Conservatives and Entitlements

[Dirty Hippie]

Help me out here. I understand several conservative members of congress voted against the Medicare bill because they oppose entitlements, Tom Feeney for example.

Do they really believe that our government has no responsibility to provide a social safety net for our most vulnerable citizens? Do they think, as a society we should deny health care to the elderly and allow them to suffer? Don’t they know any elderly people on fixed incomes?

This possibility just boggles my mind. Do those conservatives who oppose entitlements on general principle believe that it is ok for portions of our population to suffer and/or die? Have they ever visited a country where no social safety net exists?

[skippysmom]

1. the short answer is yes

They believe that government shouldn't do anything beyond defense and maybe mail delivery. If you can't care for yourself or need help, find a charity (preferably faith based) -- otherwise you're on your own.

It's social darwinism at its finest.

[Patriot_Spear]

2. Except for corporations...

They get all the money they want.

[bryant69]

4. There is a point to what they say

I mean the counter argument is "Do Democrats really want to give unproductive people as much as they want for as lont as they want? Why not expect them to take care of themselves?"

Not that I support in any fashion dropping Social Security or other welfare programs.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[zbdent]

7. You mean, like, tax breaks for Nichole and Paris?

hee hee hee!

[TXlib]

3. Republicanism is all about looking out for #1

and fuck everybody else.

[colgate]

5. Republicanism is all about looking out for # 1

Yeah, the guiding (only) philosophy of the GOP seems to be "I've got mine, screw you!"

[newyawker99]

9. Hi colgate!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[corporalclegg9]

6. Those Conservatives you mention are the LEAST dangerous...

Conservatives who voted against Medicare because they don't believe in entitlements are MUCH more consistent in their beliefs, and in my opinion, much less dangerous, than a Bush style conservative who doesn't care a whit about deficits.

We may disagree with the traditional conservative, but true conservatives do not believe in massive military intervention at the drop of a hat, they do not believe in running massive government deficits that will be paid by future generations, and they do not believe in socially restrictive laws that violate our civil rights.

In short, a world ruled by true conservatives would have a balanced budget, fewer laws and restrictions on what we can and cannot do, and a military that is large enough to defend ourselves and that is only used to do exactly that, defend ourselves.

Yes, a world ruled by true conservatives would have no social safety nets, and the poor amongst us would have less of a chance of doing something with their lives. However, our gov't would also not be subsidizing huge corporations that have cooked the books. True conservatives would let a corrupt corporation fail and would not bail them out with gov't money.

Basically, my point is that a "true conservative" is someone to respectfully disagree with. I believe that they have the same goals as all of us but truly believe that people, left to themselves, will do a better job than gov't. True conservatives deserve to be disagreed with but not disrespected.

The problems that we see today are not caused by true conservatives. Bush is no conservative.

[Dirty Hippie]

8. Very thoughtful

and I believe you are correct. I've said many times that Barry Goldwater must be turning over in his grave because of what our "conservative" administration is doing.

[MissMarple]

10. Yes, Goldwater is spinning faster than a whirly-gig in a wind storm.

We are experiencing one of the worst examples of short term gain at the expense of financial security in the long term.

And I have a problem with an "entitlement" like Medicare. There should be a better was to run it. It just doesn't make any sense that you are covered just because of your age. The drug benefit is an embarrassment. It is a poorly thought out, cobbled together piece of bribery. A discount card, a sliding scale based on ability to pay and catastophic coverage would make more sense than what they came up with.