Oxymoron: Fiscally conservative, but socially moderate

[Carole]

Oxymoron: Fiscally conservative, but socially moderate

I am so tired and frustrated by those who say they are fiscally conservative, but socially moderate.

Briefly, one cannot be fiscally conservative and still be fine with spending other people's money on ever more social programs that are "well-intended" yet morally bankrupt.

Theft is theft regardless of the nice names it is given in social programs.

Totally frustrated by so-called "do-gooders" in politics.

End of rant.

 

[69360]

To me socially moderate or socially liberal means you don't want the fed involved in others private lives. Like gay marriage or drug use. Entitlement programs are a fiscal issue for me.

 

[LibertyEagle]

To me socially moderate or socially liberal means you don't want the fed involved in others private lives.

Yeah, that's how I've heard it used too.

 

[Yieu]

To me socially moderate or socially liberal means you don't want the fed involved in others private lives.

This is my understanding as well.

 

[Zarn Solen]

It could be people who are against abortion.

Social issues are not considered fiscal/economic issues. Here social means societal rather than social class.

 

[Butchie]

I'm "moderate" on drug laws and civil rights issues like the Patriot Act, NDAA, I'm also not a Christian - but then I guess I get conservative on things like affirmative action, abortion, gay marriage, although on abortion I think it's been grossly miscategorized as a "women's rights issue", I don't give a flyin you-know-what about what a woman does with her body, the babies rights are where I stand, so not sure how I'd be classified.

 

[scottstew]

For me, there is no such thing as "fiscal/social conservative/liberal", there is simply "pro-lliberty" or "pro-state". All issues boil down to this in my opinion. The question people should ask is, "How much freedom am I willing to cede to the local/state/federal government?" Every single function of government can be privatized, but most people do not want the individual responsibility required for this to become a reality (e.g. health care, schools, roads, police, fire, courts, military, etc.).

 

[scottstew]

I'm "moderate" on drug laws and civil rights issues like the Patriot Act, NDAA, I'm also not a Christian - but then I guess I get conservative on things like affirmative action, abortion, gay marriage, although on abortion I think it's been grossly miscategorized as a "women's rights issue", I don't give a flyin you-know-what about what a woman does with her body, the babies rights are where I stand, so not sure how I'd be classified.

Abortion can logically be viewed as an issue of 2 competing freedoms: the women's right to choose what she does with her body VS the unborn child's right to live.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I'm "moderate" on drug laws and civil rights issues like the Patriot Act, NDAA, I'm also not a Christian - but then I guess I get conservative on things like affirmative action, abortion, gay marriage, although on abortion I think it's been grossly miscategorized as a "women's rights issue", I don't give a flyin you-know-what about what a woman does with her body, the babies rights are where I stand, so not sure how I'd be classified.

Well. Avoid Religious Conscience mumbo jumbo. That's another Frank Luntz wrecking ball aimed at the minds of babes.

Two entirely different notions, really.

 

[jbauer]

You'd have to define what you mean by socially moderate vs fiscally moderate. To me a social moderate is more of a live and let live person where a social conservative wants prolife, drug enforcment, you know a good wholesome 1950's family upbringing.

The disconect to me is that conservative in terms of fiscal policy means little to no governement interaction where conservative socially probably needs government interactoin.

Oxymoron: Fiscally conservative, but socially moderate

I am so tired and frustrated by those who say they are fiscally conservative, but socially moderate.

Briefly, one cannot be fiscally conservative and still be fine with spending other people's money on ever more social programs that are "well-intended" yet morally bankrupt.

Theft is theft regardless of the nice names it is given in social programs.

Totally frustrated by so-called "do-gooders" in politics.

End of rant.

 

[Liberty74]

Wrong. It all depends on how you look at it. Privately or through the eyes of government?

So one can be fiscally conservative at the govt level and socially liberal privately.

 

[Carole]

After reading above posts, I return to my original post and stand by it.

Voters today have multiple interpretations of socially moderate and most of them are about spending other people's money. Period.

BTW 'socially moderate" should not be about issues already covered in the Constitution under the rule of law. One cannot rationally argue that an issue is about "freedom" when it infringes upon the "freedom" of another, abortion being a good example.

Another example: Paying for contraceptives for others.
Another example: Paying for Viagra for others.

 

[bbartlog]

Are people so afraid of the word 'liberal' these days that supporting drug legalization and civil liberties is 'socially moderate'? Fiscally conservative and socially liberal has been a fair description of the libertarian position going back forty years. 'Socially moderate' is really not an accurate description of Paul's stances on TSA, NDAA, and the Patriot Act.
All that said I agree with scottstew - I'd rather think about this in pro- and anti- state terms than try to shoehorn everything into liberal/conservative or left/right terms.

 

[djruden]

My social moderation comes from the fact that I do not want it to be illegal to be gay, I believe in equal rights regardless. My fiscal conservatism says we also do not need government redistribution to benefit any particular group.

Carole, your way of thinking seems to be completely wrong here....

 

[Brett85]

I'm "moderate" on drug laws and civil rights issues like the Patriot Act, NDAA, I'm also not a Christian - but then I guess I get conservative on things like affirmative action, abortion, gay marriage, although on abortion I think it's been grossly miscategorized as a "women's rights issue", I don't give a flyin you-know-what about what a woman does with her body, the babies rights are where I stand, so not sure how I'd be classified.

Me too, except that I'm a Christian. I support ending the war on drugs, but I'm opposed to gay marriage. I guess that perhaps makes me a "social moderate" as well.

 

[Brett85]

...

 

[Brett85]

Fiscally conservative and socially liberal has been a fair description of the libertarian position going back forty years.

I disagree, because someone like Rudy Guliani could call themselves a "libertarian" under that definition. A "libertarian" is someone who wants to dramatically decrease the size and scope of the federal government. (By 50% or more.)

 

[Matthanuf06]

Social issues can be defined as: abortion, drugs, gay marriage, etc

Given Paul's position I'd say he is in the 'socially moderate' range. IMHO Paul fits the constitutionalist mold moreso than libertarian and certainly conservative. However, a lot of it can come down to the abortion debate, which is a huge can of worms itself.

I like what a previous poster said; either pro-liberty or pro-state. Now I don't think it is as black and white as some believe, there are degrees. And for us to win we are going to have to inch our way there; but overall it is a better definition of ideology than left/right fiscal/liberal. But even within that there is room for debate what 'liberty' is, take for example abortion, or even giving states certain 'rights'.

 

[Matthanuf06]

I disagree, because someone like Rudy Guliani could call themselves a "libertarian" under that definition. A "libertarian" is someone who wants to dramatically decrease the size and scope of the federal government. (By 50% or more.)

I think the breakdown is Rudy isn't fiscally conservative. The MSM has pounded it into our heads that the GOP is fiscally conservative, when in reality they are left of center. They just aren't as far left as the Dems. Relative mind tricks...

 

[ropo]

well when santorum is thought of as a social conservative I can see why people would prefer to be called socially moderate