What is the future of conservatism? Writers, thinkers discuss at Commentary Magazine
Associated Press
Reality is conservative, author Roger Kimball said, and eventually people will begin to see that to "'spread the wealth around' does not equalize but destroys prosperity."
The "dire fiscal plight" of the federal government and the trajectory of entitlement programs give Republicans more leverage in politics than their House of Representatives majority alone, The Washington Post's Michael Barone wrote. When Americans see the effects of redistributive policies — effects that, under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, included recession, strikes, high unemployment and businesses being unwilling to hire new workers — conservatism may have greater appeal, Barone said.
David Frum of The Daily Beast indicated that the president's reelection portends more expensive federal government, which implies more taxes and therefore generates more resistance. "That resistance will be the basis for the conservative coalition of tomorrow," Frum wrote. While Frum doesn't believe that coalition would be able to undo everything President Obama has done, he said they will be able to "fight the good fight" for private enterprise and free markets.
>> Seated at his White House desk, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tells the people of his plan to call in representatives of industry and labor for conferences in an effort to obtain a truce from strikes and industrial disorder until already-established means of settling disputes have been tried, Sept. 30, 1934 in Washington.
The "dire fiscal plight" of the federal government and the trajectory of entitlement programs give Republicans more leverage in politics than their House of Representatives majority alone, The Washington Post's Michael Barone wrote. When Americans see the effects of redistributive policies — effects that, under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, included recession, strikes, high unemployment and businesses being unwilling to hire new workers — conservatism may have greater appeal, Barone said.
David Frum of The Daily Beast indicated that the president's reelection portends more expensive federal government, which implies more taxes and therefore generates more resistance. "That resistance will be the basis for the conservative coalition of tomorrow," Frum wrote. While Frum doesn't believe that coalition would be able to undo everything President Obama has done, he said they will be able to "fight the good fight" for private enterprise and free markets.
>> Seated at his White House desk, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tells the people of his plan to call in representatives of industry and labor for conferences in an effort to obtain a truce from strikes and industrial disorder until already-established means of settling disputes have been tried, Sept. 30, 1934 in Washington.
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Unless conservatism can shove religion and the tea party under the bus, it's future is on the margins.
The biggest issue is to drop the position on immigration. It makes no sense, it is hostile to good people and it is costing us lots of votes.
Probably second is to tone down the rhetoric on the finances. Almost everyone knows there must be some restraint on spending, but conservatives will always lose the debate if we are so easily painted as no taxes on millionaires. We look like we are protecting rich people instead of protecting the country with reasonable and responsible answers to real and pressing questions. You change those two issues and advertise a little bit in June - Aug and we win that election.
Right now the gut nut t-party has control it seems and is messing with anarchy if they don't get their way. They either have no real conviction of their rhetoric or they actually are preparing for a civil war over god, guns and gold.
A return to common sense would help.
republiconservatives should continue to do exactly what they have been doing.
The demographics are in their corner.
When their base realizes they will be sacrificed to fend for themselves by cuts in SS and Medicare, it will make the republicons in congress even more popular than they are now.
Perfect.
And Reagan would be considered a RINO today by the GOP.
See item #9...
Republicans should stop hunting all RINOs.
I'm the same man I was 30 years ago - albeit, older and wiser.
I'm was Center Left then, and I'm Center-left now and I voted for Reagan, twice.
I didn't leave the GOP,
The GOP left me.
The future of Conservatism?
None.