SniperFire
Senior Member
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right.
Yours is a rather childish, academic view of the world which only exists in your mind.
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I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right.
A conservative is one who conserves.
Conserves...what?
In this case? LIBERTY of the individual as ordained by GOD, and Codified by the Founding Fathers.
And there's no need to go farther.
ALWAYS side for Liberty, The Republic, and LAW.
YOU can Never..go wrong.
Wrong. You just defined a selective conservative.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right. At the far Left is totally centrally controlled (dictatorship), and at the far Right is anarchy (no government). As a conservative I am to the right but not all the way to the right (anarchy).
Today in the USA the spectrum is much more narrow than say the two extremes mentioned above, but it does lie somewhere between. I believe that what we call the center today has actually moved further to the left over the past 100 years, and with it the right moved further to the left. For this reason I believe that many conservatives in the larger perspective of things are not very conservative at all. They are right of the left of course, but they aren't exactly conservative either. I don't speak for all "conservatives" though, there are many who agree that the right has fallen into Nolan chartthe big government trap as well.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right. At the far Left is totally centrally controlled (dictatorship), and at the far Right is anarchy (no government). As a conservative I am to the right but not all the way to the right (anarchy).
Today in the USA the spectrum is much more narrow than say the two extremes mentioned above, but it does lie somewhere between. I believe that what we call the center today has actually moved further to the left over the past 100 years, and with it the right moved further to the left. For this reason I believe that many conservatives in the larger perspective of things are not very conservative at all. They are right of the left of course, but they aren't exactly conservative either. I don't speak for all "conservatives" though, there are many who agree that the right has fallen into Nolan chartthe big government trap as well.
But that essentially discounts authoritarian conservatism, which tends to be quite enthusiastic in using government to tell people how to live. I actually see the authoritarian/libertarian divide along a different axis (see: the Nolan chart). You'll find both liberals and conservatives who favor decentralized, limited government. You'll also find liberals and conservatives who favor big, centralized government. It's just a different concern.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right. At the far Left is totally centrally controlled (dictatorship), and at the far Right is anarchy (no government). As a conservative I am to the right but not all the way to the right (anarchy).
Today in the USA the spectrum is much more narrow than say the two extremes mentioned above, but it does lie somewhere between. I believe that what we call the center today has actually moved further to the left over the past 100 years, and with it the right moved further to the left. For this reason I believe that many conservatives in the larger perspective of things are not very conservative at all. They are right of the left of course, but they aren't exactly conservative either. I don't speak for all "conservatives" though, there are many who agree that the right has fallen into Nolan chartthe big government trap as well.
But that essentially discounts authoritarian conservatism, which tends to be quite enthusiastic in using government to tell people how to live. I actually see the authoritarian/libertarian divide along a different axis (see: the Nolan chart). You'll find both liberals and conservatives who favor decentralized, limited government. You'll also find liberals and conservatives who favor big, centralized government. It's just a different concern.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right. At the far Left is totally centrally controlled (dictatorship), and at the far Right is anarchy (no government). As a conservative I am to the right but not all the way to the right (anarchy).
Today in the USA the spectrum is much more narrow than say the two extremes mentioned above, but it does lie somewhere between. I believe that what we call the center today has actually moved further to the left over the past 100 years, and with it the right moved further to the left. For this reason I believe that many conservatives in the larger perspective of things are not very conservative at all. They are right of the left of course, but they aren't exactly conservative either. I don't speak for all "conservatives" though, there are many who agree that the right has fallen into Nolan chartthe big government trap as well.
But that essentially discounts authoritarian conservatism, which tends to be quite enthusiastic in using government to tell people how to live. I actually see the authoritarian/libertarian divide along a different axis (see: the Nolan chart). You'll find both liberals and conservatives who favor decentralized, limited government. You'll also find liberals and conservatives who favor big, centralized government. It's just a different concern.
Ahhh. This cuts to the heart of my point. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Therefore I am in favor of limiting the Federal Governments power as much as possible. At the state level the potential for absolute power is less so I am less concerned and so forth until we reach the county, city, and block ordinance level.
