I have been known to describe myself as a conservative first and a Republican second. Any allegiance I have given to the GOP over the past decade or so has been based largely on the fact that I truly believed that the Republicans were more closely aligned with the ideals of true conservatism - balanced budgets, self-reliance, limited government, minimal foreign entanglements, measured and patient social reform.
Unfortunately, these past few years have so tried my patience that I am about ready to jump the GOP ship. Quite simply, the current crop of Republican politicians wouldn't know true conservatism if it smacked them in the face with the force of a Ronnie Reagan one-liner. The list of modern GOP crimes against conservatism is as endless as my patience is nonexistent: amnesty for illegal immigrants, corporate and investment banking bailouts, predatory lender bailouts, massive tax "rebates" that do not go to the people who can truly stimulate the economy and are financed by assuming even more Chinese debt, an intractable and seemingly endless (not to mention unnecessary) war - and now, another record budget shortfall!!!
Worst of all, when these pseudo-Conservative sellouts do not get their way on legislation that would fit quite comfortably in a Clinton or even Roosevelt presidency (see the amnesty bill), they pitch a fit - condescendingly blaming and demonizing the very constituency who voted them in!!!
Will the real conservatives please stand up!?!?
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Good to see you Red Mountaineer. I am not a "real conservative" but this country needs to reevaluate its financial priorities and restructure its tax code. I believe we need a revenue system that taxes what we consume instead of what people earn and produce (e.g, the income tax). Such a system may not solve all our problems, but it is a necessary first step to getting this country out of our current financial hole.
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