[quidnunc]

ConservativeDude wrote: ("so too is conservatism evolving apace away from the small-government, libertarian model") You're saying this as if it's a good thing...or am I missing something?

I'm saying that it is what it is, and no amount of fulminating and pontificating will make it otherwise.

The small-government model is fading and the model which advocates using government to move towards desirable, socially-conservative outcomes like the ownershio society is in the ascendency.

[jmc813]

so too is conservatism evolving apace away from the small-government, libertarian model") You're saying this as if it's a good thing...or am I missing something?

I'm saying that it is what it is, and no amount of fulminating and pontificating will make it otherwise. The small-government model is fading and the model which advocates using government to move towards desirable, socially-conservative outcomes like the ownershio society is in the ascendency.

And of course you dodge the question as to if you think this is a good thing or not. I'd have a lot more respect for you liberal/moderates if you were simply upfront about your political philosiphies.

[Little Ray]

Ownership society = the gub'mint owns everything. Hmmm. I remember a name for that, but I just can't recall it...

[Sam Cree]

"The small-government model is fading and the model which advocates using government to move towards desirable, socially-conservative outcomes like the ownership society is in the ascendency."

I agree, but it ought to be noted that the model which "advocates using government to move towards desirable, socially-conservative outcomes" is the same model which advocates using government to order and arrange society generally. It grew out of the French Revolution, it's name is Rationalism. It was the root of socialism and is the same model currently being used by the political arm of the American Left, the Democrat Party. This version of conservatism is the one where conservatives are pulled along into leftism, kicking, screaming and holding on for dear life, but still being pulled along. We can only be pulled along like that when we lose sight of that strong principle that keeps us in place, our foundation, limited government.

Yes, we can say that we will give up the notion of limited government because we will use government power for good and noble causes, but the Dems say the same thing. We shouldn't give government that power because someday, like in 3 years, someone else could be wielding it.

[Frank T]

"The small-government model is fading and the model which advocates using government to move towards desirable, socially-conservative outcomes like the ownershio society is in the ascendency."

Ownership society is small government, NOT socially conservative.

You really have not clue, do you?