Republicans are leading the country to socialism

[roamer_1]

------------------------
Fair enough; so I apologize for my strident tone.
For me, Russell Kirk's words will always resonate.
"Conservatism is a body of enduring principles governing Man's conduct,
involving attitudes, behaviors and sentiments, which are independent of
economics, politics and religion."
Sadly the repubs never heard of him.

@Absalom
Never a problem, brother.... I can see you from here. 

I have no expectation for the fullness of Conservatism to be represented in politics, That, I think, is an impossibility. Conservatism as a whole is a way of life.

The key difference I would raise is Conservatism 'as it intersects politics'. And that is found in the Republican right wing, with distinct doctrinal definition in Goldwater and Reagan.

And American Conservatism, if you would, while distinct, does not sully the broader definition with its definition, with libertarianism joined to classic liberalism, wrapped in federalism, couched in Constitutional originalism and viewed through an unique prism of the Judeo-Christian Ethic, as interpreted though an American Protestant mindset. Indeed, there has been no better ground to grow upon.

Like romantic notions, born in the kingdoms of the Languedoc, migrating, tossed in battle and blood through Brittany to Briton, to England as Stations of a Noble Heart, where the preposterous idea of quarter confounded more Teutonic strains, circuitously winding though Scots-Irish hearts to Appalachia.. only to wend aimlessly away to the Brazos, hanging in the dust behind longhorn steers to become ensconced within the Cowboy Way, the way of the West, to rule the hearts of men like me...

There can be progression without progressiveness.   

And true Conservatives, of the Goldwater wing, will surprise you, having had occasion to read the likes of Kirk and Burke.. And see it plainly, as it intersects politics in these great States.

[Sighlass]

Bookmark

[Absalom]

@Absalom
Never a problem, brother.... I can see you from here. 
I have no expectation for the fullness of Conservatism to be represented in politics, That, I think, is an impossibility. Conservatism as a whole is a way of life.
The key difference I would raise is Conservatism 'as it intersects politics'. And that is found in the Republican right wing, with distinct doctrinal definition in Goldwater and Reagan.
And American Conservatism, if you would, while distinct, does not sully the broader definition with its definition, with libertarianism joined to classic liberalism, wrapped in federalism, couched in Constitutional originalism and viewed through an unique prism of the Judeo-Christian Ethic, as interpreted though an American Protestant mindset. Indeed, there has been no better ground to grow upon.
Like romantic notions, born in the kingdoms of the Languedoc, migrating, tossed in battle and blood through Brittany to Briton, to England as Stations of a Noble Heart, where the preposterous idea of quarter confounded more Teutonic strains, circuitously winding though Scots-Irish hearts to Appalachia.. only to wend aimlessly away to the Brazos, hanging in the dust behind longhorn steers to become ensconced within the Cowboy Way, the way of the West, to rule the hearts of men like me...
There can be progression without progressiveness.   
And true Conservatives, of the Goldwater wing, will surprise you, having had occasion to read the likes of Kirk and Burke.. And see it plainly, as it intersects politics in these great States.

---------------------------------------
Roamer, well said indeed.
Your comments remind of the adage that history shows us the roads taken/not taken and the consequences of each; so an observation.
When Diderot, Rousseau, St. Just, Voltaire and the rest of that radical gang were advancing 'Enlightenment' across Europe, our English Brothers, principally the Whigs, embraced Classical Liberalism including personal liberty as their foundation.
If our Founders had adopted that vision, I believe our politics would have evolved far differently
and for the better but the hostility of many of them to English impulses and sentiments prevented it.
What emerged at our founding was the Agrarian & Rural Democrats of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe which was conservative in tone and temperament; yet sadly, fatally tarred by slavery.
In opposition were the Northern Federalists birthed by Hamilton having lots of sail but little anchor.
Then the Republicans, an anti-slavery party and supporter of mercantile interests emerged in the run up to the Civil War. That is where we are at present.
As neither D's nor R's have any core/traditional principles and values, our drift continues daily and the mood in the nation to darken.
Yet despite my negativity, be well and stay upbeat.