Posted on 05/28/2008 9:48:18 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
But no matter how many times Ryan or his allies scream “I get it” from the mountaintop and vow to do the right thing if returned to power, the voters will not believe them until they believe his colleagues are capable of acting in a way that is consistent with conservative principles and contrary to their parochial, political interests. The voters seem to be saying: do something out of character. Admit you were wrong about something. Give me a reason to pay attention to all those 10-point action plans you’re waving around.
Imagine the public’s reaction if 50 or so of the supposedly conservative lawmakers who originally voted for that monstrous farm bill had found the courage last week to admit they’d made a mistake and then voted to uphold the president’s veto.
Suppose, moreover, that they had explained their change of heart by articulating some good old-fashioned conservative first principles. Despite the bill’s appeal to special interests back home, they might have said, the legislation would do too much harm to our economy and environment. It would worsen world hunger, impede free trade, and further constrain the family budget.
This would be courageous, principled, and refreshing. And, despite what a cynical lawmaker might tell you, it would not be political suicide. After all, two-thirds of farmers receive no subsidies at all. Most of the cash goes to a select group of large corporate agribusinesses that play both sides of the political aisle anyway.
Now suppose that, with conservatives voting in accordance with their principles, the president’s veto had been upheld. Well, then, the voters might actually start listening to them again… with a little less disgust and a little more trust.
(Excerpt) Read more at article.nationalreview.com ...
That's never happened and, I've come to believe, never will. To govern conservatevly would take a wide-spread altruism contrary to selfish human nature. For that reason, conservatism as a viable form of government suffers from the same conceptual flaw as communism, and won't work in the real world.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The Farm Bill was the perfect chance for Republicans to show that they are changing their ways back to a fiscally conservative party.
With the track record they have shown ever since taking majorities in both houses of Congress, nobody is going to believe their rhetoric about being fiscally conservative until they actually start acting like fiscal conservatives.
“To govern conservatevly would take a wide-spread altruism contrary to selfish human nature.”
Selfishness is not a flaw, but a virtue. To act in a conservative way by your very actions would be in your own self interest.
And conservatism is not just like communism in any regard.
Tell me are you a follower of that type of doctrine?
In an economic sense, selfishness can be good, a la Adam Smith. But in the world of politics, it's unworkable. If ever there was a time for it to work, it was under Reagan and especially under Gingrich. But the selfishness of too many conservatives, enamored with their own positions and perks as humans will be, inevitably held sway. The few who were altruistic enough to stand firm were not enough, and never will be, imho.
What load of crap that post was.
Conservatism is a mindset, not a form of government.
Communism is opposed to freedom, which is antithetical to conservatism.
You must be thinking of libertarianism.
By “it”, I meant conservatism.
Both are political doctrines that would require personal sacrifice for the benefit of others in order to work. For communism, it was economic sacrfice. For conservatism, it’s a sacrifice of political power. Communism’s goal was laudable. As a Christian, I wish it could work. But it’s contrary to the reality of the human condition. Communist rulers tried to replace the necessary altruism with brute force and oppression, wich also didn’t work. Conservatism won’t work because there will never be enough politicians who are principled enough to sacrifice for the greater good— a majority will always curry votes through giveaways.
What Adam Smith praised, and what the Market harnesses for the common good, is SELF-INTEREST, not selfishness.
In a functioning market, self-interest leads a man to act in his neighbors’ interest, by producing what they need and want.
Selfishness leads to theft, violence, etc., whether or not a man lives in a properly functioning market society.
Good distinction.
Dunno if Pres. Lincoln actually said this, but it is still true.
“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.
—Abraham Lincoln “
I think Ayn Rand popularized praising “selfishness.” And she meant it.
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