Can a person say they are fiscally conservative and socially liberal without getting hated on in this new ultra-divisive political landscape?
[Asking for a friend]
@thedisasterautist True. We're in some extremely challenging times.
@EdgeOErin: I don't think it's challenging tin that respect. In the '80s and '90s, even into the '00s, when people said "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" they were believed, but even then it was apparent that the bulk of them were lying. Fiscal conservatism usually means "I want to cut social and other programs, such as education and public health", i.e., remove social safety nets and "leave it to the states". Since the Obama Administration most of those same folks have ditched the...
@EdgeOErin: ..."socially liberal" part because they often meant "legalize weed" and "let me not have to wear motorcycle helmets". I know Not-All, but it's been more than enough.
This always confused me. How would social programs be funded?
@LnzyHou @EdgeOErin I think typically this type of person thinks that laws should support diversity (for instance, would be for legalizing gay marriage) but that government programs should not fund social concerns (for instance, would be against programs to eradicate homelessness).
@CarmenSlamdiego @LnzyHou I am definitely not against programs that would help the homeless. I'm fine with gay marriage, live and let live. But I also think money can be sensibly allocated and things made more efficient.
@EdgeOErin @CarmenSlamdiego @LnzyHou sensibly is defined by whomever is writing the checks.....efficiency is also the same...
@aasteppin @EdgeOErin @CarmenSlamdiego
That vagary stopped me from commenting. It’s all subjective. And part of good business practices. Not conservatism. IMO
@LnzyHou @EdgeOErin @CarmenSlamdiego thats the word I was looking for... subjective
@CarmenSlamdiego @LnzyHou I do agree, it's such a fuzzy area and we tend to get caught up in labels
Even though President Ronald Reagan created homelessness by closing mental institutions. He didn’t want to fund them either. What is the solution?
@LnzyHou We tend to pull it off in Canada, though, down south, they might still look at our Conservatives as being centrist.
How do you pull it off in Canada? How are you finding social programs without money?
@LnzyHou @EdgeOErin Canada has national health care, that helps. Also the size of the problem is smaller so less money required. That is not to say there are no issues, I am just generalizing.
That’s where I get lost —the generalizations.
I challenged a conservative in my former apartment building as to his solution for the 600+ unhomed he despised in Asheville.
The closest he ever came to a solution was erect a huge circus-type tent where 600 cots would hold the homeless (under lock & key) every night. No booze or drugs allowed. The police would guard the tent access all night.
Imagine the mayhem inside the tent. He said the police would control. 😲🤬😖
@EdgeOErin Efficiency means a lot of things but generally streamlining is part of the picture. That’s often at odds with the public desire for control and transparency of public expenditures. I can say more if you want.
@EdgeOErin once upon a time, conservatives had among their ranks people who *weren’t* morons. You could disagree with them vehemently and remain civil, probably largely due to them having reasons rooted in logic/reason, etc. Examples include William F. Buckley.
Those days are gone and buried. These days the Conservative ideology has people who’ll argue about the shape of the earth. They embrace ignorance and hold it in the same regard as knowledge. As a political position, it was sold out or co-opted by the lure and love of filthy luchre.
@EdgeOErin: A person couldn't do that without great difficulty in the 1990s. It's even harder now.