Conservatism Is Dead — Is America Next?

ToogoodReports ^ | March 6, 2002 | Chuck Baldwin

[Starmaker]

A column written by Joseph Sobran entitled Defining Conservatism Downward accurately describes the state of conservatism today.

Sobran writes, "Once upon a time, conservatives stood for limited government, the rollback of the welfare state, strict construction of the Constitution, and traditional morality. Today they merely want their own people to run big government."

Sobran goes on to say, "They (conservatives) used to oppose needless military intervention abroad; today they equate militarism with patriotism. They used to demand that the U.S. Department of Education be abolished; today they want to expand it. They used to denounce Franklin Roosevelt; today they venerate him."

Again, Sobran writes, "Constitutional government? Conservatives have simply dropped the subject. They can live with the status quo, which is not conservatism's legacy but liberalism's. Yesterday's heresy has become today' s orthodoxy."

Sobran's concluding remarks include, "Former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan has observed that we have 'defined deviancy downward' - that is, we have become so inured to behavior formerly recognized as deviant that we have tried to cope by lowering our standards. In the same way, conservatism has been 'defined downward.' The principles conservatives once upheld have been defeated politically, so conservatism has abandoned them, adopting instead the old liberal positions and calling them conservative."

Joe is one hundred percent right! His description of modern conservatism is painfully accurate. In a word, it is dead! I say again, conservatism is dead! In truth, there is no conservative movement left in this country. Furthermore, there is virtually no conservative representation in Washington, D.C., today.

I would even argue that F.D.R. would be right at home in today's Republican Party! There is virtually no discernible difference between the philosophies of the two major parties. Outside of a few very lonely congressmen, no one in the federal government has any desire or intention to return this country to constitutional governance.

What is worse is that rank-and-file "conservatives" (and even Christian "leaders") seem very enthusiastic to embrace big government socialism and unconstitutional leadership as long as their people (Republicans) are in charge. Blind loyalty to the Republican Party in general and to President Bush in particular has destroyed the conservative movement!

Some are following this duplicitous Pied Piper out of ignorance. They have been brainwashed by a half-Century of humanism and have never bothered to read the U.S. Constitution (or the Bible) for themselves. Others follow for the purpose of self-aggrandizement. They have a vested personal interest in sitting at the seat of power (even if that seat is at the back of the bus).

Whatever the motivation, today's conservatives have compromised the principles of conservatism and constitutional government to the point that those principles no longer exist. By being willing to forsake their conscience in order to win the presidency, they have buried both their conscience and constitutional principle.

It is imperative that true conservatives and constitutionalists quickly wake up to the reality that both major parties have betrayed them, that the fundamental principles of the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are being obliterated without opposition! They must abandon loyalty to these parties! Only brave and independent people can preserve liberty. Are there a sufficient number of such people left in America? We shall see.

[lds23]

Line-by-line rebuttal? OK, here's one:

There is virtually no discernible difference between the philosophies of the two major parties.

Clinton was famous for being the great triangulator. Part of his being elected was his ability to "mouth" conservative platform planks. ("The era of big government is over", etc.) So it can be argued that it is the left that has adopted conservative principles in order to remain electable.

[Happygal]

Pinging ye to this. Any thoughts?

[tacticalogic]

He is a paleocon. That entails certain attiudes and beliefs. But it is not now, nor has it ever been, the totality of "conservatism."

If he "wouldn't recognize a conservative ideal if he tripped over it", then apparently he not really a conservative at all. Are the different "strains" of conservativism divided into "neo-cons" and "not really conservatives"?

[tberry]

"Whatever the motivation, today's conservatives have compromised the principles of conservatism and constitutional government to the point that those principles no longer exist. By being willing to forsake their conscience in order to win the presidency, they have buried both their conscience and constitutional principle."

" It is imperative that true conservatives and constitutionalists quickly wake up to the reality that both major parties have betrayed them, that the fundamental principles of the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are being obliterated without opposition! They must abandon loyalty to these parties! Only brave and independent people can preserve liberty. Are there a sufficient number of such people left in America? We shall see."

I've been preaching this since well before the last election. Conservatives, wake up!

[WALLACE212]

This article hit the nail right on the head. We have forgotten the "regroup" part of tactical retreat. Slowly, patiently, and insidiously, the lies have been repeated again and again to a generation that has no moral center; no frame of reference by which judge what they see and what they are told.... and so the current upcoming generation follows the Pied Piper of globalism blindly.

I was lucky enough to recieve an education devoid of the undiluted bulls*** that is taught today. Instead of putting condoms on cucumbers and learning about how "diversity is our strength" and the rest of the 100% pure propoganda that is a public (or even private) school education these days, I actually read the Federalist Papers, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the wealth of literature that defined and shaped our now crumbling Republic.

