Why has the US gone so conservative after being so liberal only 8 years ago? Isn't that the wrong direction?

Question

It seems only 8 years ago, as a country, the US was making tremendous leaps in the areas of Civil Rights and liberties, the minorities were being heard more than ever, and we saw some of the biggest advancements in foriegn policy in decades.

Now, we've got a party in power that is being fueled by the Religious Right and attempting for the first time in the history of this country, to LIMIT the rights of a group of people in the Constitution.

Doesn't it seem like we're going the wrong direction? What do you think started this sudden change from a progressive country in terms of human rights, civil liberties, and foriegn policy to a country of unilateral foreign policy, goverment spying, attempting to remove the rights of a minority and complete disregard for Constitutional Separation of Church and State? (Aren't we supposed to be the 'Melting Pot'?)

Answer 1

The country has really never been liberal. It is the extreme success of conservatives in this country in labeling themselves and others, framing the debate, that causes people to make such off-the-wall statements as Clinton was liberal.

This has been a very conservative country throughout its history (including colonial times), with the exception of the framers and the Civil Rights movement.

And there are few cynical ironies I appreciate more than when Republicans try to take credit for advances in Civil Rights. Yes, the party has a proud legacy of being founded in part as an abolitionist party. But the party today could scarcely have less in common with its roots. All those Democrats who opposed Civil Rights in the 1960s? They changed parties afterward out of disgust for the Kennedys and Johnson forcing integration and Civil Rights down their throats. Strom Thurmond was one of them. But he was a Republican a lot longer than he was a Democrat.

Answer 2

Another question could be posed - why did the country go liberal for 8 years after a long history of conservatism?

In regards to civil rights and liberties, which president abolished slavery? The Republican Abraham Lincoln.

Which minorities are being hear more than ever? Compare the cabinets of Clinton and President Bush and see which one has promoted the placement of minorities in leadership.

I prefer facts to opinions.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

LEI- Your point of using good old Abe is not valid..
Abe would be considered a Dem today..
Everybody knows that through history the parties switched views.
Just like the Dem back then Andrew Jackson would definately be a Rep. by todays standard. BTW- Jackson was the worst prez in history..

Answer 5

Clinton's extreme "Liberal" (sex) actions within the oval office turned the moderates against the Democrats in much the same way Bush's war policy is moving them to the left.

Clinton single handedly broke the DNC and Bush will break the GOP.

Answer 6

the U.S. was definitely not liberal 8 years ago--look at the voting history of Congress, and you'll see that a political make-up has nothing to do with who's in office. Maybe if the gov't reflected the political alignment of its voters, we could say it was liberal, but it's not. It's been heading to where it is now for quite awhile now.

Answer 7

9/11 it was in the news.

Answer 8

The country became more conservative because conservatives gained control of the media.

The conservative, corporate-owned media feed us the most conservative point of view they can, then top it off by telling us they are a "liberal media".

Answer 9

You know how they want everyone to think "America is a land of oppertunity and free", we wanted it that way, but now things have gone to far, there are lots of things we shouldn't alow

Answer 10

People came to their senses.