Is "Conservatism" Dead ?

[kentuck]

Is conservatism, as we know it, on its last breath? As we know it, meaning that a political belief that believes "cutting taxes" is the solution to all our problems. A political belief that believes government is the problem, not the solution. A political belief that "no regulations" is the best policy - that government simply needs to get out of the way of business and let them do whatever the market will allow? Is that type of "conservatism" dead??

If it is not dead, then I think it will be awhile before it can come back in the same reincarnation. It will have to change. Especially if the people experience hard times for the next few years. Most have seen what Republican conservatism leads to and it is not a pretty picture. Of course, time seems to soften the cruelty of the moment and they will probably return with little change in the future. The question is, just how long will it take before folks forget? Just like Vietnam, it usually takes about a generation before the next generation can be tricked once again.


edit for clarity and correct English.

[Ishoutandscream2]

1. Your last sentence in the last paragraph says it all

It will come back, but the brand of conservatism we have come to know as "The Reagan Revolution" will probably be put on hold for awhile.

[PDJane]

2. We need to find a nice, long,

rowanwood stake. Isn't that what one does with vampires?

[Cary]

3. I have been looking for good commentary on the subject.

David Brooks' comments are, IMHO, the most insightful I have seen.

Where to start though? They have made such a clusterfuck, it's hard to believe. But they are so, so good at ignoring reality that I cannot write them off completely.

There needs to be a viable opposition and someone or something will step into the vacuum, I would think. I would hope it would be a more moderate, more rational, and less radical brand of conservativism.

[Warpy]

4. The core dogma of the GOP never changes

and it's based on a core fallacy, that the economy runs from the top down.

Yes, they'll be back when enough people come of age who are unaware of what they did to engineer this mess.

However, just as some of the New Deal managed to stay in force--like insured bank accounts--some of our reforms will likely persist, too.

HOwever, it seems every third generation or so needs to be taught anew that the rich are not their friends and never will be.

[Cary]

8. My experience with rightists tells me. . .

that the core is a hatred of "Liberals". They don't have to prove themselves correct as much as THEY HAVE TO prove us to be wrong.

I find most of them to be not all that intelligent.

[izquierdista]

5. That question was asked in 1964

But a Democratic president who plunged into a war so he could show he was tough (on the Communists) managed to give it new life.

Conservatism will always be around. As long as there are masses of poorly educated who can be duped into thinking that abortion or gay marriage or guns are the main ways that politics affect their lives, instead of health care, job security, and education, there will be rich fucks who will pander to them with the standard conservative tripe -- and win. I'm afraid there is no limit to the nonsense that they can purvey. After all, if they can win with "vote for me, I don't think government can do jack", and then screw it up even more, how can they ever really go away?

[underpants]

9. They also realized they were about to get their butts kicked so they regrouped

went into think tanks and came out in the late 70's after the Dems were pictured standing in the rubble of the complete change in the economic system (no longer cars and steel)

Most of this rebirth was funded by "The Four Sisters"
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/93

[underpants]

6. No, it may be unsound unreasonable& unfounded but they are organized disciplined & very well funded

They have infiltrated normal discourse not only by owning or having direct access to the owners of most all information they have established the "well some people say" element to each and every story. It is impossible to not find their opinion in some form everywhere.

Let's not forget that the primary function of any "government" is safety primarily through equality
This is manifested in the political arena as being a thorn in the paw of racists (keeps them angry and hateful of the "pro-government" left)
and as a retardant to the old-boy-system and the social darwinism "Masters of the Universe" trickle down "pro-business" right.
It was the government that desegregated both the military (later adding equal pay wage system) and schools.

What we are seeing is not the implosion of conservatism and the Rand/Friedman/Chicago economics ideology it is the redistribution of wealth to its "rightful owners" it just looks like and implosion. It is difficult to keep an eye on the back door when the bank is on fire.

[kentuck]

7. Also, they will continue to be the "pro-life" Party....

Only they will not be as radical about it in the past, perhaps?? Perhaps?

