Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop
What's your conception of conservatism? I think liberals have core beliefs, but I think conservatives are reacting to liberals, looking for some impossible reversion to an impossible past rather than having any particular outcomes in mind. I'm not saying ideals don't exist, but that they're effect, not cause. I will admit that in this view, I am highly influenced by Corey Robin, about whom see this. Why does it matter? I think it's mistake to think you can bargain with conservatives by identifying policy goals and negotiating compromises with them. Because they tend to be motivated more by sticking it to libs than by any particular outcome, that won't work. Also: If conservatives are motivated by principles, who are the thinkers defining those principles? It's not like the conservative movement is following any particular thought leader. |
You keep stating your thesis as if it is settled fact. I know you think conservatism is purely reactionary. But the word, "conserve," surely gives us a clue as to what conservatism stands for--opposition to change. I think most people understand conservatives stand for small government, low taxes, fiscal responsibility,* business first/free enterprise, and all of the fucked up social conservative viewpoints.
It's probably that last one that has you the most hung up. If you are against gay marriage, white people not running everything, women working, etc., everything you do to fight change looks reactionary. But that doesn't mean you don't hold the core belief that
things should not change.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop
If you spend a lot of time on Twitter or Facebook, you will notice that conservatives spend a lot more time thinking about what will piss off liberals than liberals do about what will piss off conservatives.
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I think you're conflating everyone who sits on the right with conservatives. I'm not sure why, unless you're saying that conservatives can no longer claim conservatism because they have sold out so many of their principles that the word might as well not exist. But that is (repeatedly) not what you're saying.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop
YMMV. If anyone has a different view of what conservatism is, I'd like to hear it. I will note, though, that we keep hearing how liberals are responsible for Trump voters because of some episode of lefty/cosmopolitan/elitist disrespect for them. No one ever, ever, ever suggests that lefties change their vote because of what conservatives say or do.
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Again, you are conflating conservatism with everyone on the right.
In any case, I'm not sure why I'm arguing this. I think conservatives have always been trash because of their willingness to side with the absolute worst people in society to get what they want.
TM
*Ha!
