People throw around the word Neocon like it's a slur?

Question

Is there a definition of the word? What's your definition? Do you see it as a derogatory insult or as a point of pride that someone has to stoop to name calling?

Answer 1

Neocon is generally used as a slur because of it's meaning.

A traditional conservative is one who believes in small government, minimal regulation, greater personal freedoms and a free media.

A neo-conservative believes in small government when it comes to industry and big government when it comes to regulation of social policy - they simply use conservatism as a medium to push their religious social agenda and support of big business. In essence, their entire ideological belief system is framed around their own benefit, unlike a traditional conservative, who fears excessive government influences.

Answer 2

It's no more a slur than "lib", "lefty", "leftist" or "Democrat Party". Do those also offend you?

Neocons, or neoconservatives are thought to be liberals primarily on foreign policy who rejected other liberal policies. Etymologically speaking it basically means "new conservative", and denotes the latest major strain of what has come to be called conservatism these days. The ideology is closely linked to the war in Iraq and the Bush administration's foreign policies, especially the idea of pre-emptive warfare.

Is it derogatory? Sure. I think it was originally meant to be both shorthand and a way for people to deride those with whom one does not agree. That however is also true of the words used against liberals and progressives as well.

Answer 3

The word neoconservative is an oxymoron coined by liberals to describe liberals who have become conservative.

Uneducated people probably think the word neoconservative means "new-conservative". It doesn't.

The word neoconservative means "new those who work together to maintain". Something cannot be made new and maintained. You don't start maintaining, or keeping things the way they are, until they have been that way.

Some people think the word conservative means "return to the way things used to be". Again, this is because they do not understand the definition of the word.

Answer 4

It is in fact intended to be a slur yet the amusing irony is that it simply labels those who throw it around as lacking the ability to express a point in a concise and valid manner...It's reminiscent of a middle school delinquent whose learned his first curse word, using it redundantly in a feeble attempt to impress the girls.

Answer 5

the real definition doesn't fit - since by definition W is not a neocon

so when people refer to "neocon" they really mean:

3 parts fascism
2 parts liberalism
1 part conservatism

Answer 6

Kind of like "liberal" is now used. Neocon is used to describe the current administration because conservative does not apply. They are in a class all their own that I hope fades away like the dinosaurs with the end of the term.

Answer 7

NO

It is just a short form description, for people the follow the teachings of Leo Strauss instead of being loyal to America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Strauss

Answer 8

I love being called a neocon almost as much as I love being called a bible-thumping fundamentalist. My definition of a neocon is "A Progressive Conservative."

Answer 9

I'll bet dollars to donuts that the folks in here that revere GWB and his middle class destroying henchmen, have no clue that they're voting against their own self interest.

Answer 10

Neocons are those who believe in nation building, bigger military spending, and blind American nationalism.