Is the US more conservative or more liberal than the 1930s? (vanity)

self | 4/17/02 | TenthAmendmentChampion

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

I've pondered this question for a number of years since I woke up from being a stupid puke liberal and converted back to conservatism. That was in 1992.

Looking back at history, it's amazing how Socialist the government was in the 1930s, in FDR's cabinet. Some of them (including the vice president) were out and out Communists! Thank God for Harry Truman.

But overall, are we becoming more conservative (like Rush says, "We are winning.")? Or are we becoming more socialist, with more and more people buying into cultish ideas like the environmentalist lunacy? Do you see the kids (teens and twenty somethings) as more liberal, or are they more conservative, or even libertarian?

It seems the battle against socialism is becoming more overt, with news outlets like Fox News and the Internet, and a couple of conservative weeklies like the Washington Times taking on the ABCCBSNBCCNNWPNYT and succeeding! Do you think this trend reflects a hunger for more conservative outlook on daily news stories, and if so, are we winning?

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

This isn't scientific; just interested in your thoughts. Thanks and God bless you all.

[AzJP]

I'm not sure how YOU define your terms, and that's not important to my answer which is that we are more socialist now.

That's a real easy answer at tax time. And as I went through "security" to get on this flight. And as I paid all those taxes on this air ticket.

Tim

[Chuckster]

We can hope.

[jlogajan]

Far more socialistic now -- and people demand it. That's why Repubes are always selling out to win votes -- the old lie, once we are in office we will do good. ha ha Once sellout Repubes are in office they continue to sell out to stay in office. ha ha

[planter]

Repubs are anti-free market, like to legislate morality, and practice a bizzare form of State controlled Capitalism.

Would you care to elaborate on all three of those?

[tacticalogic]

In the '30's, Republicans bitterly opposed FDR's New Deal policies, and his abuse of the Commerce Clause. It gave rise to the DEA, ESA, EPA, farm subsidies, the Education Department, and a whole host of other nanny government agencies and programs. Think you can find a beltway politician today of any stripe that will tell you the federal government has exceeded it's authority, and all of these agencies and programs need to be dismantled?

[mc5cents]

Oh, I don't think that there is any doubt that we are more socialistic now than then. Much more. Public (read government) education has taken it's toll.

In the 30's, 40's and into the 50's we still had an "American attitude", which I would describe as rugged individualism, but that has been slowly driven out by government indocrination in the government schools. The "melting pot" of then has been replaced by hyphenenated ethic chic. Political correctness has replaced "plain talk", as expressed so wonderfully by Will Rogers. "All I know is what I read in the newspapers." Going back even further, Sam Clemens expressed it too.

What to do? Parents have to take charge of their children and get them out of government schools. Home school, parochial schools, whatever it takes. Elect conservatives/constitutionalists to government positions.

It ain't going to be easy. But we must try. We must. It's our civic duty. Those of us who still consider ourselves "American".

[leadhead]

Hard to say. I think, in retrospect, Jack Kennedy was conservative where as Bobby was socialist.

The divide (or flip)seemed to occur in that time span.

Before that, Republicans were capitalist and Democrats were populist.

All changed 'round now.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

I can see and agree that POLITICIANS are becoming more liberal (it's in their interest to grab more power). What about the rest of us?

[gorush]

The peoples trend toward socialism is part of human nature, it is because humans (and their nature) inhabit the Supreme Court that the original intent of the Constitution has long since been lost...and with it our Republic...more's the pity. We are more socialistic now than we were in the '30's, we will be more socialistic in the future than we are now. Keep your powder dry.

[tcostell]

I think it’s pretty clear that since the 60's, those in power in the government have been much more socialist, but I have to disagree with some other posters about the future. Maybe I’m a little insulated working in finance, but the 20 something’s I meet and that work for me, all give me the impression that they have a much clearer view of things than I did at their age. I think rebellion from the neo – liberal status quo these days means becoming a libertarian, and their attitudes seem to reflect that. I don’t want to argue semantics, but to me, that is more “conservative” than someone like Ted Kennedy or Hillary Clinton.
The one area which seems to retain some power with those in their 20’s is the environmental movement. I can only assume that this is for the same reason that PJ O’Rourke said the Anti-War movement was popular,… many of the women involved are good looking. But no-one with a brain at all seems to take it to seriously.

[tacticalogic]

Hard to say. Terms like "conservative" and "liberal" are politically relative. I'd think the question should be expressed in terms of political absolutes, like libertarian vs. socialist.

[Holden Magroin]

This country is far more liberal than it was in the 1930s or even the 1980s. Whereas wholesome family shows dominated the airwaves in the 1980s, television today glorifies promiscuity, alcohol and drug abuse, and foul language. Shows like "Sex in the City" and just about anything on MTV would've been considered decadent and vulgar back in the 1930s.

[umgud]

Socialism scares me, but political correctness is going to do us in first.

[Cold Heat]

The U.S. was flirting with communism in the 30s and early 40s. We flirt with socialism now.

Somehow, we are still here.