Rhetoric. They claim to be conservative, which used to mean small government that has minimal interference with personal rights. They were the party of the wealthy, who wanted to party like Paris and have no restraint on their ability to make more wealth from their wealth. The democrats wanted to spread the wealth and use government to constrain social behavior - they were the nutty right-wingers, morality party.
Over time the republicans practiced business-friendly practices, the worst of which was collecting taxes from the masses and redistributing them directly to corporations - while using the government to "regulate" industry in such a way that it prevented new market entrants. The republicans found that large government could be good for business, and have warped their fiscal policies accordingly. Fair play wants small government, but big business doesn't last long with competition.
The right wing found a home in the republican side of the aisle and they were happy to court them as a source of votes and campaign income. A strange match it might seem, but as long as they say the right-wing line it doesn't usually matter what they actually do. The headlines are denting their socially conservative angle though.
How conservative got to mean regulating behavior is kinda funny.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-09-17 02:42 pm (UTC)Over time the republicans practiced business-friendly practices, the worst of which was collecting taxes from the masses and redistributing them directly to corporations - while using the government to "regulate" industry in such a way that it prevented new market entrants. The republicans found that large government could be good for business, and have warped their fiscal policies accordingly. Fair play wants small government, but big business doesn't last long with competition.
The right wing found a home in the republican side of the aisle and they were happy to court them as a source of votes and campaign income. A strange match it might seem, but as long as they say the right-wing line it doesn't usually matter what they actually do. The headlines are denting their socially conservative angle though.
How conservative got to mean regulating behavior is kinda funny.