be called classically liberal. The Republican party is slowly losing any real resemblance to classical liberalism with out-of-control spending and coming federal imposition of the religious right's agenda.

139 posted on 11/21/2004 1:41:43 AM PST by Truthsayer20
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