[noamnety]

10. Considering the whole country is sliding right

and many of the democrats in office hold views that once only republicans would have held, I would say no, it's alive and well.

[kentuck]

13. I don't think I agree with that.

The people just elected a President named Barack Hussein Obama who ran against the big tax cuts, the war in Iraq, and for a national health care system. I think a lot of politicians are way behind the people in their views. They won't be there long if they don't change with the times.

[rockymountaindem]

23. And now he's installing a free-trade zealot as trade representative

Daschle and crew are supposedly shutting out any discussion of single payer, and he's not repealing the Bush tax cuts before they expire. I'd also say that conservatism is alive and well.

[kentuck]

24. But Barack has said that he will make the final decision...

The buck stops with him. If he doesn't meet our expectations, we can vote him out in four years. But be careful of what we might get in his place.

[noamnety]

26. Here's how increasing conservatism is enabled:

1. "yeah, he might be further to the right than what we wanted - but you'd better support him anyway; the other choice is even more to the right."

2. Meanwhile those in power are always "reaching out" to those on the right. They don't need to compromise with those on the left. (See #1.)

[valerief]

11. Will people in power not try to steal more and more and more? I think not.

Conservatism, like religion, is a tool to keep money flowing upward.

[notesdev]

12. 'e's resting

'e's just pining for the fjords!

[Mudoria]

14. No

[Locrian]

15. are you kidding me?

>>>that government simply needs to get out of the way of business and let them do whatever the market will allow? Is that type of "conservatism" dead??

Was it "dead" in the 1990's dot com bust? Do millions of people (dems included) STILL think the
"market" is akin to god and freedom?

The conservatives will paint themselves now as the "outsides". That we need to free the market even more - because "rules" and "regulations" are bad and akin to communism, fascism, socialism, etc. That the only way to be "free" is to "believe" in markets bla bla bla.

Even now, all I hear is that people want the market UP and their 401Ks back. And those people will do (support) ANYTHING to achieve it.


We are a LOOOONG way from finding our way back to reality.

[kentuck]

16. Democrats need to use repetition...

To remind folks over and over again about the banks going bust, about the rich not paying their fair share of taxes, about the huge debt and deficits, about the continuous wars spreading democracy to all the corners of the earth, and about the crapping on our Constitution. We cannot depend on people to remember. They must be constantly reminded.

[natrat]

17. whatever,makes no difference with the congres bought and paid for, what a joke

fat little pig barney frank giving away the treasury to the banks yet people think he is god's gift

[gravity]

18. It's dead for now

There will always be fringe groups who support conservatism, but the mainstream has seen it definably proven wrong.

Conservative economic ideals had some basis for truth in the beginning, and is the reason why it gained widespread acceptance by the mainstream. Now that these people have seen the problems with it, they aren't going to take such a hardcore stance as to why government is the problem anymore.

The only way I can see this changing is if the government becomes too intrusive and heavily regulated, that it starts giving the right some credibility in their arguments again.

[kentuck]

19. Agree

They are elephants. They have long memories. They will wait for the right time to spring it on the people once again.

[Canuckistanian]

20. No, it just smells bad

Thank you, you're beautiful, drive home safe, now.....

[DailyGrind51]

21. If Democrats can demonstrate that having universal healthcare, public works jobs, restored

regulation of "big business", etc. provide "the greatest good for the greatest number", Conservatism will be hard to sell.

[YOY]

22. As long as the educational system is broken and fundies continue to abuse the home schooling system.

Reagan Conservatism will never die. There is just too much stupid out there to let it die.

[baldguy]

25. As long as they have money & control of the media, its alive & well

They don't need to get votes to cause trouble.

[Phred42]

27. No. Unfortunately it is not dead. There is too much money and power at stake.

The obsessive-compulsive Sociopaths that call them Conservatives and Republican will never give it up.

If you think Conservatism is dead, you are delusional.