Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Some Questions for Conservatives

Do you support scrapping Social Security, either gradually or suddenly?

Do you hold to a general principle of laissez-faire capitalism, that the government ought to stay out of the economy. That principle is equally violated by a corporate bailout as it is by LBJ's War on Poverty.

Was the GI Bill socialism?

Do you oppose any and all government assistance to poor people?

And who do you think was last conservative President? If you say GW Bush I'm going to laugh. Ronald Reagan? Give me a break. Herbert Hoover? Maybe.

Are child labor laws justified? There's government intervention to be sure.

The leaders who have run the Republican party for years are not principled conservatives. They want government to back big business. Their hearts start bleeding at the sight of a failing multinational corporation.

Do you seriously doubt that many have benefitted from government involvement in the economic life of the public?

What, in your view, constitutes principled conservatism? This isn't just a rhetorical attack. I'd really like to see what conservatism is really all about. The "conservative" ideology that has run the Bush administration seems to be an ideology that looks out for big business first and foremost. If that means government involvement, then government gets involved. It that means reducing government, then government is reduced. But I see no commitment to limited government as an overall governing principle. That is why, if you really convinced me that conservative principles were true, I would register, not Republican, but Libertarian.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not a conservative, but it seems to me that for the overwhelming majority of conservatives, their party allegiance isn't about policy at all. It's about identity.

They're Conservatives because they're White, they're Protestant. They're unassuming, they pay their taxes, they go to church, they mow their yard and go to their children's games on the weekend.

And in their mind, liberals are well-off, condescending, professorial, effete... or they're gay or they're black. To them, Liberals either eschew traditional values (the gays) or they're morally inferior with regard to them (the blacks) or they look down on people who hold to them (the effete).

That liberals are supposedly wrong on the issues is an afterthought. These folks vote Conservative because Conservatives are "their kind of people"... and Liberals aren't.

Mike Darus said...

There are different types of "conservative": social, economic, moral, theological, political... Victor's challenge seems to be more about economics. I tend toward conservative economics based on the good old protestant work ethic. But I am conflicted. I am not a principled conservative. I recognize that social realities do not provide equal opportunity. We have real problems with poverty.

Social security serves an important function. However, it has been supported by favorable demographics. A large working population has been able to support a smaller retired population. The future is in doubt.

The government's role in the economy is a balancing act. The government can over-regulate to the point where business cannot function effectively. However, laissez-faire capitalism can also be another name for fraud and abuse.

It is a good thing that you cannot name a president who performed according to principled ideological conservative principles. The ideological extreme would not be good for our society.

Nick said...

The last conservative president? Probably a Democrat, Grover Cleveland.

De Tinker said...

Anonymous

"They're Conservatives because they're White, they're Protestant. They're unassuming, they pay their taxes, they go to church, they mow their yard and go to their children's games on the weekend."

Empirically false and extremely racist, religionist, and assumist. Look up blackrepublican blogspot.

"And in their mind, liberals are well-off, condescending, professorial, effete... or they're gay or they're black. To them, Liberals either eschew traditional values (the gays) or they're morally inferior with regard to them (the blacks) or they look down on people who hold to them (the effete)."

Concerning the gay part, I'd say 75% correct. The rest is complete balderdash, unless you believe that alt-right is like 99% of the republicans. If so then you need to work on your political history and start thinking hard what alternative right actually means. No alt does not mean altimate

De Tinker said...

Question for liberals:

Where does progressivism end (not against progress but how far is too far) ?


Which party supports the destruction of the nuclear family ?



How does the economic and political chart work (which side wants more governmental powers and which side less)?

Who is going to pay me for work if the rich should give up their riches and everyone has equal amounts ( can't be the government because they can't be rich) ?

Why should I work if I am going to get handouts and free cash ?

What economic system has destroyed countries like Venezuela?

This is a good question in response to "Do you seriously doubt that many have benefited from government involvement in the economic life of the public?" Yes, VP I seriously doubt anyone has benfitted from heavy governmental involvement in public economic life.

Which party was responsible for segregation ? If you choose Republican, balderdash.

Can one be both a conservative and a libertarian ?

What does illegal immigration mean ? Think hard on that one,and tell me why America should not be kicking people do not belong legally.

If I am greedy for wanting to keep my money, why is it not greed to want to take someone's money and to give it to someone else?

"Do you oppose any and all government assistance to poor people?"

I see a lot of grey areas with this question. What assistance do you mean ? In cash or actual work ?

De Tinker said...

correction for q.4: government should not be rich otherwise there goes socialism.