Conservatives are against big government right?

Question

This is an honest attempt at clarification. One of the reasons I feel I have grown to be more conservative, is because I am tired of big government. Every platform that a conservative official stands on has something in there about 'Big Government'.

However, the Patriot Act is basically forcing government into our everyday lives. Wiretapping (I know about the ruling from today), illegal search and seizures (what happens at airports now, for example), arrests without warrants...so on and so forth.

It seems to me that in jumping on board with this stuff, you are not only giving up basic rights - you are giving up your principles.

I DO agree that if you don't have anything to hide, don't worry. The problem with that is how do we know that abuse of power won't come in to play? Will the patriot act go away once the war on terrorism is destroyed and islamofacists are either dead are good, white christians?

It just seems paradoxical and I was hoping for clarification. Thank you guys!!

Thanks Martin! But can one oppose BIG government but still think the patriot act is okay? I mean, that is why I was turned off from it after I read it.

Answer 1

The true terrorist here is the Bush administration, they have done things that are illegal in the name of terrorism. Remember he has spent more then many other presidents he has enlarged the government, he has infringed on citizens rights. This is a criminal activity because he swore to uphold and defend the constitution. Every right we give up, every freedom that we lose, is a victory for the terrorist. We should not as voters let this happen and we need a democratic majority in one of the houses this spring in order to provide the checks and balance that this administration sorely needs.

Answer 2

I can't really give you a definitive answer about this, however, the Democrats were labeled with the "Pro Big Government" way back in the 1930's when FDR's New Deal created a slew of brand new gov't agencies and administrations. I think the label is well deserved, simply because the Dem mindset seems to dictate that if something is wrong, create a new agency and throw money at it and it will go away. On the other hand, I do agree with what you're getting at as far as the Republicans, which have always had a "hands off" policy when it came to gov't interference, seems to be taking the other tac, and creating more controls and restrictions.
You could look at the creation of the Dept of Homeland Security as an example, however, that is actually not true. Most people think that its a whole new agency, when actually its just a consolidation of several other independent agencies like the ATF and FEMA.
I think for the most part its somewhat of an illusion that we are being controlled and monitored more, but there is a little element of truth to that though.
Also, just to clarify some of your statements above, illegal searches and seizures at airports? How is that illegal? When you are in a public OR private business/residence that is not your own, you can be searched, no questions asked, and if you refuse, you will not be allowed to enter, plain and simple.
Take stadiums for example....people have purses and bags searched before being admitted....if they don't like it they can leave, also, you or your possesions, to include your house and car can be searched without a warrant if the authorities provide probable cause. This is nothing new at all. Its been happening for decades.
Your statement about arrests without warrants took me aback as well. Since when do the police need a warrant to arrest someone? If I was to pull over a drunk driver who had 5 grams of cocaine on him, I would need a warrant? I think not. 98% of arrests in this country are made without a warrant.

Answer 3

A few points to consider:

Yes it has traditionally been a conservative stance to push for smaller government, however the Conservatives now in power do not adhere to this position. Well, in so far as the outcomes of their polices.

The patriot act is here to stay. To much power was given to the government for control and manipulating purposes to ever give it up. Oh it will have changes over the years, but its main structure will stay intact.

Yes, abuses of power will come in play, in fact they already have. Not enough safeguards or delegation of powers were build in to the Act to prevent abuse.

The idea of" you don't have anything to hide don't worry" has some flaws. It assumes that those in power will not abuse it, and if history is correct, they almost always do. Therefore you can see the apparent dangers of not having a good separation of powers policy or monitoring system in place.

Answer 4

What about the Office of Home Land Security that is designed to protect us? Look at the great job they did with hurricanes last year.

Spending bills came across the desk of Bush how many did he veto/zero/none he sure must be fiscal conservative.

They are more concered with the private lives of individauls.

Answer 5

The Rep's have everything, so there's no finger pointing for them; they piss money away like it's going out of style.

It would be quite helpful if Congress would declare war (a state of temporary emergency) as req'd by the constitution, rather than tacitly permitting these creeping new fixtures in our lives.

We need a new party, founded on better principles.

Answer 6

Many Conservatives are against big government, yes. But not all conservative are against it. On the other hand, all Libertarians are against it.

Answer 7

Under the patriot act the Govt. wouldn't be listening in on our calls, their computers look for words like bomb, attack, and others from the same source, They don't hear our personal phone calls.

Answer 8

Yes, we conservatives do oppose big government.

Answer 9

that a joke