Erc
Junior Chimp
Posts: 5,823
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« on: November 09, 2004, 11:20:17 PM » |
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They've shifted economically as well. Republicans (1800's, to a certain extent up until the end of Hoover's term) were Economic Nationalists in the tradition of the Whigs and Friedrich List (who himself was inspired by Henry Clay)--protection for big business, subsidies for business, etc.--the old Conservative position.
The Democrats, on the other hand, wanted government to stay out of business, not grant its subsidies, have a "tariff for revenue only," etc.--the Classical Liberal position.
Then with the Populists and Progressives beginning in 1896, the focus shifts from bolstering business to undermining them--the Republicans slowly take the Classical Liberal position, while the Democrats take the quasi-socialist (well, actually, more Keynesian [after FDR]) position of social spending, labor laws, etc. Plus some subsidies to business (ie farms) as well--while the Republicans have moved more to the Classical Liberal position in reaction.
Note that Kerry's economic position this time around (nigh-on protectionism) sounded a lot like the 19th-Century one...
Note that I'd have voted Democrat in the 19th Century. Grover Cleveland is my President.
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