Fiscally Conservative & Social Liberal?
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| Mon, 07-26-2004 - 9:55pm |
Perhaps you could be
A. Conservative on Both
B. Moderate fiscally and moderate socially
C. Liberal on Both.
It just seem difficult if not impossible to be Fiscally conservative and socially liberal and here is why.
Most liberal programs increase gov't control over private institutions, increase spending on issues, or increase red tape, etc. This all adversly affects efficiency or causes increases in gov't spending. Both of which a fiscal conservative would be against. Yet I hear this uddered all the time. I wonder if it is a way of presenting yourself as not one of the extremes on either side. You certainly can get labeled when you say I'm a conservative or I'm a liberal. So you play both sides of the fence.
I'm not convinced it is not possible it just seems unlikely. It would seem in every case you would end up being a moderate or liberal if you support liberal social programs because of their restriction on the free market or their inherent cost from tax payer coffers.

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Only one example.
And can you please give an estimate of how much it will cost to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge of Alligence?
Thank you.
Fair enough although it would have fiscal ramifications I could easily argue "your" side of the arguement as well.
"And can you please give an estimate of how much it will cost to remove the words "under God" from the Pledge of Alligence? "
It would cost a ton but not fiscally.
I would say these are two pretty good examples. Just glad I'm strictly conservative so I can argue against these points without needing a financial reason.
Also, it's about priorities... You can spend more on some social programs and less on others or less on other expenses. I personally would be willing to spend more on anything related to children (including pre-natally) and instead tax-back some benefits provided to adults (including seniors) that can afford it. I think it's about making an investment in our future - children. For example, if you provide all children free health care, dental care, psychological care, and improve our education system, what do you think would happen? We would get an educated, healthy and productive workforce that would improve our overall standard of living, and we would get less crime. I read somewhere that one of the reasons Canada has a lower crime rate is because something like three times as many of our children with psychiatric or psychological disorders get treated in childhood. A very large segment of the jail population suffers from mild to severe mental illness. Some of it may also be from lack of care, alcohol or drug abuse by their mother during pregnancy.
Here in Canada, there are many programs implemented by both conservative governments and by liberal governments I didn't support. But I can tell you that Health care is certainly one I DO support!
Edited 7/27/2004 6:17 pm ET ET by nicecanadianlady
Politically conservative values I hold dear:
Fiscal discipline and a balanced budget.
Strong national defense and a military force ready to roll when in need.
Small, more efficient government.
Less intrusion into peoples personal lives.
But I am for Gay Marriage, Pro-choice, against the war on drugs, for the assault weapons ban, against the Death Penalty.
Thats about it off the top of my head. I would describe myself as being politically conservative, but socially liberal. More Libertarian than anything else, but I have voted republican in every election since 1984, except 1996: I couldnt even hold my nose and vote for Dole/Kemp.
This used to be called being a moderate, but people act like we aren't around any more!
Glassy
Please explain.
A concise definition of a political conservative is “disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions etc. and to resist change” (The Random House College Dictionary Revised Edition, 1975).
In this way conservative philosophy is relative to the existing society or culture. That is a conservative will support existing conditions and institutions, no matter what they are. In the Soviet Union during the 1970's and 80's the Communists were the conservatives.
It seems to me that throughout history most people, at most times were conservatives. Every once and a while that would change with the result that people would change the previously existing conditions and institutions.
The definition of liberal is more involved. A liberal is “favorable to progress or reform . . .” The term also means “of, or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies”; “favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties”; “favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression”; “free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant”; “open-minded or tolerant esp., free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.”; “characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts”; “given freely or abundantly”; “not strict or rigorous; free; not literal”; etc. (ibid.).
Based on the above, for the most part, liberal philosophy is not relative to the existing society or culture. Further, in the Soviet Union during the 1970's and 80's the liberals were in favor of moving toward less government control over the economic and over life in general.
Now, we get to the main point. Americans, Canadians and Europeans, living during the first decade of the 21st century, reside in a profoundly liberal society and culture, with profoundly liberal existing conditions and institutions. So to be a conservative in the manner described above and I believe most people currently are, one must also be a liberal.
That, does not mean that everyone now-a-days hold the same positions, there are some differences between the positions held by Republicans and Democrats. But, from a historical viewpoint those differences are small. If a person who fully supports the Republican party platform and another person, who fully supports the Democrat party platform, were to be transported in time back to the 1920's they would both be seen as pretty much equally radical and neither would be considered a conservative. Even during the 1930', 1940's and 1950's both would be considered to be left of center.
Excellent post, thank you!
Tom
I am a conservative. I believe in traditional values and morals. I am in favor of a limited, smaller, less intrusive government. I prefer personal responsibility rather than state dependence. Neighborhood charities rather than governmental ones. I am for lessening the tax burden on people and freeing them to be innovative. I want hard work and determination to be what puts you ahead of the pack, not a quota system. I believe racial equality will exist when we stop asking your race and start asking your qualifications. I hate multiculturalism and want to say Merry Christmas. I don't like divorce, vulgar entertainment, abortion, or an openly sexual society. I support marriage, the normal kind, playing with your kids, having dinner as a family, supporting your family and friends and being their for your neigbors.
Does that make me a conservative? Well Yes and No. Yes I'd like to conserve these values but the values I hope to conserve are sadly gone. I wouldn't want to conserve the current society we live in as it is destined to failure. I want our society to return to these core values. So in that sense I'm advocating change.
In short...I'm the most liberal conservative you'll ever find.
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