I have an honest question not meant to insight flames... I consider myself more of an Independent than anything else... I was always under the assumption that being a Republican meant less government involvement in our lives, and practicing more fiscal responsibility. When did social issues and religion get all entangled into the mix?. Isn't the very essence of "Republican" mean LESS government forcing itself down the peoples' throats? So why all the attempted legislation to control what we did with our bodies, in our bedrooms, and who we choose to love and co-habitate with? Furthermore, isn't the deficit in severely bad shape? Based on these principles, does the Bush administration represent what it truly means to be a Republican? Back up your answers with a little thought please... Republicans, do you feel that your political affiliation has been tarnished by the state of the United States today?
2007-05-26 03:12:28 · 7 answers · asked by EsoMan 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Barry Goldwater is generally credited with making the conservative movement hip again. Not coincidently, Barry Goldwater would be considered a liberal today. Small government conservatism is really a libertarian issue. Big government conservatives are authoritarians of which Fascism would be an extreme example. (Relax folks, neither bush or the republicans are fascist they are just closer than the rest of us).
What I find fascinating is that the republican king, Ronald Wilson Reagan, is largely responsible for the death of small government conservatism. It was Reagan who first got in bed with the "social conservatives" , expanded government, and he made deficit spending chic. He was a foreign interventionist and he declared "war on drugs". The result of Reagan was a bloated bureacracy and a reduction of personal liberty.
I will agree with the other posters that George W Bush is no conservative but he is no liberal either. Properly viewed he is an authoritarian. His big government is not used to ensure our liberty, rather it is to take it away.
2007-05-26 03:50:50 · answer #1 · answered by Mr Pink 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
History tells us that people in power tend to want more power. As they become isolated from the common people, they begin to believe that they have the answers, and if everyone would simply do as they say, all would be well. Not all who fall into this trap are evil - some are good men and women trying to do their best.
The current administration has responded to the events of 9/11 by trying to extend that kind of control. But you're right - the historical Republican perspective was less government.
2007-05-26 03:16:23 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm so far to the Right that I make G.Gordon Liddy look liberal. The Bush administration is far too liberal for me. They are pro-amnesty just like Hillary and Obama. Pro giving social security benefits to illegals (who never paid a dime into it). They're against voting English as our official language.
Now heres a question for you: How do you feel now that the Dems have FLAT OUT LIED to the country regarding Iraq? They all ran last November on a single platform: Bring the troops home NOW. And what did they just do? Voted to extend the troops stay and provide more funding.
Nancy Pelosi should be embarrassed. Typical politician...got into office and then forgot about her constituency.
Vince
2007-05-26 03:21:55 · answer #3 · answered by vinny_says_relax 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are mixing up conservative beliefs with the republican party. Once upon a time ( Reagan) the republican party stood for what you said. Christian beliefs are similar to conservative beliefs. The republicans in the process of covering their backsides for elections have moved more moderate than conservative. There will be a backlash in 2008 and it won't favor democrats either. The conservative movement will sort out the candidates that best serve them and the country will move back to sanity.
2007-05-26 03:20:50 · answer #4 · answered by meathead 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bush supporters on yahoo answxers aren't representative of mainstream conservatism.Maybe it's the format of answers that leads them to hold on to positions of long ago.Maybe they fear the embarrassment of having to change their view after being so wrong,whatever it is,it's sure not representative for conservatism at this point in time
2007-05-26 03:32:24 · answer #5 · answered by justgoodfolk 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The shift started happening a while back. The term Dixiecrat comes to mind.
2007-05-26 03:20:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although I respect the office of the Presidency, I would never consider Bush to be a conservative. He's a liberal.
Yes, many of us do feel let down.
2007-05-26 03:17:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