Thoughts on Conservatism.

[Democratic Hawk]

A word to all fiscally responsible conservaives out there, as Andrew Sullivan (The Sunday Times, conservative commentator) observes:

"The only real difference between Republicans and Democrats now is that the Bush Republicans believe in big INSOLVENT government and the Kerry Democrats believe in big SOLVENT government" [caps my emphasis]

While I don't think that's the only salient difference between the Republicans and Democrats, I interpret that as meaning that the Republicans are fiscally irresponsible, while Democrats are the fiscally responsible party, and while conservatism is not my chosen ideology, he makes a very good point.

Senator Kerry has pledged to raise taxes of the top 2% (those earning in excess of $200,000 pa) - they can afford it! - to the level that they were during the fiscally responsible Clinton administration.

It would seem that President Bush is forging ahead with his very own ideology, and from a conservative perspective, it's a pretty peculiar and incoherent one.

Speaking from experience, it is a bit worrrying when politicians as 'servants of the nation/people' forge their own ideology. Having spent my formative years under 'Thatcherism' (i.e. the twin tenets being the free economy and the strong state), and its harsh and insensitive consequences, I strongly caution against it.

I supported Margaret 'the Milk Snatcher ' Thatcher once and that was during the Falklands War in 1982, when I was 14. As to whether I'd do so again, I don't know. There are critics who argue that had the islands been adequately defended in the first instance Argentina would dared not have invaded. She was dreadfully unpopular at the time (she was widely respected in some circles, reviled in others and never loved - unlike President Reagan who was loved) and cruised to a landslide victory in 1983 (not as big as Tony's in 1997 or 2001 - ha!) in the face of a weak, and polarised, opposition partly on the back of nationalistic ferver.

However, all 'bad' things must some to an end and her own Conservative Party in 1990, and justly so! The Conservatives maintained power under John Major until 1997. And do you know what? Those feckless Tory 'girly men' [Gov. A. Schwarzenegegr TM) were still blaming, despite the so-called tax cutting antidote, the previous Labour government of 1974-79. Please! They had 18 years to sort that mess out - that's no excuse for incompetence.

Today, in the UK, we now have a fiscally responsible Labour government (yes, you heard read me right - LABOUR government) and an economy, by the standards of today, that is in jollly-good shape. I suppose our bureacracy could do with a bit of trimming and that's going to happen.  Hopefully, not at the cost of higher unemployment.

Ironic isn't it, that the once reviled 'tax-and-spend' parties of old are now the more fiscally responsible ones of today. I favour tax-cuts - but only when the government is solvent.

A personal thought on conservatism is that it is reather paradoxical. On an economic level, it, arguably incorporates 'social Darwinism', the survival-of-the-fittest, and to hell with the rest. Not exactly compatible with the Christian faith is it?. More it's anti-thesis. Think about it.

Dave

[English]

I agree Dave. I agree with Tax cuts, but only when they are affordable. Bush was extremely irresponsible to cut taxes AND then start spending like money was going out of fashion! He's run up a huge deficit, which will be paid for by job losses, tax hikes for everyone and cuts in services.

[CARLHAYDEN]

It seems obvious that you have absolutely no understanding of American conservatism, and little understanding of American politics.

You single minded concept is deficits.

Well, American conservatives would like to reduce deficits but NOT increase taxes.

The way to accomplish this is to grow the economy, not taxation, and reduce government expenditures.

You see, American conservatives would rather have the people who earn the money spend it, rather than have some bureaucrat waste their money.

Even John McCain, who you profess to admire, has admitted that much of government expenditures are wasteful and should be cut.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If Republicans are such advocates of smaller government, why have this Republican Congress and this Republican President overseen the largest four year increase in discretionary, non-Defense spending in US history?  John McCain has spent the past four years tilting at the windmill of Republican pork.

[ilikeverin]

Pork is bad... I think we all can mutually agree with that

Although what constitutes pork is a matter of contention

[The Duke]

LB,

You have no real understanding of American conservatism.  Your fixation on the single issue of deficits shows that you have no concept of what fiscal conservatism is outside your own tactical context of claiming that the current GOP is best abandoned by cosnervatives.  This line of attack is self evidently dishonest, as it is only a self serving attempt to scam rightists into supporting leftist candidates.

You seem to lack any grasp of British politics of the alst 20 years, from the economic trends to the reinvention of the Labour Party, you do not even try to grasp British politics or economics at anything more thana  superficial level.

Your writing style is rambling and incoherent.  You bounce from budgets, to the Falklands War, to electoral outcomes without even attempting a transition sentence.

I'm not writing this to be mean, but when you get on the board and start a thread that is a rambling diatribe against conservatives, expect people to challenge you here.

[Giant Saguaro]

The ultimate mark of craziness in all of this budget screaming is liberals' refusal to discuss what Kerry's plan for health care for everyone will cost COUPLED with a larger military! He's said on multiple occasions he wants both, and I'm not sure he can have either. The rich alone won't be footing the bill for that crap, and it won't be only a 2% raise, let me clue anyone who thinks so.

Bush's economic policies have clearly had positive impacts on the American economy. He had 4 years to get us out of a recession he inherited, stave off massive job and economic losses as a result of 9/11, and fight wars in two countries. All that in 4 years. He's done fantastic. And an unemployment rate down to 5.4%.