The only way to truly stem the tide is now lost to us as a means of social change. We surrendered our culture in the halls of our public schools long ago. The up and coming generation... those who are 16-20 right now, literally have no concept of what this nation really stands for; what freedom truly means. Ask them who Thomas Jefferson was... if you get something resembling a coherent answer, ask them to define liberty.... the silence will deafen.

Only a few short years ago, the curtailment of freedom that we see daily growing would have sparked a revolution at the ballot box... if not a shooting war against those who seek to enslave. Today? The loss of liberty, the sacred God-given rights that many men died happily to give us, is at epidemic levels. The sickening part is those who cheer the thugs of a growing police state, fools who dont realize it is their doors that shall be battered down tomorrow, when there is no one left to question such atrocity.

The road back to Constitutional greatness and personal freedom grows more difficult every day. We may have crossed our Rubicon already, without even realizing it. Is the Republic finished? Has the flame of freedom been snuffed? Most importantly, can it by rekindled, can it be turned into a firestorm of righteous anger and retribution against the forces arrayed against it? These are indeed times that try mens souls. The world is descending into war, America into despotism; and it's citizens remain asleep in front of the TV, having been told what to think by the smiling face on the screen.

We are at the crossroads; today we must choose the path we take. Hero or zero.... which shall you be?

[Jay W]

There are scads of truth in this tract that you posted. That being the case, expect the cheerleaders and koolaid drinkers to apply maximum flame and name calling against you and the author of this piece, without once addressing or being able to refute the arguments presented here.

It looks like Cincinatus scored first on that. First words out of Cincinatus' mouth, "breathless blither."

I stand back in awe of such truly sage commentary as that!

Should there be a point system to score the Name-Callers and those who resort first to the Ad-Hominem? Or would it be better to start a betting pool?

[junta]

I got a link to amazon.com out of him at least.

[Lumberjack]

Wallace old bean, you're making some lucky young lady a fine husband, that's all I can say.

[Cincinatus]

First words out of Cincinatus' mouth, "breathless blither." I stand back in awe of such truly sage commentary as that!

And it looks like you're incapable of reading beyond that point. But I'm not surprised.

[deadrock]

Just because the GOP has moved LEFT does not mean the consevative movement is dead. Any conservative who abandons the principles of "limited government, the rollback of the welfare state, strict construction of the Constitution, and traditional morality" are no longer conservative. They have switched teams.

Why is that so hard to dechiper?

[tberry]

"My contention is that he doesn't understand that "conservatism" has different strains and different philosophies. He is a paleocon. "

I guess conservatism is a "living philosophy" just as the Constitution is a "Living Document'. Pseudo conservative of the neo bent of thought would be perfect examples. Black can become white if enough people start to say it is.

NOT!!

Conservatism is base on conserving the philosophies our country was founded on , as found in the constitution. Conservatism has never been founded on the principle of conserving what the democrats of 30 years ago believed.

[WALLACE212]

Not married yet actually, but that day approaches.

"Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That's no offense; it's a freedom scene. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all. In silence alone we must meditate, God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks. They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King. It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong, We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles. But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school's a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen"

I forget where I found that one, my apologies to the author for not being able to give proper credit.

[Eagle Eye]

Where does that put the current administrration?

[deadrock]

I've always said that W is a centrist hawk.

[Houmatt]

It goes without saying Sobran has absolutely no idea what he is talking about.

Take a look at the Left Coast. A conservative Republican just got the GOP nomination for Governor. And it is a safe bet he will become California's next Governor.

Sobran wants to believe conservatism is dead because he is deathly afraid of it. I wonder why that is?

[Old Fud]

Does any American truly believe that George Bush or Al Gore or Bill Clinton or Bob Dole are the best people out of 280 million Americans to be our leaders?

Incredible as it may seem, many folks right here at the home of grass roots conservatism actually do think Bush is the best. (sigh)

[NMC EXP]

If the ramifications were not so dangerous, I would laugh at some of the posters on FR whose only recourse is to debate labels [conservative/liberal, and the subsets; paleo/neo, libertarian, populist, ad nauseum]. As you point out, the only thing we have in common is the only thing that matters. That is adherence to the Constitution.

All of this pigeonholing is smoke and mirrors. In the case of the hard core self described republicans it is used as a defense of their club/fraternity/team or whatever mentality makes that sort of blind loyality possible.

Regards

J.R.

[Eagle Eye]

As you point out, the only thing we have in common is the only thing that matters. That is adherence to the Constitution

Where, in your view, does the current administration measure up to strict adherance?

[grammymoon]

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