Posted on 02/07/2002 8:02:41 AM PST by watsonfellow
In the past few months I have noticed that the posters on Free Republic have become more and more hostile towards social conservatism.
And I do not mean indifference (less pro life threads etc) but an outright hostility at pro life and other social conservative causes.
Am I alone in thinking this?
In particular, notice the responses to the thread concerning the recent request by social conservative groups to the FCC to reign in Fox's racey primetime programs.
I wonder if this is becoming only a haven for hedonists and libertarians, and if so, perhaps it would be better for social conservatives to find their own site.
Special delivery of an obligatory Anna Kournikova photo
Now the thread is complete
Take me back to a time when conservatives laughed at Joycelyn Elders for her ideas on legalizing drugs....
Not without a bit of fundraising and an appearance of the admin moderator.
Of course, once the moderator gets here, we're toast.
Free market approach to what, TV prgramming? What did you have to offer?
It's like the BATF. They regulate guns. They were originally a TAX collection group. Prohibition ended, and they became overrun with JBT's.
This is the problem with government problems. Also, what is indecent? Peter Deutsch would consider Free Republic indecent. That's another problem with regulating content.
There are two, and only two legit censoring tools I support and respect. One is the clicker. The other is writing networks, affiliates, and boycotting advertisers of the goods that sponsor shows. That's how us gunowners put a dent into Mitch Albom, and really hurt K-MART. The MARKET system.
Those that run to government are as bad as the liberals since it plays right into their hands. They love nothing more than power in the hands of government.
Maybe people like Jerry Springer?
This is a free market economy. If you think you can produce better TV, radio, newspapers and books, gather up your like minded buddies and do it. Don't force the rest of us to deal with your personal hang-ups. Get off your behind and produce the kind of entertainment YOU want instead of trying to deny everyone else theirs.
This was an extremely lazy, liberal response on your part. Nothing worse than whining.
No, that wasn't why I laughed at her. It was her idea that teenagers had to be taught to masturbate that got to me.
Was that funny!
Aye, there's the rub: It's the interpretation of that 'decency clause' that allows the camels nose of regulatory fiat and tyranny under the tent.
The Taliban was only enforcing their 'decency clause' when they were shooting people during soccer games.
America has accomplished so much in these last few years, whether it's been re-building our economy or serving the cause of freedom in the world. What we've been able to achieve has been done with your help-with us working together as a nation united. No we need your support again Drugs are menacing our society. They're threatening our values and undercutting our institutions. They're killing our children.
From the beginning of our administration, we've taken strong steps to do something about this horror. Tonight I can report to you that we've made much progress. Thirty-seven Federal agencies are working together in a vigorous national effort, and by next year our spending for drug law enforcement will have more than tripled from its 1981 levels. We have increased seizures of illegal drugs. Shortages of marijuana are now being reported. Last year alone over 10,000 drug criminals were convicted and nearlv $250 million of their assets were seized by the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Administration.
And in the most important area, individual use, we see progress. In 4 years the number of high school seniors using marijuana on a daily basis has dropped from 1 in 14 to 1 in 20. The U.S. military has cut the use of illegal drugs among its personnel by 67 percent since 1980. These are a measure of our commitment and emerging signs that we can defeat this enemy. But we still have much to do.
1. I have not sensed hostility to social conservatives on FreeRepublic. I have sensed a reduced presence of social conservatives here.
2. I am pro-life, but I am not a single issue voter on this or any other matter.
3. Attempting to use government action to establish or enforce social mores is a bit like Canute trying to use a broom to change the tide.
4. There are areas of convergence for social and economic conservatives. For example, I believe that both groups support the propositions that the federal courts have given too broad an interpretation to the establishment clause and too narrow an interpretation to the freedom of association. Ronald Reagan was the greatest Republican President since Lincoln (sorry all you TR fans) in part because he represented a synthesis of economic and social conservatism.
5. While the Republican Party has been a disappointment to economic conservatives, given the attitude and attention span of the majority of American voters, the Libertarian Party is not a viable alternative; and our best hope for movement toward a more limited government lies in changing, not abandoning, the Republican Party.
6. The Democratic Party is anathema to both economic and social conservatives; and, to some extent, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
7. In a large constitutional republic, in the absence of extraordinary conditions virtually all change is incremental, and patience is therefore not just a virtue, it is essential to the success of any political program.
So thanks. And DO read it. And the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers and see if you find this to be an outrage or not. The Constitution and the Federalist Papers were written for anyone to understand. And laws are like Enron's SEC filings, if you can't understand em', they are probably a fraud.
Depends on how you define "social conservatism." Not all of us who consider ourselves such want the government to legislate morality and take the place of involved parents.
Then again, aren't you the pretentious pud who chastised those who cheered the FDNY and NYPD heroes who booed Hilla the Hun at the Concert for New York?
And calling someone who likes The Simpsons and The Family Guy a "Hedonist" is not hostile???
There aren't too many things I HATE but hypocrites are one of those things.
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