When did so called conservatives start TRUSTING the government?

Question

For the last 100 years or so, a prerequisite for being conservative was a healthy distrust of the government. I was raised to not put much faith in the government, and never really trusted them myself. Nor did all of the conservatives i ever knew. Yet in this day and age, conservatives are ones that actually trust the government. They trust the feds with their private medical records. They trust the feds enough to stand by and all the deniel of Habeas Corpus to American Citizens. They trust the government enough to allow the FBI to conduct "sneek and peek" searches of homes without a warrant, or homeowner consent. They trust the government enough to allow them to listen in on their phone conversations. Now i have nothing to hide, and was a raised a staunch conservative. But i do NOT trust the government, and i feel that liberty trumps security in ALL cases. Are there any other conservatives out there that want to step up be a good American?

Hey civil. Do you live in a cave? Do you keep yourself ignorant for a reason? Have you ever heard of Mr. Padilla? Please, when you ask for examples of something that is in the realm of common knowledge, you embarrass yourself. SHAME on you!

Answer 1

About the time they started running it.
It's not so much that they trust it, nor want bigger government--they are the government.
It'll change in about a year from now.

Answer 2

I'm a conservative (heck, I work for Club Fed) and I don't trust the government. That's why I'm against universal health care and any type of search or surveillance without a warrant. What I would REALLY like to see is a code of accountability and ethics for our leaders in Washington who think they're above the law. Government employees are generally good people who are trying to make a living, but the folks on Capitol Hill are more interested in lining their pockets with our money (and money from special interest groups) than they are with steering this country in the right direction.

Answer 3

I'm a moderate, and I think you have an excellent point. I think that perhaps they started to trust the government IF it was being run by conservatives.

It makes me scratch my head when I see conservative politicians berate the government, and then run for office IN the government.

I trust the government only for some things, but in general I do NOT trust the government either - far too many incidences of abuse - unjustified property seizures, ruining people's lives based on suspicions, the abuses of the IRS, the CIA feeding LSD to its own agents and using heroin to fund the Viet Nam war and then deliberately giving it to members of the anti-war movement and members of the then so-called "counter culture", high up members of the FBI ruining people just for sport - frightening. Star.

Answer 4

You make a great point about trusting the government. I'd add that many of today's conservatives have shifted from a jealous guarding of civil liberties and the right to self determination to a faux concern about economic freedom for the upper class and the "right" to be told Merry Christmas at the check out.

I am a liberal and one of my favorite political authors is Pat Buchanan! It is an upside down world.

Answer 5

I believe the answer to this question might lie in your original definition of a conservative. The American media tends to like to promote classic American "values" and this country was founded on a distrust for government. Since most people in this country are romanced by the thought of being a quintessential American...in order to keep most Americans in agreement with gov't policy(since large media supports the gov't) they refer to the popular measures they or their constituents want pushed through as "conservative". Anything they dont want to go through they call it liberal. That prevents people from supporting policies that might actually be advantageous for them such as an end to the war on drugs, terrorism, universal education(through college), and a right to hold our own money(all investments we own is liable to be taken by the gov't in time of emergency to pay there bills [Emergency Banking Act of 1933]

In fact, one could say that while a conservative generally distrusts the gov't....in modern times they take their distrust for GOVERNMENT and put it into private business...since the united states is an oligarchy and business runs the gov't(most elected and esp. APPOINTED officials come from large corporations) then that would explain why with their increasing trust in the private sector...the gov't is expanding its control over us day by day. Think about it...the gov't has to buy the technology for this oversight somewhere right?

Answer 6

There is a difference with having HUGE government, and a central one (Articles of Confederation proved that), and honestly, there are Conservatives, "neocons" I guess, Libertarians, and Constitutionalists. Each one with their own views on things, similar in many ways, yet many differentiating factors as well. One must keep that in mind if one wishes to learn anything.

Answer 7

"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."
is the usual thing I hear from them, my guess, is that they have become more authoritarian, and realize the government is a great tool to force their beliefs on others....like any other fascist realizes.
I myself don't trust the government at all, while the people you talk about only distrusts it to spend money helping Americans, so they support all of our tax dollars going to other countries, because Bush says its good.

Answer 8

Wow I actually agree with a conservative on something, apparently.

I find it very, very ironic that conservatives are all for the Patriot Act, even though it makes so-called Big Government even BIGGER, and gives it a blank check for power.

Answer 9

I have never trusted the Government, most Liberals don't either.

Answer 10

They have started putting their LOYALTY to their political party above anything else, no matter how corrupt the politicans are.