[pnh102]

This article poses the fundamental problem that no one seems to know how to address.

Is it even possible to sell conservatism anymore? We have well over half the people in this country who are taking government welfare in one form or another. How is it even possible to sell the idea of cutting government spending when the majority of the voting population is a big beneficiary of it?

[wintertime]

Is it even possible to sell conservatism anymore? We have well over half the people in this country who are taking government welfare in one form or another. How is it even possible to sell the idea of cutting government spending when the majority of the voting population is a big beneficiary of it?

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Walter Williams has suggested peacefully succeeding.

The idea is looking better and better all the time.

[wintertime]

The word is “seceding”!

Doing that might be the “successful” solution! :) :)

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Is it even possible to sell conservatism anymore?

Exactly. I've been saying this for a while. The problem we have promoting conservatism nowadays is that we've got a population that has been conditioned to expect "stuff" from the government as a sign that "government is working for them."

The benefits of conservatism, by contrast, are manifested in the form of "negatives"--smaller government that by doing less "stuff" eventually yields more prosperity and freedom for a country's citizens.

But people unfortunately want immediate, concrete results, such as a check in the mail or "free" health care. They apparently don't even mind giving up some of their liberty in the process, just so long as someone else is taking care of their needs.