Posted on 08/21/2002 7:00:41 PM PDT by VRW Conspirator
At one time, I was proud to call myself a conservative. No more. I would even argue that conservatives are as much responsible for the political and cultural deterioration of our country as liberals. That means Republicans share as much blame for the downward spiral of our nation as Democrats. People who believe they are voting for a substantive change of direction by voting for either major party are kidding themselves. Both liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, are heading in the same direction.
The pattern goes something like this: Democrats (liberals) use the power of political office to spearhead socialist, internationalist policies. This is accomplished over the vocal objections of grassroots conservatives. The resulting dissatisfaction with the liberal agenda usually translates into Republicans being elected to public office.
Once Republicans (conservatives) are in office, however, they do nothing to reverse the socialist policies that the liberals instituted. Instead, they set about to normalize or legitimize those policies. After all, Republicans are all about conserving the status quo; and for the past 40 years, the status quo has been incessant, burgeoning socialism. Therefore, instead of instituting a radical return to constitutional governance, conservatives actually harden the cement of socialism that has been laid by liberals.
Unfortunately, rank and file conservatives seem more than willing to accept an increase of socialism, internationalism, and liberalism as long as Republicans are overseeing it. Conservatives seem totally oblivious to the ominous direction of the country when Republicans are in charge. As a result, conservatives and liberals, Democrats and Republicans, are working together to take America further and further down the road of socialism.
With little distinction from Democrats in the actual governing policy of Republicans, liberals are soon reinstalled to public office, and the cycle repeats itself. This has been the redundant pattern in our country for the past half century.
Therefore, as someone who stands foursquare on the principles laid down in our founding documents, I refuse to be identified as a conservative any longer. Instead, call me a constitutionalist. I am convinced that the only chance that freedom and independence have of surviving the next 50 years is by a radical return to constitutional government. The status quo must go!
Only an awakened electorate who are fed up with the constant capitulation of constitutional principles by the two major parties and who are willing to courageously crusade for genuine change will be capable of actually preserving this republic for their posterity. Anything short of this will only result in a continued drift toward socialism and globalism.
Pick your Reagan now and in 15 or 20 years he may be able to make some real changes. Perhaps even sooner, though it's not likely. And pick the issues you want to fight on now and in the future.
"Roll back government all along the line" isn't a practical issue. It has no priority, no point that you can press. To attack everywhere is to attack nowhere, just as to defend everything is to defend nothing.
Third Party candidates may be a valuable way to let off steam or to telegraph your disgust with the Republican, but in the end they probably cause more frustration than they relieve.
So, we don't want to label ourselves Republicans and lend support to wrong ideas, but we sure don't want to lend a hand to any radical on the left in any way.
Thus, we are in a hard spot. All we can do is vote for the party that destroys the country less than the other, but then, thats our real concern. We don't want to see the country move in the direction of authoritarianism, but who do we support when its only a two party system?
I call myself a Constitutionalist, or Constitutional Conservative, yet the Constitution in its origianl interpretation is very conservative indeed, espeically with regards to the Bill of Rights.
Patriots are in a bind. Their country is literally falling apart at the seams, but they have no one running for office who will be able to win.
How long until it will be illegal to talk about the evils of government, or your elected officials?
You had to go there, didn't you?
It is actually long for "h".
It stands for "can't undo commands knucklehead".
It also means "classified undisclosed conservative knowledge"
I'm afraid he's right neither party is for a true change in direction. Both are playing variations of the same socialist tune and all too often it's harmonizing. I think it goes something like this "We are the World".
Friend, we don't have 15 or 20 years!! If our school system doesn't kill us, our legal system will. We already have a virulent anti-business culture. The govt spent much way too money trying to kill Microsoft. If I were a CEO of anything, I would look for another line of work.
What is it with you free market "free trade" types? Do you not realize you're talking about the destruction of America's manufacturing sector? Oh yeah, that's great, for it's all in the name of "free trade" and the global ecnomy. Intelligent people should be able to see that "Free Trade" is bad for America. Are people insane?
Which parts of "9/11" and "war" doesn't this woman understand?
I wish someone would give a definition of "Constitutionalist". I am for the constitution, but I am a conservative. We now have about 15 flavors of Conservative and now a brand new label of "constitutionalist to throw around. I have 100 bucks that you could get 5 "constitutionalists" to give a definition and all 5 would be different. It is a monumental waste of time.
That depends on whether or not your wife is fooling around on you. [rimshot]
Message below as posted.
Go to the Knoxville News Sentinel political contributions and see who the Frists have donated to. This is the guy in charge of the Republican Senatorial Election campaign?
http://campaign.knoxnews.com/
Search by donor: Frist
DR. THOMAS FRIST, JR 508 BELLE MEADE BOULEVARD NASHVILLE TN Phil Bredesen 07/13/2001 $2,500.00
WILLIAM FRIST 3827 RICHLAND AVENUE NASHVILLE TN Phil Bredesen 07/13/2001 $2,500.00
PATRICIA FRIST 508 BELLE MEADE BOULEVARD NASHVILLE TN Phil Bredesen 07/13/2001 $2,500.00
ROBERT FRIST, JR 209 10TH AVE. S SUITE 450 NASHVILLE TN Van Hilleary 05/04/2001 $1,000.00
MRS. THOMAS FRIST 508 BELLE MEADE BLVD. NASHVILLE TN Marsha Blackburn 12/11/2001 $1,000.00
Looks like the Frists are more RINO than Republican!
End of post.
Yes indeed it does you see Bresden is a Tenn Care or rather Hillary Care shill running for governor. Now why would the Frist family be supporting him? Especially the ranking Republican U.S. Senator? So much for party loyalities we are told we must have to win. Post this to the next person who says you must support the GOP at all cost. Two parties one goal.
You left out a major point though, TAXES !!
Republicans talk about tax cuts and tax reform but rarely deliver. Republicans and President GWB gave us a refund of a whopping average of about $500.00 ea. WHOOPPEEEEEE !!!!! I'm frickin rich now !!! After all I have paid thousands upon thousands in taxes over the years and I should be damned glad to get a pennance back.
Until we get rid of both criminal parties that take our taxes and waste them we will all be forever in chains !!
Let's propose a simple test.
Protectionists are not only wrong-headed in their understanding of economics, they are fighting the wrong battle (and wasting valuable time and energy doing so).
The enemy of the Domestic Production Base is high domestic taxes and regulation, not low tariffs. Even if high tariffs "protected" Industry (and they do not; they just reward Inefficiency and add to the Cost of raw materials needed for production)... it would still do very little good to put a fence around a starving man to "protect" him from predators when you are still stealing the bread from his hands. The poor man will still starve to death, fence or no fence.
(grin)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.