Conservatism/Liberalism the need to coexist? (Representatives, Congress, Iran, Reagan)

[florida.bob]

The Conservative(capitalist) ideals that have spurred this country to economic greatness are undenialble. I am a businessman that is fortunate, even in these trying times, to have a business that is growing rapidly. I fully understand the value of Capitalism and have full confidence that we will emerge even stronger. But I am not naive enough to think Liberal(Socialist) ideals are not just as important. This country has demonstrated to the world, the value of the coexistance of these two sets of ideals. Our country would not be as great as it is, if it were not for the "social conscience" of our system. Our Representative form of Government insures us the ability to avail ourselves of the benefits of both. We will always have a struggle with the extremes of both sides. We see that in Congress and we see that reflected even on this forum. In times of trouble and trauma, the anxiety people feel brings out these differences more acutely. Our Representatives are reflecting this dichotomy more than I have ever seen. It's making it more difficult to reconcile, but they will muddle through. The irrationality we are seeing on both sides, will make it more difficult and will result in lesser solutions, but we will muddle through as well.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by florida.bob

The Conservative(capitalist) ideals that have spurred this country to economic greatness are undenialble. I am a businessman that is fortunate, even in these trying times, to have a business that is growing rapidly. I fully understand the value of Capitalism and have full confidence that we will emerge even stronger. But I am not naive enough to think Liberal(Socialist) ideals are not just as important. This country has demonstrated to the world, the value of the coexistance of these two sets of ideals. Our country would not be as great as it is, if it were not for the "social conscience" of our system. Our Representative form of Government insures us the ability to avail ourselves of the benefits of both. We will always have a struggle with the extremes of both sides. We see that in Congress and we see that reflected even on this forum. In times of trouble and trauma, the anxiety people feel brings out these differences more acutely. Our Representatives are reflecting this dichotomy more than I have ever seen. It's making it more difficult to reconcile, but they will muddle through. The irrationality we are seeing on both sides, will make it more difficult and will result in lesser solutions, but we will muddle through as well.

As a LIBERAL there have been times I could have co existed with REASONABLE conservatives. Gees- I voted for a few of them including Reagan (vs Mondale) and Bush I (vs Dukakis). I actually find some of their ideas to my liking. But conservatives have changed over they last decade. They have changed from a "live and let live" philosophy to one that I cannot coexist with. I am not going to sit by while these folks ruin the country with their "optional" wars because they think it is somehow our job to police the world. Barry Goldwater would spin in his grave if he saw what the Republican Party has become in this country. And they used to want to "get the government out of your life" and now want the government to control every aspect of your life including telling you how you can have sex, who you can have sex with under the threat of JAIL if you don't have sex the way they think is best for you. They want to run your life, tell you what you can read (no Hustler of course) and when you can drink (no beer on Sunday) and what you can watch (no porn). They even want to put you in JAIL for having a sex toy!
No I cannot coexist with this. This is not Iran and we do not live under religious law here. But we will if the conservatives get their way.