[VMI70]

For the purpose this thread, the applicable part of the definition is reduced, not increased, government. Government interference in our lives has increased by any measure under any administration.


If you are implying that this is not a conservative website for the reason I gave (republican vs conservative) in my previous post, then you are correct in that the site does not follow its stated pupose. As long as that is recognized, it is fine with me. The more the merrier and it gives me lots of opportunities to differ with those that put expedient politics, as cited in poet's reply, over principle.

[u-89]

Actually I wasn't impying anything about this site (but as the saying goes "if the shoe fits, kick yourself with it") my comment was more general. I used to call myself conservative but switched to libertarian simply because the definition of conservative has become so confused that it always meant something different to whomever I discussed politics and I do not mean just the two previous distinctions of economic conservative and social conservative. Also I started finding myself at odds with so called conservatives on too many important issues to continue with the label.

So the question stands - What does it mean to be a conservative? Does it mean one wants a reduction in government influence in our lives? After reading some threads on this site it is apparent some like more government yet consider themselves very conservative. FR should take a poll on what conservatism means. The results would be facinating. Personally I think the term should be scrapped as it has become so bastardized it is beyond redemption. The evolution of the term liberal is a good example of a label being co-opted to the point it nows means something 180 degrees opposite of where it started.