The Myth of "Fiscal Conservatism"

[Sparkly]

It's almost a cliche for Democrats to say, "I'm liberal on social issues, but fiscally conservative" -- yet that seems to describe where most of the country stands.

Self-identified "conservatives" CLAIM they want smaller government, reduced spending, and balanced budgets. Then why on earth did they ever vote for Reagan/Bush, Bush/Quayle, and Bush/Cheney?? The Republican party hasn't been fiscally conservative in decades!!


http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

These so-called "conservatives" look the other way when the economy is propped up by massive "stimulus" -- borrowed from other countries, borrowed from future generations, and at huge interest costs to taxpayers. They only see the "stimulus" two inches from their own noses: a tax cut that affords them two trips to WalMart. In their view, windfall tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations aren't the problem; people cheating welfare are the problem. :eyes:

Perhaps we need another word for "fiscal conservatism," because saying "I'm socially liberal but fiscally conservative" makes it sound as though WE have some sort of contradictory stance, when we don't. THEY are the ones who contradict themselves, and they've changed the definition of "conservative" economics. Defined by today's GOP, "fiscally conservative" encompasses recklessness, selfish greed, cronyism, budget deficits, and massive national debt. They've made the term into a misnomer.

So as "conservatives" start to disapprove of the administration (whether because they're upset about gas prices, upset BushCo hasn't amended the Constitution to ban gay marriage and abortion, or have actually noticed this economic policy is a sham), I'm not sure whether "conservative" is still a word worth holding onto for the sake of appeal, or whether "fiscally responsible" gets the message across.

In any case, if these people claim to vote Republican based on balanced budgets, smaller government and lowered spending, we need to CALL them on it. We can't afford another decade of this LIE.

[NewJeffCT]

1. Fiscal conservatism

Is really an excuse to cut programs that aid the poor & middle class while slashing taxes for corporations & the wealthy.

[Sparkly]

3. Yup -- amazing, considering many of these are "Christian conservatives"

(...or so they say).

Clinton was very good at explaining urban renewal, education, social services, etc. as INVESTMENTS. It's a shame that argument even needs to be used, but where so-called "compassionate conservatives" have no compassion, they need to be persuaded with the bottom line, as in, "For every dollar we put into this program we get back $10" etc...

[calmblueocean]

2. This is a great point.

"Fiscally responsible" is good start, but I wonder if it has perhaps a little too much wiggle room. You can justify any expenditure by saying it was the only responsible thing to do. Still better than "fiscally conservative" though.

What about "socially liberal, fiscally frugal"?

[Sparkly]

4. "Fiscally frugal" -- I like that!

:thumbsup:

[orwell]

5. Don't confuse us...

...with facts. That is sooooo reality based.

Get with the propaganda regime. You'll feel much better in the morning...

[Telly Savalas]

6. Why are people so obsessed with small government?

In mass society, large organizations are needed to coordinate the provision of things like health care, public transit, education, emergency response, and other infrastructure. If we're to have a small government, then such things will have to be provided by private organizations which are more likely to do a substandard job in order to cut costs and boost profits. What's so great about that?

This equation of small government with freedom is an absurd myth which the Democrats need to fight more. Privatizing government services does not make us more free.

[mrcheerful]

7. The wing nuts think smaller governmentt means less laws in their

lives. Big government means more laws and more taxes, where did they get these ideals, why repukes told them the facts. And the ideal of giving tax breaks to the super rich, well every wing nut knows that some day they will hit the state lotto so they will need those tax breaks. Whats really funny is the lotto winnings are not protected from high taxes and lotto winnings are hit hard on tax.