The original conservationists were Republicans?

Question

wanting to save land for hunting for the future... and though many republicans are conservationists in todays world.. it is MUCH easier to find a republican that isn't over a democrat. Why the change of heart in the party?

Answer 1

Well, Teddy Roosevelt is a prime example of your question.

I think the answer is two-fold.

One, there is much more money being poured into the party by big oil these days. In TR's day, cars were not commonplace. That is, average people did not own them.

Second, the old school environmentalists were realists. Some of the stuff that comes out of the so-called Greens today is just unreal. Some actually have the idea that they should be able to have government mandated population control, if they so decide that the planet is 'sick' and cannot handle more people. That's way too much government control for me.

This is one example where there's been a 'parting of the ways' with older style Republican conservationists.

Answer 2

Yes, Teddy Roosevelt was a big naturalis and conservationist. He preserved many national parks and he was a big trustbuster and introducted the FDA to regulate the process of foods. Roosevelt was a big capitalist because he saw unregulated business as a threat to the goodness of capitalism. He was worried about an impending revolution of the working class and thought that regulation and more rights for workers would preserve a capitalist society. He was a true capitalist. Roosevelt in my opinion was a true fiscal conservative with true progressive thoughts and he was a true capitalist by helping it regulating, he had helped to preserve it.

Answer 3

Because they were PROGRESSIVES. Today's party is mostly conservative on social and economic issues.

Theodore Roosevelt was a northeastern progressive Republican who fought for the average working joe against big business. He was also pro-environment and for women's suffrage at a time when traditional values meant keeping women in the kitchen and without power.

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"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

"If that remark was original with me, I should be even more strongly denounced as a communist agitator than I shall be anyhow. It is Lincoln's. I am only quoting it; and that is one side; that is the side the capitalist should hear. Now, let the workingman hear his side.

- Theodore Roosevelt

Lots more left-wing rhetoric right here.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/31.htm

Answer 4

The first president to give a damn about saving wild lands was a LIBERAL Republican by the name of Theodore Roosevelt. Every Republican since has supported clear cutting or reducing the size of our parks. It is under Democratic leadership that these prescious forests and wild areas have been saved from saws and bulldozers.

Answer 5

I'm guessing the answer comes back to SCIENCE and BIG BUSINESS. Ecology and conservationism are, of course, tightly entwined with biology, forestry, chemistry, etc. etc. That means it engages evolution and global warming -- things the fanatically religious cons don't want to address.

ALSO, any land that's set aside is land that isn't being drilled for oil or developed for cookie-cutter condominiums. Cons like money, so they want resources to benefit THEMSELVES, rather than the plants, animals or general society.

Answer 6

Teddy Roosevelt would be considered a communist by most of the conservatives on Y!A.