[MLUG - DISCUSSION] [POLITICS] what is "a conservative"?

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Sat, 2 Feb 2008, Jonathan King wrote:

> On Feb 2, 2008 12:34 AM, Vern Green <EMAIL:PROTECTED> wrote:
>
> > It was asked why conservatives do not like McCain, these are the 
> > reasons that are most often brought up. I did not say they were 
> > rational.
>
> But these people really aren't conservatives, then. Certainly not fiscal 
> conservatives.

What's a "conservative?"  Was Ronald Reagan a conservative?  It seems like 
every Republican these days wants to say that he is like Ronald Reagan.

My view is that doubling the national debt in 8 years is not conservative, 
so I don't understand the current definition.

We hear plenty of talk about "social conservatism" as distinct from 
"fiscal conservatism."  The President has never, in my lifetime, spent 
much of his energy rallying for any social issues.  I see the whole social 
side of the Presidency as a ruse to win votes because candidates seem to 
be a lot more concerned about social issues before an election than 
afterward.  I think fiscal conservatism is a lot more important, but who 
is fiscally conservative these days?  It seems like everyone wants to 
control the flow of money and he wants it to flow, a lot, into the hands 
of his supporters, friends, his state, etc.

You might be able to find about one guy in congress who would be willing 
to decline federal funds for a project in his state because he doesn't 
believe that it's the proper role of government to fund such things.  But 
when it's someone else's state, you can be sure that he'll oppose it.  I 
see no difference between Republicans and Democrats on this kind of thing. 
They all want the pork.

Mike

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