cheers, Cloggy!

How shallow is this? I don’t care what a Poli Sci major has to say, simply stating that they are both far right is quite remedial. In the compass of politics, conservatism lies very distinct from both fascism and socialism, even if arbitrary conceptual charts list them as “far right”. Your failure to understand that is your own shortcoming, not mine.

“There is more government control now than ever before, thanks to [un]-American conservatives such as yourself.”

Read my lips: I am against the expansion of government power at the federal level. That is as direct as I can say it. Any programs you throw at the feet of the Republican party that do the opposite, I reject fully. Expansions of federal power are unconstitutional under the tenth amendment, unless an amendment is added to the document itself. I hope I’ve made myself clear. The un-American comment is false, plain and simple.

“Again, you claim that your actions are the actions of most conservatives, and yet you rally against me for claiming the same…”

I do not claim ownership of the actions of those who claim to be conservatives. I never will, and I hope you call me out if that happens. There are many policies that take place in the name of conservatism, but these are false beliefs portrayed by charlatans (Bush 43 is an excellent example). I seek to represent conservatism as it is defined by Russell Kirk, Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley, and Ronald Reagan to a lesser extent. If someone does not follow what is defined as true conservatism, they are lying if they claim the mantle. My beliefs are shared by those who actually represent true conservatism, not those who merely claim it.

“That’s good, because I’ve grown quite tired of folks like you attempting indoctrination of the masses with misguided beliefs and blind allegiance.”

Folks like who? You have already complimented me in the past for allowing negative comments, but then you throw me in with those who don’t? There is no indoctrination going on here, and you’re being a bit ridiculous. Let’s face it, I’m one blogger who writes simply to outline the tenets of conservatism, as well as the policies that violate my political beliefs. If you want indoctrination, or at least someone to accuse of it, there are better targets than me.

Note: Please feel free to believe that my outlook on life is evil, destructive, or terrible, but why the anger? I don’t agree anything you stand for (apparently), but I will remain civil at all times. As a favor to a heinous religious zealot fascist Hitler neocon Rovian racist (sic), I hope you will as well.

I’m sorry that you take offense to the similarities between Nazism and the Conservative movement, but the similarities between them and any other fascist state are obvious (“you insist on mislabeling conservatism and demonizing us as fascists (of course, you’ve offered no reason for it)”). Conservatism = far right, Fascism = far right. Any first year Poly Sci major would be able to tell you that. It’s not a difficult concept.

“Hitler ran everything through the federal state, and we rail against that constantly.”

There is more government control now than ever before, thanks to an-American conservatives such as yourself. Surely, you’ll attempt to distance yourself from this fact by saying that the conservatives in power are not “true conservatives” (or some other cop out), but the evidence speaks for itself.

“I am not a religious person, but I am quite conservative.”

You’ve missed the point, as usual. MOST conservatives are religious, and if you research it, you’ll find that I am quite correct on that fact. The concept of MOST implies plurality, a simple concept from basic statistics. There are many books on the subject.

Again, you claim that your actions are the actions of most conservatives, and yet you rally against me for claiming the same (“I am not responsible for the mishandling of the War in Iraq or the No Child Left Behind Act”)? Pick a position and stick with it. Flip-flopping is quite annoying.

“I leave negative comments on this blog because I like the arguments.”

That’s good, because I’ve grown quite tired of folks like you attempting indoctrination of the masses with misguided beliefs and blind allegiance.

Let’s attempt to remove the anger from these discussions in the future and try to focus on policies and philosophies. Just like you aren’t responsible for the Clintons selling nuclear secrets to China for campaign contributions or Jimmy Carter’s misery index, I am not responsible for the mishandling of the War in Iraq or the No Child Left Behind Act.

Also, what is the deal with comparing conservatives to Hitler? Hitler ran everything through the federal state, and we rail against that constantly. Hitler scapegoated a sub-populace for all his problems and killed them, and we have no intention of that. Hitler was a tyrant and we are completely devoted to free and open blind elections. Your anger at someone you’ve never met is clouding your judgment. The New Left claims the mantle of socialism, but conservatism is not even one bit related to fascism.

