The line between conservative and liberal is getting harder to see

Detroti News ^ | 10/12/03 | Nolan Finley

[jimkress]

Ronald Reagan revived the conservative movement with a simple, easy-to-recognize philosophy: Take as little of the people's money as possible and spend it wisely; shrink the size of government, and leave business alone to create jobs.

But the principles that define conservatives are blurrier. Today, being conservative has more to do with issues of morality and religion than with a commitment to sound economic policy and common sense government.

[tophat9000]

Ronald Reagan revived the conservative movement with a simple, easy-to-recognize philosophy: Take as little of the people's money as possible and spend it wisely; shrink the size of government, and leave business alone to create jobs.

Sorry but I still define conservative by that

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[SwinneySwitch]

"The line between conservative and liberal is getting harder to see"

That's only because of the CHASM!

[jimkress]

So do I.

[Teacher317]

bump to that

[Orangedog]

Conservatives shrug off these erosions of their principles because the people who control the White House and Congress have R's after their names.

But they should remember the inevitability of political cycles. Someday, the more powerful federal government they've crafted will be run by Democrats. What will they say when the National Education Association is writing local school policy?

How loudly will they whelp when those new powers to poke and pry into private lives are in the hands of President Hillary?

People around here scoff at such notions at their own peril.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Conservatives shrug off these erosions of their principles because the people who control the White House and Congress have R's after their names."

I think he means IDIOTS "shrug off these erosions of their principles because the people who control the White House and Congress have R's after their names."

[TopQuark]

Today, being conservative has more to do with issues of morality and religion than with a commitment to sound economic policy and common sense government.

This is exactly right and evidenced every day on this forum: most self-descrbied conservatives promulgate here hard-core socialist viewpoint in the area of economics. The anti-corporate sentiment is probably strongest it's ever been in this county --- and that includes conservatives on this forum.

One takes his position on at least three spectra: political, cultural, and economic. Most conservatives today are conservatives culturally and some also politically. When it comes to economics they are as ignorant of it and as indoctrinated as their counterparts on the Left. They have celebrated throwing to the woves of Grasso, the downfall of Martha Stewart as much as the most rabid of the leftists. And they speak here on FR of "fat cats," the "rich CEOs," etc. A moron like Adam Sandler deserves to make $30M in six weeks --- no complaints here, ever. But a CEO that works 18 hours a day and has been making enourmous sacrifices all his life before getting to that position does not server $3-$5M per year: he is an uncaring "fat cat" steeling for the poor falk. The Soviet commies would be really proud of the the present-day American conservatives.

And this is the REAL reason we continue to have big government and continue our march towards socialism: it simply does not have an opposition in this country.

[thoughtomator]

Yeah seriously... when are conservatives going to take the opportunity to strip the federal government of all the extraconstitutional powers the Democrats will abuse us with when they regain the office?

We do ignore this at our peril!

[Enterprise]

My kneejerk reaction is that there is a vast difference between how conservatives view Government. JMO, but conservatives view Government as something which is

OF, BY and FOR the PEOPLE, and at its heart,
GOVERNS with the CONSENT of the GOVERNED, with a goal of -
LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL.

This is the ideal, and not in reality obtainable. But if Government is viewed as service to their fellow citizens, and not mastery over them, the actions of those elected to office should rarely be intrusive.

With that in mind, we have a vicious philosophy in charge in California called liberalism. Liberalism craves power, period. The approach of liberals to Government is -

REGULATE
CONFISCATE
INCARCERATE

All power-mad Governments or Dictatorships establish the illusion of legal authority to justify their rulership and Governmental actions by means of "laws."

First one must REGULATE. Whatever is done must be lawful. All manner of oppression can be justified under "it's the law."

Once liberals have established the "Regulations" they go to CONFISCATION. You object to your wages being confiscated and being called "taxes?" Too bad. It's the law! You don't like your property being seized through eminent domain? Too bad, it's the law! You don't like exorbitant traffic fines for minor offenses? Too bad! You don't like having your car seized for minor violations of the law? Too bad, too bad, too bad. It's the law!

But you can of course, be silent. Be silent and you won't have to worry about INCARCERATION. If you object too strongly to your wages being seized and given to others, if you object to having your property seized and you won't cooperate, you will simply be jailed! See how easy? Pass the laws, confiscate the properties, and jail the citizens who object!

There is a fourth principle for liberals, however it is still not within reach of liberals in the United States. In the liberal homelands of the old USSR, present day China and Cuba, the fourth leg is Termination. Regulate, Confiscate, Incarcerate, Terminate.

I hope the voters can finally awaken and sweep this evil philosophy from California forever.

[moodyskeptic]

While I agree in part that conservatives buckle too quickly in compromise with liberal othodoxy, I place the fault elsewhere.

The populace watched the elite media trash the character of Reagan, Gingrich, Bork, Rush, Arnold, Lott, both Bushes, any conservative who threatened the Leftist cultural monopoly. The punishment for challenging the liberal hegemony is brutal. Human beings yearn for friendship and community, not popular banishment.

Each time the harping Hollywood entertainers and network TV talking heads ridicule a conservative, they ensure further erosion of the efficacy of conservative legislation. They push true conservatives underground.

So we get what we now have, a timid Republican party, shell shocked into expanding government and entitlements. Anything to make nice. Anything to quiet the chorus of leftist demonizers.

The good news: the tactic backfired on Arnold. For the first time, the liberal smear campaign was beaten back by public opinion.

I choose optimism.

[joesnuffy]

A Govt. without God
is like sex without love
Real Christian principles include both
a moral component and a fiscal component
The hard core left
knows neither
All their complaints and counter accusations
are aimed at only one thing
their agenda...a totalitarian state
with themselves appointed over the
purse and legal system

[Luis Gonzalez]

"They've porked up the budget far in excess of what was needed to cover the needs of homeland security and the terrorism war."

Here's the crux of his entrire argument, yet, he fails to provide one single iota of evidence to back up his claim.

What's getting more and more difficult to see each day, is responsible, informed, and unbiased journalism.

[armed_in_sydney]

A moron like Adam Sandler deserves to make $30M in six weeks --- no complaints here, ever.

Well at least you can be assured that when it comes to 'fat cat' musicians that every marxist angle will be taken to argue that its not really stealing,its my right coz theres only one song i like on the album so it deserves to be stolen.....not that its stealing coz intellectual propery dont exist...the RIAA make me do it with their inflated prices!.

Everyone p*sses on the concepts of commerce when it suits them.

[Sam Cree]

I pretty much agree with your point.

I'm not much of an economist, but it doesn't take a genius to see that much of the "conservative" movement in the US is not particularly against big government, or even against the drift into totalitarianism which we are undergoing

This forum often does provide examples.

[TopQuark]

You are right on the meney. It's always been the case. What worries me more, the purps get away with that now because the vast majority of people do not know the difference.

[1rudeboy]

For your reading pleasure:

Stop the FTAA, On to Miami!

Ask yourself if this editorial could have been written by some of those self-professed conservatives on this forum.

[Brett66]

I think he's confusing Republicans with conservatives.

[TopQuark]

Very nice find! Thanks for the post -- and for your point, too: as sad as it is, you are right.