As I mentioned before, people choose their politicians and party affiliation for all sorts of differing reasons. Try as I might I've never been able to come up with one critical idea the explains how people line up politically. I don't think that one idea or principle exists.
Now that I am mature, seasoned and sophisticated I've come to believe that all the issues in American politics can be grouped into three essential categories: Foreign policy, economic policy and social policy. What makes each of today's political movements different can be understood by how they approach each of those three areas.
With no further ado . . .
The Conservatives
Some say Conservatism is not ideological but a matter of temperament. In my opinion, most American Conservatism is ideological in some way. American Conservatives generally support military force when deemed necessary, believe in market economics over government planned economics, and favor traditional social mores in whatever way they can. But there are disagreements in all of these areas and thus there are subcategories. Here are a few that have earned their own nicknames.
PaleoConservatives Pro-military but non-inverventionist on foreign policy. Willing to use
law to promote and preserve traditional culture but believe most issues should be decided,
on a local or state level, OK with market economics, but puts more value on
social/moral issues and supports some protectionism; emphasizes fiscal conservatism
E.g. Pat Buchanan.
NeoConservatives The label really refers to former liberals who now favor a more
forceful, interventionist type of foreign policy. Generally more liberal in social policy.
The label doesn't truly apply to economic policy. Thus Dick Cheney may be seriously free
market while Joe Leiberman still loves that old-time government economic planning, but
both are thought of as Neoconservatives. E.g. William Kristol
Constitutional Conservatives Generally join the Neoconservatives on foreign policy,
particularly since 9/11. Favors free market economics wherever possible. Believes
that contentious social issues should be dealt with according to Constitutional guidelines,
otherwise flexible on the social tip (in the Classical sense of the word). E.g. Me and my hero
James Taranto.
* It is important to note that these three groups do not represent all conservatives. In fact, I think they probably make up only a small minority. But they are the influential ones, the ones competing for the minds of the many different people of a conservative persuasion.
The Libertarians I don't mean to give these guys the short shrift, it's just that their ideology is so clear and consistent. They are committed to an almost completely free market economic system and personal liberty with as little government intrusion as possible. Generally non-interventionist in foreign policy. E.g. Ron Paul.
Next posting - The Liberals.
3 comments:
So you would classify Libertarians in the same group as conservatives? Just wondering since I thought they were in their own class like the Green Party or Independents.
By the way, I'm thinking you should write for Taranto.
What stops you from being a Libertarian? Their views on abortion , marriage, drug legalization? something else? For me, the principles within the LP platform--just as in any sound party--auto-create how it should be with difficult issues. However, sometimes ones' own beliefs can be a hard pill to swallow.
I meant to list the Libertarian movement as separate from the Conservative. I do believe that they are closer to the Conservatives in ideology nowadays than to the Liberals.
Wow, our fame is spreading all the way to Florida. I am not a Libertarian primarily because of their primarily non-interventionist stance on foreign policy. Otherwise it is a pretty interesting point of view to me.
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