|
Post by antichrist on Mar 10, 2009 16:46:07 GMT -5
pro-life? Of course I'm pro-life, who isn't? I hate that term. As far as abortions go, I'd like to see people so well educated about BC that abortions only happen in times of medical emergency. I doubt that will ever happen.
Pro-traditional marriage? Really don't give a crap. If it would end the bullshit, I say we go the European way where a civil partnership is done by a government official, and a marriage is done in a church.
Pro-smaller government? Definitely. It's insanely bloated and top heavy.
Less Taxes? Well, I wouldn't mind paying the taxes I do, if I saw them actually going to something
Less Regulations? Nope, that one I'm against. You can't leave big business to itself, it will abuse it's workers to death (literally).
I guess I'm a moderate in your eyes.
|
|
|
Post by JonathanE on Mar 10, 2009 16:46:44 GMT -5
Political conservatism is not necessarily a bad thing. When it is combined with what is euphamistically called "social" conservatism, ie banning abortion, denying gay rights, then it is not conservatism. It becomes a religious agenda. The Republicans, starting with Reagan, tapped this pool of stupid under their banner. It is now called their base.
|
|
|
Post by erictheblue on Mar 10, 2009 16:52:13 GMT -5
Political conservatism is not necessarily a bad thing. When it is combined with what is euphamistically called "social" conservatism, ie banning abortion, denying gay rights, then it is not conservatism. What do you consider political conservatism, as opposed to social conservatism?
|
|
|
Post by Caitshidhe on Mar 10, 2009 16:52:15 GMT -5
Well, I see nothing wrong with having 'pro-life' and 'pro-traditional marriage' if those are your PERSONAL views--but I and many other members draw the line at people trying to force THOSE views onto other people. If you think marriage is between a man and a woman only, that's fine, you're welcome to have that marriage yourself; and if you think that life begins at conception, and abortion is murder, then don't have an abortion and nobody's going to make you have one. But when people start trying to make those views into LAWS and using them to control and limit the rights and freedoms of others, THAT'S a bad thing.
|
|
|
Post by JonathanE on Mar 10, 2009 17:13:54 GMT -5
Political conservatism is not necessarily a bad thing. When it is combined with what is euphamistically called "social" conservatism, ie banning abortion, denying gay rights, then it is not conservatism. What do you consider political conservatism, as opposed to social conservatism? Political conservatism meaning, less government (reduce wasted and duplicated spending, less regulation, lower taxes, less government services) I suppose I should have said fiscal conservatism. That being said, Canada's provinces have had socialist governments that were fiscally responsible, ie, ran small budget surpluses. There is an argument to be made for "less government", but it gets lost in the rhetoric and recession.
|
|
|
Post by m52nickerson on Mar 10, 2009 17:36:37 GMT -5
I think most labeled as a conservative in the US today is both a political and social conservative.
|
|
|
Post by JonathanE on Mar 10, 2009 17:43:27 GMT -5
I think most labeled as a conservative in the US today is both a political and social conservative. As i mentioned earlier, this is due primarily to the Reaganites unholy alliance with the religious right. This is not what I consider political conservatism to be.
|
|
|
Post by caretaker on Mar 10, 2009 17:49:24 GMT -5
Actually, to somebody who doesn't live in America, we see only the headline-grabbing brand of American conservatism, which is obviously the one linked to social conservatism - so unfortunately, my kneejerk reaction when an American declares themselves conservative is to think of Bush and Limbaugh. Don't worry, you guys are gradually beating that out of me (and I thank ye for it).
Even in the UK, the Tories are linked with social conservatism - the two seem to be more and more linked over recent years.
|
|
|
Post by m52nickerson on Mar 10, 2009 17:54:31 GMT -5
I understand that. I wish we in the US did not pigeon hole people into basically three categories, conservative, liberal, moderate.
|
|
|
Post by JonathanE on Mar 10, 2009 17:57:58 GMT -5
I understand that. I wish we in the US did not pigeon hole people into basically three categories, conservative, liberal, moderate. From Canada, your political parties all look pretty conservative.
|
|
|
Post by Old Viking on Mar 10, 2009 18:52:53 GMT -5
CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce
|
|
|
Post by The Lazy One on Mar 10, 2009 19:15:45 GMT -5
I think most labeled as a conservative in the US today is both a political and social conservative. As i mentioned earlier, this is due primarily to the Reaganites unholy alliance with the religious right. This is not what I consider political conservatism to be. Yeah, my father is fiscally conservative, but is scared of social conservatives. He once told me that if the religious right got their way, he would go to Canada, since they would screw us all over. He's Republican, but hates all of the social agenda stuff. To quote my dad, "Focus on the fucking economy, not the family!"
|
|
|
Post by mr blur on Mar 11, 2009 6:48:14 GMT -5
Indeed. Definitions are becoming very fluid these days. Let me attempt to put things in perspective. As far as I my understanding goes: Interesting, to those of us over here on the other side of The Pond. I've always been a member of the Labour party and been proud to be a socialist. To many in mainstream America that would make a communist - as if they actually had any real idea what a communist was. Most of what you would call left-wing in the US would traditionally be seen as middle-to-right over here (where the Labour Party has ended up). It would certainly be a mistake to think of intelligence and compassion as being the preserve of the Left or Liberal. I've always thought that those who rave endlessly about their Jesus miss the point that he seems more of a socialist that anything else. Being a conservative shouldn't prevent anyone from finding/joining in intelligent discussion here. But being a fundie conservative probably would.
|
|
|
Post by m52nickerson on Mar 11, 2009 7:50:43 GMT -5
I've always been a member of the Labour party and been proud to be a socialist. To many in mainstream America that would make a communist - as if they actually had any real idea what a communist was. ........and lets not forget Anti-American!
|
|
|
Post by Death on Mar 11, 2009 8:14:08 GMT -5
furriners are anti-american, locals are un-american
|
|