Politics-Government

I pasted a small piece of an article I read recently that really helps, in my opinion, explain where the breakdown is between what the media/politicians mean when they refer to conservatives or refer to themselves as conservatives and what the idea of conservatism is to the general population. There is a huge disparity between the two parties idea of what conservatism is and isn’t. I believe until the terms are properly defined it is impossible to define or explain ones position. I’ve always considered myself a conservative but in reality my values and positions, as with most Americans, is much closer to Libertarian and maybe even Anarchist as I’m beginning to doubt that it is possible for any formal man-made government to exist without ultimately falling into complete corruption. From Article submitted by Tom Mullen on Mon, 01/09/2012 - 16:08 on the DailyPaul.com website: (Short article, great read) Andrew Napolitano recently showed a clip in which Rick Santorum explained his views on libertarianism. His comments are also instructive in understanding his animosity (politically) towards Ron Paul. Santorum said: “One of the criticisms I make is to what I refer to as more of a Libertarianish right. They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and keep our regulations low, that we shouldn’t get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn’t get involved in cultural issues. That is not how traditional conservatives view the world. There is no such society that I am aware of, where we’ve had radical individualism and that it succeeds as a culture.” As David Boaz pointed out in the interview with Napolitano, Santorum seems to oppose a basic American principle- the right to the pursuit of happiness. I agree with him on this, but there is something even more fundamental here than that. It has to do with the conservative philosophy itself. One of the statements that Santorum makes is true. “That is not how traditional conservatives view the world.” There is a great disconnect between average Americans who refer to themselves as “conservatives” and the small group of politicians and politically-connected businessman who likewise refer to themselves….Continue Reading…

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