A liberal's responds
Reader comment on item: What Is the Future of Conservatism in the Wake of the 2012 Election?
Submitted by Gunther Schiff (United States), Jan 4, 2013 at 13:41
Daniel –happy New Year!. In response to your articles, I think conservatives make a number of continuing mistakes – They continually demonize the liberals, instead of a. careful analysis of what the liberal sides support, that is wrong; and why. It seems to me that conservatives tend to be more than conservative – the present GOP conservative philosophy seems t me to be retrograde to some unknown place in the past, rather than conservative.. To go along with the view that the government should not help the elderly, or help to take care of the sick and disabled is not supported by a reasonable conservative philosophy.
Obama care may not be the answer, but to remove it without a responsible alternative is not viable politics. Automatic resort to the for profit health care industry is probably not a viable answer either. There would seem to be a reason that most governments of "advanced" nations have used the same "one provider" system. Some of the most profitable times for all of us were when taxes wee high and gov't expenditures were reasonable. To me a fair view of conservatism would be a careful analysis of any proposed change, and an original suggestions as well as counter suggestion if the change is wrong or unnecessary. Start with a viable balanced budget that meets necessary expenditures and provides offsetting income; do we need a 1950's armed force; or will warfare be fought with technology and small forces. What size and equipment is needed for security – F35's? The major problem, in my view of American conservatism, is its negativism. Little can be gained by making a primary target - hating the sitting president. That is not conservatism.
Gunther Schiff
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