Can modern day Republicans truly call themselves conservatives?
Well, in order to answer the question we must ask ourselves what is the fundamental element to the conservative philosophy. In our modern age, this is certainly fiscal conservatism. It is the supposed hallmark of the Republican party. The Democrats lack of fiscal restraint is the basis of nearly every Republican criticism of the Democratic Party. It is the single biggest reason Republicans block a nationalization of the United State's health care system. Now this is certainly a legitimate concern, the costs of a government run health care system is estimated to cost $1 trillion. $1 trillion that the US doesn't have, and can't afford in the near future.
Prominent Republicans constantly parrot the cost as being too great, too much strain on the American taxpayer. However, the question I want to ask, is why were these concerns not being brought up as America prepared for war in the middle east? Why is it that so many republicans who refuse to vote for health care reform due to its cost so easily and whole-heartedly voted for a war which has cost us far more then health care reform will, and continues to cost us billions daily? Throughout history, republicans have been elected to get us OUT of wars. Not into them. This war-hawkish Republican trend is a relatively modern one, and an EXTREMELY expensive one.
For a party that consistantly rails against Obama's big spending, and claims to strive for a balanced budget, they've certainly done a VERY poor job of it.
Reagan national debt: $255 million as he left office.
George H.W. Bush national debt: $399 million as he left office.
George W. Bush national debt: $500+ million as he left office.
Each of these so called conservative candidates set a new record for national debt in their respective terms. You also may notice a gap in the presidents, Clinton. Surely that "tax n' spend" Democrat raked up FAR more then the Republicans could have ever hoped to spend while in office right? He left office with a balanced budget, and in fact a slight surplus.
Well, you might say that neo-conservatism is not just about fiscal conservative policies, but a general pro-business approach. Reagan masterfully put neo-conservative policies into place, and the US achieved a level of prosperity never thought to be achievable. The US, while it sustained a minor recession in the early nineties, continued this prosperity up until the turn of the century. Then, under "conservative" Bush, our economy nearly collapsed, along with the banking system.
Again you say, well at least the Republicans strive for a smaller government! Wrong again. Under Bush, the US government grew to the largest it has ever been in history. I won't even go into the Patriot Act, the NSA wiretapping scandal, or Guantanamo Bay and how early conservative thinkers would absolutely roll over in their graves if they could see them today.
This is hypocrisy. The modern day Republican Party is not conservative, certainly not. The modern day Republican Party is but the Democratic Party with a different paint job and socially conservative stances (gay-marriage, gun rights, etc.).
So I put this to you, self proclaimed conservatives, how is it that you can call yourself a Republican?
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