Posted on 05/31/2006 1:32:23 PM PDT by Dominic Harr
From our lips to a REAL leader's ears.
Ditto. On economic matters there's a fairly simple continuum from liberalism to conservatism. But on social issues, many conservatives and liberals agree that the government should be promoting, subsidizing, and/or banning certain actions, they just disagree on what those actions are. Social conservatives want government to promote abstinence and throw you in prison for smoking a joint. Social liberals want government to promote "tolerance" of homosexuals and throw you in prison for "hate speech". Libertarians are really the only ones wanting the government to stay out of our personal lives as much as possible.
The effort to define the 2 is the key to revitalizing the R party.
Like it or not, there are 2 distinct groups in what was the R party's "Contract with America" revolution. And we'll have to work together again to save the R party.
So first, we have to start talking - and listening - to each other.
Now, we have each group claiming the other doesn't belong. Each side claiming only *they* are the real conservatives.
That is the split I'm hoping to heal.
Well, you're on my newly "tagline material" section. I even broke with my usual tradition of stealing without attribution! (with minor editing)...
But that stand is precisely why it is political! It's not because conservatives choose to make it so, but because we are forced to in order to defend our liberty from fascist (left or right-wing, but mostly left) control freaks.
The very attitude of "don't impose your social beliefs on me" must necessarily be a political one to be of any benefit in today's world. A love of liberty that refuses to take political action in that liberty's defense is a useless facade.
Someone needs to monitor this thread and post a final list...
A libertarian should recognize the importance of the 2nd Amendment.
As for abortion and "queers", I can see your point with the latter, but not the former. In the minds of most social conservatives, personhood begins prior to birth, so abortion isn't an issue of personal choice as much as it is the taking of another person's life. From that point of view, I think government intrusion is absolutely legitimate, because it is saving another person's life. Now, with homosexual issues, I absolutely agree. That is far more of an example of one side or the other trying to force its social views on the other via the rule of law. I don't care for either position and think those issues should be up to the individual states and to individuals themselves. Homosexuality should not be a political issue.
I don't fit in a box. I'm a Flaming Moderate. That said, I can't be a dim even if I agree with a few of their policies. In politics, you never get exactly what you want; you compromise. W is governing very moderately; therefore, I usually agree with him.
"I've never considered there to be 2 types. A conservative is fiscally and socially conservative, if not they are not conservative."
that was Reagan's view. We should follow his lead.
I am a political conservative. Objectivism pretty much describes my take on it.
--some links to what I have found to be a good method by which to measure and appraise just where you morally "fit" politically whether you may specifically realize it or not...
The Moral Matrix - Political Systems
The Moral Matrix - Recent US Presidents
Actually, that's not a 'social' idea, that's a political one. So I would define that as 'politically' conservative.
And if the town votes to allow prostitution or recreational drug use?
Which is my point -- there is 'socially' conservative, where say you are against homosexuality as a sin.
And then there is 'politically' conservative, where you say I believe it's a sin but I don't believe the govt has any right to impose this belief on others.
Many people here who don't recognize it are either socially C/Politically L or vice versa.
And we *all* have to get together on the things we agree on, if we're going to rescue this party.
If no one else does, I'll go over it in about an hour and post a count.
Great thought.
Then I'm there.
[But don't tell Mrs. Wormwood]
Excellent response, wish I'd thought of that.
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