Replies

re:Your comments about paleo's and no desire to cut the social security net -
I could understand that in today's light - it would be politically impossible but originally they didn't support it and once apon a time they did want to roll back the entire new deal. This illustrates the evils of socialism - not too far down the path there is a point of no return.

Your point about paleo's embracing German style socialism is new to me. Could you recommend some reading material? I do see where Republicans in general are big on "corporate" welfare. I guess there are various flavors of paleos - the ones I am familiar with are closer to libertarian economic principles - not a carbon copy but closer here than to Euorpean advanced civilized life styles. To my understanding Buchanan is not a true economic conservative anymore and I am not sure to what degree other paleos agree with his economics.

Every Paleo I have met, and I know a few, waxes nostalgic about the white ethnic worker earning a high wage working the open hearth furnace in the heartland. To my knowledge, they have always been suspicious of free markets. A robust capitalism frightens the hell out of them, just as it enthuased Marx; both viewed it as a vehicle for social change which the former fears, and the latter celebrated. For the Paleo's, free markets are simply too culturally disruptive to their nostalgic view of a society that never really was, but is through their rose colored glasses. The German analogy is mine alone. It really effects what they want in their hearts to accomplish.

Sorry to bust your comfortable little bubble, but the paleos love for the welfare net is not just some accomodation to the neocon reality. The fact is that the paleos have been far more supportive of Medicare, et al, than neocons. Do you remember the budget battle of 1995? Newt Gingrich was the ultimate neocon, and he wanted to turn back the federal programs of the last six decades. During that time, Pat Buchanan opposed the budget cuts, an opposition which made it possible for wobbly Republicans to jump ship (since if a "hard-core conservative" like Buchanan opposed Newt, then he must be extreme). This led to the downfall of the Contract With America, Clinton's reelection, and, indirectly, 9/11. Aren't you proud to be associated with the welfare-loving Pat Buchanan?