I can’t fix what’s broken with the Republican party. But I’d be happy to quicken it’s demise so that a more sensible conservative party might emerge. I’m not a Democrat by ideology - at least I don’t agree with them in all cases, but it feel obligated to oppose the current Republican party at every level.
I like having choices at the ballot box and right now I feel I have none. Excise the tumor so that it can become healthy.
Something is clearly broken with America, and everyone who isnt an insufferable policy wonk all know that it’s the neoliberal system we have organized around that is the problem.
The divide comes because conservative elements cannot accept that free market capitalism has failed at improving life for anyone but the ultra-wealthy, so they blame undesirables and minority boogiemen because they have been conditioned to beleive that socialism will lead to bread lines and technological stagnation. Fascism is capitalism’s last ditch effort to save itself.
Probably because in that party, anyone with a modicum of rational thought and who is not driven by emotional drivers (like racism and dreams of a xtian caliphate) is a very tiny minority. Sure, there might be a few left who are just there for the tax cuts and the corporate handouts; they are probably the elitist thought leaders and/or the donor class funding the movement/party.
I don’t even know what a sensible conservative party that /isn’t/ where the Democratic Party is already at would look like, TBH. So many in the party already adheres - even still - to neoliberal orthodoxy on matters economic.
I’m almost exactly the opposite - I’d love to have a serious alternative to the left of the Democratic Party and the end of the Republican Party. Both parties have gone to the right; leaving the progressive majority of Americans (on the issues) out in the cold. Money in politics ruins everything and of course, only the donors really get the policy they want.
They need representation just like the rest of us.
…no? They might need a pop in the mouth but they don’t need political power of any stripe. They are bad people whose will should be resisted and repressed.
Maybe define conservative? At one time “conservative” had numerous laudable virtues such as being fiscally responsible and believing in the free market and having specific moral standards while keeping your nose out of other people’s business. Back in the '70s conservatives were on board with protecting the environment, for instance, and discussions between liberals and conservatives gave us the Clean Air Act. I’m not remotely conservative, even by the old standards, but the 2 camps working together used to bring about some decent legislation.
Today conservative means something entirely different. The whole movement has gone whacko. I think in a new world with a new conservative party, all political conversation can move leftward. By a lot. In a world with a sensible conservative party, Democratic Socialism would not be a radical idea and Bernie Sanders would not be so alone.
At one time “conservative” had numerous laudable virtues such as being fiscally responsible and believing in the free market and having specific moral standards
None of those are laudable.
“Fiscally responsible” “free market” and “specific moral standards” means “tax destruction” “economic exploitation” and “no gays”.
I can’t fix what’s broken with the Republican party. But I’d be happy to quicken it’s demise so that a more sensible conservative party might emerge. I’m not a Democrat by ideology - at least I don’t agree with them in all cases, but it feel obligated to oppose the current Republican party at every level.
I like having choices at the ballot box and right now I feel I have none. Excise the tumor so that it can become healthy.
I might be pessimistic, but I don’t see the sensible part of the party coming out on top in that fight. They’ve lost ground every step so far.
perhaps, but why? Why do all the sensible people have to lose to the fucking insane?
Something is clearly broken with America, and everyone who isnt an insufferable policy wonk all know that it’s the neoliberal system we have organized around that is the problem.
The divide comes because conservative elements cannot accept that free market capitalism has failed at improving life for anyone but the ultra-wealthy, so they blame undesirables and minority boogiemen because they have been conditioned to beleive that socialism will lead to bread lines and technological stagnation. Fascism is capitalism’s last ditch effort to save itself.
Because of first-past-the-post primaries.
Probably because in that party, anyone with a modicum of rational thought and who is not driven by emotional drivers (like racism and dreams of a xtian caliphate) is a very tiny minority. Sure, there might be a few left who are just there for the tax cuts and the corporate handouts; they are probably the elitist thought leaders and/or the donor class funding the movement/party.
Because there isn’t a sensible part of the party. They have all succumbed to the greed of trumpism.
I don’t even know what a sensible conservative party that /isn’t/ where the Democratic Party is already at would look like, TBH. So many in the party already adheres - even still - to neoliberal orthodoxy on matters economic.
I’m almost exactly the opposite - I’d love to have a serious alternative to the left of the Democratic Party and the end of the Republican Party. Both parties have gone to the right; leaving the progressive majority of Americans (on the issues) out in the cold. Money in politics ruins everything and of course, only the donors really get the policy they want.
It would be interesting if democrats absorbed the conservatives and the left wing broke off. It just doesn’t feel very likely.
Why does any conservative party need to emerge?
I don’t need conservatives but they are among us and they will drag any party right. They need representation just like the rest of us.
…no? They might need a pop in the mouth but they don’t need political power of any stripe. They are bad people whose will should be resisted and repressed.
Maybe define conservative? At one time “conservative” had numerous laudable virtues such as being fiscally responsible and believing in the free market and having specific moral standards while keeping your nose out of other people’s business. Back in the '70s conservatives were on board with protecting the environment, for instance, and discussions between liberals and conservatives gave us the Clean Air Act. I’m not remotely conservative, even by the old standards, but the 2 camps working together used to bring about some decent legislation.
Today conservative means something entirely different. The whole movement has gone whacko. I think in a new world with a new conservative party, all political conversation can move leftward. By a lot. In a world with a sensible conservative party, Democratic Socialism would not be a radical idea and Bernie Sanders would not be so alone.
None of those are laudable.
“Fiscally responsible” “free market” and “specific moral standards” means “tax destruction” “economic exploitation” and “no gays”.