A Goldwater Conservative in a New World

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Yes, I am an unabashed Goldwater conservative. Unlike most Republicans, I have never veered from that path. I was a One World give everybody everything liberal until I read Barry's book in the early sixties. I had to rethink my whole outlook on life in the political and social realms.

Unlike today's neo-cons, we feel that small, fiscally responsible government is an ideal. The federal government has little or no business being in any area other than defense, international relations, and maybe the fringes of interstate commerce such as infrastructure. Remember, government jobs by their nature and definition are totally non-productive and therefore a drain on our economy and society.

The feds have absolutely no jurisdiction in housing, education, or health.
No where in the constitution does it say the feds belong in our bedrooms or doctor's offices.

This brings me the social aspects of being a conservative. We are our "brother's keeper" no matter what those brothers (or sisters) look like, where they live, what sexual orientation they have, or what other classification is enjoined. In my opinion, it simply means it is none of the federal government's business to interfere with our lives; nor is it any business of state or local government if it means regulating those lives.

Examples of this are:

1. Abortion is a matter between a woman, her husband (the father), her doctor, and their God. It is no one else's concern, most especially government. If churches or other organizations want to promote alternatives in a peaceful and unthreatening manner, fine.

2. Marriage is an artificial construct of past governments under the influence of religion. If two (or more) people want to establish a formal arrangement between them, they should have our blessing, and should not be penalized in any social contract or government area such as taxes.

3. Taxes should be fair and not used to adjust and affect social concerns, such as housing credits, family sizes, etc. The fairest forms of taxes are user, consumer, and flat taxes
   

4. In summary, no conservative would ever utter the horrid words, "there ought to be a law!"

In the current election, the proof is that the extremist liberals on the right were sent home. Republicans forgot who they were and from whence they came. They promised enlightenment and change with the Compact of 1994 but that was lost long before it could be implemented. Good riddance as far as I'm concerned.

Later in life, Goldwater said there would be no place in the Republican Party for us; that the party would consider us liberal. He was right, and that has to change or the party will be relegated to the bone heaps of history as the Democratic Party has been. This election was not a victory for them, but a loss for the Republicans. Things have to change and we have to change them.

The Hammer