Michrome
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| #1 Posted on 6.3.03 2119.46 Reposted on: 6.3.10 2121.52 | As a libertarian, I side with Republicans over Democrats on almost all fiscal issues. However, the Republican party, while maintaining their stance on defense, has basically flogged the idea of conservatism when it comes to government intervention and spending. Remember when the Republican Party called itself the "limited government" party? Remember when it called itself the "strict interpretation" party? Well, since there are some Republicans on this board, I'd love to see some of them explain the party's lack of opposition to the minimum wage, and other such issues, while claiming that they're part of the "limited government" party. All I see is Bush expanding Medicare, expanding Social Security, and expanding every facet of the "nanny state". What gives?
Edit: Whoops, somehow the title of the thread got screwed up I think.
(edited by Michrome on 6.3.03 1920) Promote this thread! | | PalpatineW
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| #2 Posted on 6.3.03 2204.43 Reposted on: 6.3.10 2212.55 | The only thing that keeps me from calling myself a big-L Libertarian is their stance on defense, so I share your feelings on the Republicans abandoning some basic conservative tenets.
I think it comes down to competition. The Democrats are like some kind of perverted Robin Hood, handing money out to everyone who will vote for them. Now, I oppose government social programs for moral reasons. It's simply wrong to confiscate the honest earnings of one man and give them to another, no matter what the disparity in their wealth. But these kinds of philosophical arguments don't play with the general public. So the Republicans have to concede a little, and say, "Well, we'd love to give you all this money. It's just not responsible to do so at this time." I think they've surrendered the moral argument to the Democrats in a misguided attempt to compete with them. Look at the tax cuts. It's impossible to sell them as morally right (which I believe them to be), so they sell them as practical, as economic stimulants. Forget that you should have a right to your own property and to the fruits of your labor. The Democrats have abolished that, and the Republicans have more or less driven the getaway car, to their eternal shame.
(edited by PalpatineW on 6.3.03 2306) | Michrome
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| #3 Posted on 6.3.03 2247.28 Reposted on: 6.3.10 2252.53 | Yeah, same here, I am a "small L" Libertarian, which is why I would vote for Bush if election day was tomorrow, but I see deficits coming in the future, and I wonder if congressional Republicans plan on doing anything about them. | Grimis
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| #4 Posted on 7.3.03 0559.02 Reposted on: 7.3.10 0559.03 | I am more of a small-l libertarian as well. The problem is that the Republicans tend to roll over whenever the Democrats play the race card or the class card, even though the Republicans tend to hold the higher moral ground and a more reasonable argument. Example: Department of Education should be eliminated; no GOPers do anything about it. Minimum wage creates inflation and cots people jobs; no GOPers do anythin about it. | MoeGates
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| #5 Posted on 7.3.03 1455.21 Reposted on: 7.3.10 1457.36 |
Originally posted by Grimis I am more of a small-l libertarian as well. The problem is that the Republicans tend to roll over whenever the Democrats play the race card or the class card, even though the Republicans tend to hold the higher moral ground and a more reasonable argument. Example: Department of Education should be eliminated; no GOPers do anything about it. Minimum wage creates inflation and cots people jobs; no GOPers do anythin about it.
The race card, yes. The class card, the Democrats roll over on. What's the first thing out of the GOP's mouth when anyone wants to do anything to help working- and-middle class Americans? "Class Warfare." And the Democrats back off just as quick as that.
As for holding the higher moral ground and a more reasonable arguement, that falls well into the realm of opinion.
The GOP talked about eliminating the DOE and all that other stuff back in the early 90s. Then they got elected. Then they didn't do it, because it wasn't what the mainstream of this country wanted.
Minimum wage costing people jobs and creating inflation is ridiculous. That may fly in the intellectual Ivory-Tower world of Cato-institute white papers and the like, but not in the real world. | Michrome
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| #6 Posted on 8.3.03 0244.18 Reposted on: 8.3.10 0245.31 | IN the real world, Libertarians care about facts, not feelings. 90% of economists agree that the minimum wage causes unemployment, but they must be in Ivory towers as well. Furthermore, nowhere in the constitution is the federal government authorized to regulate what can be done on private property. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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