The conservative America

[fire_mat99]

I've been blogging for a while now and along the way I've met more Americans than any other nationality of people, I've clashed with a few of them and built excellent relationships with many of them and as times gone on I've become more and more fascinated by the political landscape of that great nation.

For me, it has always come down to how a man with the policies and beliefs of George W. Bush can win two elections with the backing of his people and why is it that the political make up of America is so much further to the right than Europe?

This line of enquiry owes much to John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge and their book "The Right Nation. Why America is Different" and the sources they have put me in touch with via their excellent tome. So go buy it!

First, for those of you that doubt that America is conservative (ie: is right of centre on most policy issues) at all, some thoughts: Americans tolerate lower levels of government spending than any other advanced country; Americans tolerate high levels of social inequality: 1 in 6 US households earns less than 35% of the median income with the nearest rival being the UK with 1 in 20; America is the only developed nation to not have a full government supported health-care system and the only Western democracy that does not provide child support to all its families; America does not provide paid maternity leave; America upholds the right to bear arms and still uses the death penalty; the US is far more willing to use force and is suspicious of International treaties; American citizens are far more religious than their European counterparts and more traditional in their moral values; the United States is one of the few developed countries where abortion is still a galvanising issue and where the majority of people say grace before their meals.

Importantly, these positions are not Republican but American and run through the very heart of American society. What's interesting is that a coherent conservative political force that reflects this agenda was lacking throughout most of America's political history, those on the right of American politics positioned themselves as 'true liberals' in the European sense of conservative governing (Nixon and Kennedy ran on virtually identical platforms) and the hard right was on the wane in the US. The peak of liberalism was of ocurse the 60s, when America got the closest it ever got to the European model of governance, reflected in 43% approval rating for the death penalty; Republicans using the middle ground of mixed economy and centrist politik; President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society and politicians wearing their European education and influences like a badge of honour.



http://danielhg.blogspot.com/2006/05/why-is-america-so-conservative.html

[fire_mat99]

I think America is more conservative for number of reasons.

1.The US is driving engine of dollar and capitalism
2.The media and culture has brainwashed people we are the best ,best country ,best idea ,best econmics ,best army ,big super power.
3 lack of left party to vote for only  conservative and liberal. (( no social democradic or socialist party))
4 The effect of the cold war
5 no social democradic or socialist party to say some thing if the conservative or liberal party say some thing. (( fox saying stupid stuff and no social democradic or socialist party to counter it.

Other countries are not the driving engine of the dollar and capitalism they just trade in US dollar and use US capitalism .Lack of we are the best ,best country ,best idea ,best econmics ,best army ,big super power and moe easy to learn or try different ideas. (( Have a important role ))

The electoral college have more parties and thus you can vote social democradic or socialist party..Doing elections or goverment problems the social democradic or socialist party can speak out to the people and this is not the case in the US.


If a conservative goverment say ome thing stupid or media outlets say some thing stupid  like (fox ) the social democradic or socialist party can speak out .

[Homdouangchay]

Yes the United States are declining.The whole country is infected by liberalism and fascism.And they will pay for it.

[Homdouangchay]

I'm afraid that Obama would be not a socialist.He may do nothing for the real reforms of the country.The federal government must nationalize all the banks of america to have the tools for an industrial, ecologic and socialist politic, for the human rights of its citizens.A socialist regime with market politic would be great in the United State!!

[socialism]

Agree with all of you, AND I LIVE IN AMERICA!
My country is falling apart with mo real progress in its economic, political, and social outlets.
All the time, the news is us, us, us, us, us. It's so ridiculous that all we learn is we are better. And if you think our media is bad, try our liberalized school system!
We now don't pledge to the flag, cant speak about God unless in a secret honors meeting, and never pray during our time of silence after the pledge!
We have the worst healthcare Ive ever seen, and we have the worst economy because no one dares to shut down our Mexican border! We have become so liberalized that we have forgotten our own morals and ethics, it makes me sick, and the first chance i get i will eather set up a socialist party or move to a European country.

In closing, is there any European country that would be preferable for me, since i want to be a neurosurgeon and want to have kids who grow up WITH MORALS AND ETHICS, who spit in the face of liberalism and there spinelessness.