Interestingly enough as the scope of government decreases I find myself becoming less identified with political ideas, and more interested in effective governing regardless of which political stripe it is.
But the larger the scope of governmental level gets the more conservative (less government power) I get. It all hinges upon the idea of "absolute power corrupting absolutely". If there was such a thing as a benevolent dictator then I would feel the opposite way, but there is only corruptible man.
Corruptable MEN with a record...NO record?
Ron Paul...has a Record of taking money for his district...
But that essentially discounts authoritarian conservatism, which tends to be quite enthusiastic in using government to tell people how to live. I actually see the authoritarian/libertarian divide along a different axis (see: the Nolan chart). You'll find both liberals and conservatives who favor decentralized, limited government. You'll also find liberals and conservatives who favor big, centralized government. It's just a different concern.
I'm confused as to what conservative is? Its seems to me that it is almost like a Rorschach test. If you are a "conservative" let me know what makes a politician conservative. If you are not a "conservative" feel free to chime in, but keep the hate to a minimum please.
At the state level the potential for absolute power is less so I am less concerned and so forth until we reach the county, city, and block ordinance level.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right.
Yours is a rather childish, academic view of the world which only exists in your mind.
I could ask the what is a liberal but that is another thread for another day. To me a conservative is someone who believes in self reliance and taking care of themselves and not expecting other's namely the government to do it for them. To be clear that does not mean we should be unwilling to help people who are down get back on their feet there needs to be programs in place to do this but they should be designed to help people get back to a place where they can support themselves instead of the government supporting them with no end in sight finally this applies to people who are healthy enough both physically and mentally to do so I know there are those who are not.
I see the world of politics along a spectrum of centralized vs. decentralized control going from Left to Right. At the far Left is totally centrally controlled (dictatorship), and at the far Right is anarchy (no government). As a conservative I am to the right but not all the way to the right (anarchy).
Today in the USA the spectrum is much more narrow than say the two extremes mentioned above, but it does lie somewhere between. I believe that what we call the center today has actually moved further to the left over the past 100 years, and with it the right moved further to the left. For this reason I believe that many conservatives in the larger perspective of things are not very conservative at all. They are right of the left of course, but they aren't exactly conservative either. I don't speak for all "conservatives" though, there are many who agree that the right has fallen into Nolan chartthe big government trap as well.
But that essentially discounts authoritarian conservatism, which tends to be quite enthusiastic in using government to tell people how to live. I actually see the authoritarian/libertarian divide along a different axis (see: the Nolan chart). You'll find both liberals and conservatives who favor decentralized, limited government. You'll also find liberals and conservatives who favor big, centralized government. It's just a different concern.
, he is by definition, not a Conservative.
, he is by definition, not a Conservative.
Don't be an ass. There are many ways to define what a 'conservative' is.
Even Wikipedia describes about 10 different types of 'conservatives.':
Conservatism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I'm confused as to what conservative is? Its seems to me that it is almost like a Rorschach test. If you are a "conservative" let me know what makes a politician conservative. If you are not a "conservative" feel free to chime in, but keep the hate to a minimum please.
.
Wait, let me add one:
Invade, destroy and occupy countries that annoy you (as long as they can't fight back). This is our planet and everyone must do things our way. Fill American body bags, destroy American military lives and families, waste trillions. Then tell us how you support the troops.
No charge for that one.
.
Barry Goldwater wasn't a conservative?I'm confused as to what conservative is? Its seems to me that it is almost like a Rorschach test. If you are a "conservative" let me know what makes a politician conservative. If you are not a "conservative" feel free to chime in, but keep the hate to a minimum please.
The issue isnt so much what is a conservative, but when.
During much of the 20th Century, until the early 70s, conservatives were reasonable, rational people. Conservatives then didnt believe in the small government nonsense they do today, they believed in comprehensive limited government, both with regard to regulation and individual liberty.
These conservatives were also more pragmatic, were less subject to irrational blind dogma, and were more interested in doing what was best for the Nation, rather than pursue a subjective partisan agenda.
That all changed by the late 70s with the advent of political religious fundamentalism and social conservatism.
T.