Originally Posted by Senator Hatrack
Originally Posted by perotista
Originally Posted by logtroll
I am wondering how conservatives describe today’s “conservative”.

Times change and so do political ideologies. I'm an old foggie who classified himself as a Goldwater Conservative with some of Perot thrown in. I grew up under Eisenhower who also had a huge influence on my political thinking. This I think left me more of a traditional conservative than what today we describe as social or religious, neo or any other type of conservative.

Traditional conservatism believes in fiscal responsibility, not what passes as fiscal conservatism today. I believe that the government shouldn't be spending more than it takes in. A balance budget. Today fiscal conservatism means just low taxes where as being fiscal responsible mean if one has to raise taxes to balance the budget, one does it. If one has to cut spending to balance the budget one does it. Most likely it means both. Eisenhower is the last president of actually have the national debt lowered in two of his eight years.

Traditionalist also believe in small government. Keeping government out of a citizen's private business and lives. This is where traditional conservatism has a big problem with what is known as social or religious conservatism. I believe when it comes abortion, that should be left up to the woman, not the government. Same with gay marriage, let love decide, not government.

Also with the cold war over, that we shouldn't be the policeman for the whole world anymore. Let Europe take care of Europe, WWII reconstruction is long over.

There are other things, but traditional conservatism basically is a dying brand.
While I agree with most of what you said, perotista, it is the "policeman of the world" that I take issue with. If America is not the policeman of the world who do you think should have that job? China? Saudi Arabia? Russia? The European Union? Nature abhors a vacuum and if America is not the policeman of the world some other country will try to take our place. Throughout history that change in power has been accomplished by war with very detrimental results for the country that lost the position.
I think it could very well be the European Union if it wanted to fill the position. It doesn't and won't as long as the good old USA does it.

It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.