Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Conservatism' -- Social movement or Political movement?

Posted on 05/31/2006 1:32:23 PM PDT by Dominic Harr

If I may, I'd like to ask for an informal 'poll' of FReepers:

There are 2 'Conservative' movements in this country.

All I would like to know is, what % of us are which? Please respond and say which, or both.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: liberaltarianism; lookhowsmartiam; socialconsbad
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-198 next last
To: Dominic Harr

From our lips to a REAL leader's ears.


61 posted on 05/31/2006 2:40:08 PM PDT by GunsareOK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: GovernmentShrinker
"Do whatever you like, but do it on your own dime" is my philosophy in a nutshell. And I don't think government should be undertaking social engineering programs of ANY kind.

Ditto. On economic matters there's a fairly simple continuum from liberalism to conservatism. But on social issues, many conservatives and liberals agree that the government should be promoting, subsidizing, and/or banning certain actions, they just disagree on what those actions are. Social conservatives want government to promote abstinence and throw you in prison for smoking a joint. Social liberals want government to promote "tolerance" of homosexuals and throw you in prison for "hate speech". Libertarians are really the only ones wanting the government to stay out of our personal lives as much as possible.

62 posted on 05/31/2006 2:40:33 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent (Chloe rocks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: longtermmemmory
The effort to split the two is a Moby product of the Lackoff "win with words" propaganda scam to try and revitalize the left by arguing the myth that the two are seperate.

The effort to define the 2 is the key to revitalizing the R party.

Like it or not, there are 2 distinct groups in what was the R party's "Contract with America" revolution. And we'll have to work together again to save the R party.

So first, we have to start talking - and listening - to each other.

Now, we have each group claiming the other doesn't belong. Each side claiming only *they* are the real conservatives.

That is the split I'm hoping to heal.

63 posted on 05/31/2006 2:42:23 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr
Most conservatives are both fiscally and socially conservative.

Some disingenuously try to claim that social conservatives are more like authoritarian liberals. This is a lie meant to prise social conservatives out of the GOP.

Social conservatives are for self-government. If a small town votes to outlaw strip-clubs from their town center, they have a right to do it without interference from the federal government and the ACLU.

Social conservatives also oppose the imposition of immorality (i.e., gay "marriage") upon an unwilling populace via the courts. Hence, the reason we support enshrining traditional marriage within the Social Contract--to protect this vital and beloved institution from meddling by social engineers and homo-apologists.

Both of these positions are eminently conservative.
64 posted on 05/31/2006 2:42:30 PM PDT by Antoninus (Ginty for US Senate -- NJ's primary day is June 6 -- www.gintyforsenate.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: oldleft

Well, you're on my newly "tagline material" section. I even broke with my usual tradition of stealing without attribution! (with minor editing)...


65 posted on 05/31/2006 2:42:59 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (I LIKE you! When I am Ruler of Earth, yours will be a quick and painless death </Stewie>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr
"Social" movements are not, or at least *should not* be political.

But that stand is precisely why it is political! It's not because conservatives choose to make it so, but because we are forced to in order to defend our liberty from fascist (left or right-wing, but mostly left) control freaks.

The very attitude of "don't impose your social beliefs on me" must necessarily be a political one to be of any benefit in today's world. A love of liberty that refuses to take political action in that liberty's defense is a useless facade.

66 posted on 05/31/2006 2:44:20 PM PDT by TChris ("Wake up, America. This is serious." - Ben Stein)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: GunsareOK; Bryan24; Dominic Harr

Someone needs to monitor this thread and post a final list...


67 posted on 05/31/2006 2:44:24 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (I LIKE you! When I am Ruler of Earth, yours will be a quick and painless death </Stewie>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Blackirish

A libertarian should recognize the importance of the 2nd Amendment.

