What issues define a conservative?

[carolinajack]

after the revolutionary war, NO totalitarianism(we became a free nation); after the civil war No totalitarianism, we ended slavery and the disintergration of Union; After WW1 NO totalitarianism--liberated europe from german agression; After WW2 No totalitarianism-we liberated Europe from German agression and murder of millions of human beings. The cold war no totalitarianism, we defeated the Soviet Union and they fell. The spanish american war liberated Cuba and Philipines; Korea--The south is free from oppression from Kim Jung Ils North.

Where is the totalitarism?? in afghanistan people liberated from Taliban control; Iraq one-Kuwait liberated from Saddam; the Balkans liberated by NATO and US forces against the Serbian and on and on. No militarism does not lead to totalitarianism ONLY not standing up to totalitarians regimes with strong militarism will lead to more totalitariansim

[LeavingFlorida05]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

after the revolutionary war, NO totalitarianism(we became a free nation);

This was a break from a previous government. This war does not apply.

after the civil war No totalitarianism, we ended slavery and the disintergration of Union;

The federal government was VASTLY more powerful after this war. States rights took a huge hit. That's a move toward totalitarianism.

After WW1 NO totalitarianism--liberated europe from german agression;

Except that pesky federal income tax. The feds continue to increase their intrusion into your life. Previously, income taxes were repealed after wars. Not this time, thanks to the 16th amendment! And don't forget about that Selective Service Act.

After WW2 No totalitarianism-we liberated Europe from German agression and murder of millions of human beings. The cold war no totalitarianism, we defeated the Soviet Union and they fell.

I put these two together, since they are related. Japanese internment camps! You forget about McCarthy and another Selective Service Act, in 1948, as well. The FBI was vastly expanded, following WWII. We had to make sure we had no communists in the US! This time period also saw the creation of the CIA.

Hmm, government is getting larger and monitoring it's citizens. There's nothing totalitarian about that, at all!

The spanish american war liberated Cuba and Philipines

You mean the fabricated Spanish-American land grab?

Korea--The south is free from oppression from Kim Jung Ils North.

This was part directly related to the Cold War. See above.

Where is the totalitarism??

It's right in front of your face. You just don't see it because you've been programmed to not see it.

in afghanistan people liberated from Taliban control;

And now we arrest Middle Easterners on the slightest suspicion. There's nothing totalitarian about that, at all!

Iraq one-Kuwait liberated from Saddam; the Balkans liberated by NATO and US forces against the Serbian and on and on. No militarism does not lead to totalitarianism ONLY not standing up to totalitarians regimes with strong militarism will lead to more totalitariansim

I am simply amazed that you cannot see what is right in front of your face. Each war where we have been involved has left us with less freedom, except the Revolutionary War, for obvious reasons.

[ian6479]

does anyone watch 'Boston Legal'? Now Denny's a Conservative right there!

[Frank the Tank]

I've always felt that political philosophies are a bit more sophisticated than just conservative and liberal. There are really 4 dominant strains: conservative (to the right on both social and fiscal issues), liberal (to the left on both social and fiscal issues), libertarian (to the left on social issues and to the right on fiscal issues) and populist (to the right on social issues and to the left on fiscal issues).

I think that if you've read my other posts, you'll find that I'm pretty close to being a pure libertarian (I don't think the government should be interfering with people's lives on either economic or personal matters).