[fire_mat99]

I don't know much about this book called The Right Nation.

But from the 60's to now there has not been that much change and in the past 35+ years there has been no change at all.I do not think the US will ever change now they just stuck in time.and I do NOT know what is holding them back.

[Christopher Hill]

What is most strange to me is that many people hold opinions left of center while supporting far right parties and movements on the basis of propaganda and urging by religious institutions.

[JJM 777]

It is not strange that people hold some "rightist" opinions and some "leftist" opinions, in various topics.

The definition of "left" vs. "right" is quite arbitrary to begin with, in any other topic than economy. Religious people are said to be "far right", and atheism is "leftist"? Who says so? Many Capitalists are atheists, and Evangelical Christians are usually left of center in their economical thinking, at least in Europe.

There is no sense in the assumption that economically Socialistic opinions would automatically be accompanied by an imaginary range of other opinions arbitrarily labeled as "leftist", unrelated to economy.

[Christopher Hill]

It is not strange that people hold some "rightist" opinions and some "leftist" opinions, in various topics.

The definition of "left" vs. "right" is quite arbitrary to begin with, in any other topic than economy. Religious people are said to be "far right", and atheism is "leftist"? Who says so? Many Capitalists are atheists, and Evangelical Christians are usually left of center in their economical thinking, at least in Europe.

There is no sense in the assumption that economically Socialistic opinions would automatically be accompanied by an imaginary range of other opinions arbitrarily labeled as "leftist", unrelated to economy.

Not exactly what I meant but good explanation :) What I am meaning is that there are many republicans and democrats who believe they agree with their parties ideology if talked to about their particular beliefs seem to think their parties are completely in line with beliefs which in many cases are far left.

[libertarian]

You act as if man is entitled to free health care and other "needs". If you read our history, you will understand why America is how it is. We grew as a nation that was believed to fail within 20 years after the revolution. We are a pioneering people who have a strict sense of individualism. We believe that a man should take what he EARNS. We believe a man should EARN his worth, that is why we don't have free health care. The largest economic differentiation? Our system is set up so you get out EXACTLY what you put in, you work hard and you bring home the bacon. If you are lazy, then you starve. That's how it originally was.

[caesarscook]

Our system is set up so you get out EXACTLY what you put in, you work hard and you bring home the bacon. If you are lazy, then you starve. That's how it originally was.

It's really pretty hard to take this position seriously.  So, you genuinely believe that people like Paris Hilton "work hard" and therefore deserve to "bring home the bacon"?  On the other hand, you genuinely believe that people that work a 9 to 5, 40 hour week at McDonalds are "lazy" and deserve to "starve" on their poverty wages.  Get real.

You act as if man is entitled to free health care and other "needs". If you read our history, you will understand why America is how it is.

Interesting point, the first tax to establish government health care was passed by John Adams, who taxed ship owners to pay for the health care of their crews.  Thomas Paine was in favor of a minimum wage and Social Security over 150 years before their time.

But frankly, you are missing the Marxist point here.  No one is saying that "man" (or women for that matter) are "entitled" to anything simply by existing and sitting on their asses.  Quite the opposite.  That's what the majority of the rich, in fact, do all day.  Workers are entitled to see the benefits from the fruits of their labor.  We work everyday.  Human labor produces new value, the only force outside of nature to accomplish this feet.  We produce the profit, which the boss then lives high off of.  We only ask what is rightfully ours on the basis of our work.

We are a pioneering people who have a strict sense of individualism. We believe that a man should take what he EARNS. We believe a man should EARN his worth, that is why we don't have free health care.

"We" this, "we" that.  I wish you would stop telling me what I am and what I believe.  It's a little condescending, particularly when what your saying isn't even true.  What does "earn his worth" mean by the way?  Perhaps you could clarify.  Are you saying that someone like Bill Gates is worth 450,000 times ($54 Billion Net Worth, 2010) more than the average American (median net worth is around $120,000)?  What is that based on?  Good looks?  His ideas (you know he stole DOS from a friend, and other design his programs today, right?)?  His drive (450,000 times the drive, eh? Must be a pretty hard worker, ha)?  Seriously, your point is nonsensical.