As for abortion and "queers", I can see your point with the latter, but not the former. In the minds of most social conservatives, personhood begins prior to birth, so abortion isn't an issue of personal choice as much as it is the taking of another person's life. From that point of view, I think government intrusion is absolutely legitimate, because it is saving another person's life. Now, with homosexual issues, I absolutely agree. That is far more of an example of one side or the other trying to force its social views on the other via the rule of law. I don't care for either position and think those issues should be up to the individual states and to individuals themselves. Homosexuality should not be a political issue.


68 posted on 05/31/2006 2:46:26 PM PDT by NinoFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr

I don't fit in a box. I'm a Flaming Moderate. That said, I can't be a dim even if I agree with a few of their policies. In politics, you never get exactly what you want; you compromise. W is governing very moderately; therefore, I usually agree with him.


69 posted on 05/31/2006 2:48:20 PM PDT by darth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: conservativewasp

"I've never considered there to be 2 types. A conservative is fiscally and socially conservative, if not they are not conservative."

that was Reagan's view. We should follow his lead.


70 posted on 05/31/2006 2:49:19 PM PDT by ConservativeDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr

I am a political conservative. Objectivism pretty much describes my take on it.


71 posted on 05/31/2006 2:50:32 PM PDT by wizardoz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr
Suggest you try this here:

--some links to what I have found to be a good method by which to measure and appraise just where you morally "fit" politically whether you may specifically realize it or not...

The Moral Matrix - Political Systems

The Moral Matrix - Recent US Presidents

Moral Politics - A Morality-Based Political Test

72 posted on 05/31/2006 2:50:56 PM PDT by DBeers (†)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Antoninus
Social conservatives are for self-government. If a small town votes to outlaw strip-clubs from their town center, they have a right to do it without interference from the federal government and the ACLU.

Actually, that's not a 'social' idea, that's a political one. So I would define that as 'politically' conservative.

73 posted on 05/31/2006 2:52:05 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: Antoninus
Social conservatives are for self-government. If a small town votes to outlaw strip-clubs from their town center, they have a right to do it without interference from the federal government and the ACLU.

And if the town votes to allow prostitution or recreational drug use?

74 posted on 05/31/2006 2:53:07 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent (Chloe rocks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: TChris
The very attitude of "don't impose your social beliefs on me" must necessarily be a political one to be of any benefit in today's world.

Which is my point -- there is 'socially' conservative, where say you are against homosexuality as a sin.

And then there is 'politically' conservative, where you say I believe it's a sin but I don't believe the govt has any right to impose this belief on others.

Many people here who don't recognize it are either socially C/Politically L or vice versa.

And we *all* have to get together on the things we agree on, if we're going to rescue this party.

75 posted on 05/31/2006 2:55:05 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003
Someone needs to monitor this thread and post a final list...

If no one else does, I'll go over it in about an hour and post a count.

Great thought.

76 posted on 05/31/2006 2:56:09 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr
I don't know if I'd go with "careful"; for example I strongly reject the precautionary principle as it's commonly applied to stifle technological and economic growth. I'd call myself "Hayekian" or "dynamist" in that I believe the decentralized actions of individuals produce superior results to central planning.
77 posted on 05/31/2006 2:56:12 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent (Chloe rocks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThinkDifferent
And if the town votes to allow prostitution or recreational drug use?

Then I'm there.

[But don't tell Mrs. Wormwood]

78 posted on 05/31/2006 2:56:17 PM PDT by Wormwood (Iä! Iä! Cthulhu fhtagn!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: ThinkDifferent
And if the town votes to allow prostitution or recreational drug use?

Excellent response, wish I'd thought of that.

79 posted on 05/31/2006 2:57:59 PM PDT by Dominic Harr (Conservative = Careful, as in 'Conservative with money')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Dominic Harr
Neither of these movements is conservative. By definition you can't have a conservative Movement. What's called the “modern conservative movement” is more cultural reactionism than anything.
80 posted on 05/31/2006 2:58:37 PM PDT by Pelayo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-198 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson