QotD
"You know, I believe there is such a thing as healthy
conservatism, which went out the window about the same time
as 'liberal' became a dirty word. I don't believe it's a crime
to be concerned with issues of security, caution, limits,
preservation of order and tradition -- all fundamental
conservative values. Even fiscal responsibility is supposed
to be, and was at one time a conservative value, before the
Republican Party was high-jacked by criminals and thugs. There
needs to be a healthy balance, liberals providing the vision,
the enthusiasm, the momentum, conservatives presumably making
sure it doesn't all fly off the rails. Bushism is not
conservatism; it's just craziness, greed, dishonesty and
silliness. A funhouse distortion of conservatism. True
conservatism, if it can ever be resuscitated, has some real
virtues that provide a necessary complement to those of
liberalism. Perhaps included in the definition of liberal
should be some mention about respect for one's adversaries,
an ability to see and appreciate the other person's point of
view."
-- ailanthus,
2008-05-21
"The whole conservative small government schtick is not a
conservative principle; it is a marketing tactic. The only
conservative principle is 'more power for the powerful.'
[...]
"When discussing conservatism, we would do
well to distinguish between goals and marketing. Conservatism is
what it does, not what it says."
-- miasmo,
2008-05-21