If conservatives actually governed the way they should they’d be easier to vote for. Small government, cutting spending, actually legislating to support rural Americans with things like good education and affordable health care…etc.
That’s the point. The Republican party isn’t conservative at all, but radical. They’ve abandoned most conservative political positions, including orthodox fiscal management, and exchanged conservative values for a constructed collection of ‘traditional values’, which are derived less from tradition than from the endless grievances that have replaced policy as their political program
Is there evidence that conservatism was ever that anywhere though? Because those are the things that current conservatives SAY but never what they DO. Is there any evidence of conservatives actually doing those things because as far as I have seen it has always been lip service, sleight of hand. I’m open to examples to change my mind.
You’re correct. Teddy Roosevelt, one of the most progressive Presidents in history, was on the Republican ticket against Taft in 1912. I cannot fathom having had the ability to vote for Teddy, and voting for either Taft or Wilson.
Conservatism protects power where it exists now. You fundamentally can’t do that and be honest about it and maintain some form legitimacy in an ostensibly democratic system.
If you say “we love billionaires because they give us fat cheques, also we’re cutting your services because the billionaires don’t like taxes” you don’t get votes. So you have to drop one of those three things, and of course “be honest about it” is the easiest one to go without.
If conservatives actually governed the way they should they’d be easier to vote for. Small government, cutting spending, actually legislating to support rural Americans with things like good education and affordable health care…etc.
But they’re pretty much the opposite of all that.
That’s the point. The Republican party isn’t conservative at all, but radical. They’ve abandoned most conservative political positions, including orthodox fiscal management, and exchanged conservative values for a constructed collection of ‘traditional values’, which are derived less from tradition than from the endless grievances that have replaced policy as their political program
Is there evidence that conservatism was ever that anywhere though? Because those are the things that current conservatives SAY but never what they DO. Is there any evidence of conservatives actually doing those things because as far as I have seen it has always been lip service, sleight of hand. I’m open to examples to change my mind.
Afaik someone can correct me if I’m wrong but the Democratic party used to be the fiscal conservative party in the 1800s
You’re correct. Teddy Roosevelt, one of the most progressive Presidents in history, was on the Republican ticket against Taft in 1912. I cannot fathom having had the ability to vote for Teddy, and voting for either Taft or Wilson.
Conservatism protects power where it exists now. You fundamentally can’t do that and be honest about it and maintain some form legitimacy in an ostensibly democratic system.
If you say “we love billionaires because they give us fat cheques, also we’re cutting your services because the billionaires don’t like taxes” you don’t get votes. So you have to drop one of those three things, and of course “be honest about it” is the easiest one to go without.