I’m more than willing to argue with you about politics, policy, and philosophies, but there is little room for honest discussion as long as you insist on mislabeling conservatism and demonizing us as fascists (of course, you’ve offered no reason for it). If you aren’t interested in debate as much as you are in roaring misplaced anger at a man thousands of miles from you, then that’s another story. I leave negative comments on this blog because I like the arguments and I’m no censor, but I certainly will not tolerate being named Hitler’s heir any longer.

“I bet even you have trouble convincing yourself that conservatism is going to die.”

No, not really. It’s quite simple really: people can’t believe that 2+2=5 forever, and logic and reason will eventually overtake rhetoric and ideology. The same thing has happened with religion, with more people questioning the concept now than ever before in human history. And no, it’s not a coincidence that huge numbers (comparatively) of conservatives are also deeply religious; both faiths require blind allegiance and a lapse in simple logic.

“[...] weakness inherent in liberalism is what makes it easy to get up in the morning and fight every day to prevent liberalism from decaying our freedoms and our country.”

Firstly, the conservatives currently in power have done more to “decay our freedoms” than any other group in American history. This is one example of a failure of conservative “logic.” The same action you claim to want to avoid is the very action that constantly plagues conservative and republican “progress.”

Secondly, the Socialist EU (quickly becoming a dominant super-power in itself) certainly doesn’t seem inherently weak to me. For that matter, the pseudo-communist PRC isn’t doing too bad, either. You can claim that Socialism and Leftist theories are automatic failures all you want, but unfortunately for you and other blind allies of Fascism, real-world examples claim otherwise.

You claim that my “worldview is tainted,” and yet you use a classic Rovian tactic of “liberal hatred for the military” that was long ago disproved in the public eye. Liberals (myself included) do not hate the military. We applaud their bravery and sacrifice, just as you do.

What we do hate are the conservatives who cause them more strife by sending them into a war in which they do not belong for reasons which do not exist. Likewise, we again hate those same conservatives who cut veterans’ benefits and use the good name of the United States Military to further an anti-American agenda.

Finally, that which we hate the most are conservatives touting freedom (the very same freedom that the military fought and died for), when at the same time they are raping the constitution and leaving it a crying heap of ink and paper. You have the audacity to cry “freedom?” Open your eyes, man! Conservatism is Fascism, nothing more, nothing less. You would certainly make Hitler very proud. He had 12 years to destroy his country; conservatives have destroyed theirs in only 7.

While the Goldwater and Reagan conservatives will be leaving us in a few decades, so will the McGovernites, those that attended the Port Huron conference (the birthplace of the New Left), and even the staunch defenders of the Black Panther Party.

You can choose to believe incorrectly if you wish, but I bet even you have trouble convincing yourself that conservatism is going to die. Its a sad time we live in when liberals rail against capitalism and individualism in favor of collectivism and socialism, but its not so different from the 1960s after all.

Your worldview is tainted, and the weakness inherent in liberalism is what makes it easy to get up in the morning and fight every day to prevent liberalism from decaying our freedoms and our country. The real irony is that the military liberal radicals hate so much is the reason they are free to sow their cancer in our country every day.

Well, then, let us all hope that America develops one soon. The “40 years” of mistakes that you speak of are evidence that a cure is badly needed.

What one does see, very clearly, is the young electorate – the same one which will inherit the United States when the older (and decidedly more conservative) electorate kicks the bucket – realizing “the promise of the New Left and radical liberalism.” It is for this reason that conservatism is indeed on its way out. Conservative members of this new electorate are very few and far between, a consequence of most young people being keenly aware of the cause of the majority of America’s strife: conservatism.

Do you think for a moment that conservative ideals have a role in our country when they ended many years of Democratic control of Congress in 1994, or when they held the office of President 7 of 10 times going back 40 years?

Does the nomination of Barry Goldwater or the election of Ronald Reagan signify that there is a role for conservatism in government, or is the voting electorate just too dull to realize the promise of the New Left and radical liberalism? I believe in the tenets of conservatism with all my being, but I’m also willing let the voters decide the relevance of any platform. Not so good this year, but better than ever before over the last 30 years.

This plague is here to stay, and there is no vaccination yet.