Is Social Conservatism conservative?

[finnbow]

I would like to hear some cogent arguments for those defending the notion that Social Conservatism is indeed conservative. How can small government desires be reconciled with the desire to impose rules of bedroom behavior by the government?

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I would like to hear some cogent arguments for those defending the notion that Social Conservatism is indeed conservative. How can small government desires be reconciled with the desire to impose rules of bedroom behavior by the government?

Ask Ron Paul.

Regards,

D-Ray

[JCricket]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Ask Ron Paul.

Regards,

D-Ray

my translation - can't be done

[Oerets]

My guess they (Conservatives) want everyone to be conservative (boring) in the bedroom like they are. Can't stand others having fun I guess.






Barney

[Gaspode]

Originally Posted by finnbow

I would like to hear some cogent arguments for those defending the notion that Social Conservatism is indeed conservative.

I don't think there is. A true political conservative does not care who you sleep with as long as you are

1. The same species
2. At or beyond the age of consent
3. Consenting

Conservatism is fundamentally about the freedom of the individual. What or who you do in the bedroom is none of my business.

And Oerets, by all means have a ball in the sack! I sure as hell do - done everything legal you can imagine that doesn't involve dudes, pain, piss or crap. It always makes me laugh when libs assume that conservatives don't get down, but then underestimating us is what they do best.

[merrylander]

Oh boy, where to start. Social conservatism as defined in this country is really wannabee Libertarianism. However it is totally confused even in its own mind. On the one hand it preaches extreme self-reliance, yet on the other sticks its nose into purely personal matters. The watchword seems to be conformity, so you have this strange dichotomy of 'fit the mold' vs 'self reliant individualism'. It is little wonder the right wing generates so many whack jobs.

[Bigerik]

Very interesting thread.

In Canada, the Liberal party was very successful by being fiscally conservative, (and I mean truly fiscally conservative, not the cut taxes and spend like crazy thing the Republicans love to shout about), and socially liberal. The combination not only worked well, it kept them in power for ages and got our economy to the point where it is now one of the most admired in the western world. Yes, the economic mess created by our conservatives was later fixed by our liberals.

It's funny. The social conservatives like to talk like they are libertarians, while actually acting like inquisition era Catholics.

A quote spoken by our famous Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has basically become the guiding principle for most politicians in Canada:

The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Bigerik

Very interesting thread.

In Canada, the Liberal party was very successful by being fiscally conservative, (and I mean truly fiscally conservative, not the cut taxes and spend like crazy thing the Republicans love to shout about), and socially liberal. The combination not only worked well, it kept them in power for ages and got our economy to the point where it is now one of the most admired in the western world.

Thanks for the recent raise.

[Rex E.]

Originally Posted by Bigerik

The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation.

This is very true along with several other places they have stuck their nose.

I'm pretty sure if we could find a candidate from any party that is fiscally conservative and socially aware they'd win in a landslide like we've never seen before.

[Charles]

I've never considered that being a busybody was in any way a conservative trait.

That's more of the trait of being a nosy asshole who won't mind his own business.

Perhaps words such as liberal and conservative would have some meaning if we were to quit lumping assholes into either category, since they already have a category of their own.

Chas