I had this revelation yesterday after speaking with a center-right friend of mine who has shed the 'conservative' label in recent weeks as it has become too tarnished by wingnuttia. We were sitting over steaming plates of industrial-Chinese buffet (between the course dominated by the delicious roast plantain and the best flan in town; don't ask), and he was spewing, halfheartedly, Faux News talking points. He had a hard time accepting the 'legitimacy' of my views.
Suddenly I realized that we were both working from the same set of principles, but we were keying in on completely different things. When I presented things like this a light bulb went off above his head.
You'll have to forgive me for the scotsman like approach here. Come below the fold to see what I'm talking about.
- Government should do what it needs to do and stay out of where it doesn't need to go. Even more, there are some things the government is good at doing and some things the government isn't. The government should steer clear of what it can't do effectively.
We progressives tend to key in on the civil liberties area as the area where government shouldn't stick its nose when it doesn't absolutely have to. "What right does the government have to regulate who I can sleep with?" being a typical question. At the same time, we see the government as the only alternative to fixing broken national systems like health care.
Conservatives key in on the frustratingly long lines at the DMV, reports of government waste, and their tax bill, and argue that the government shouldn't run many things. They tend to key in less on the 'personal liberties' when it doesn't have to do with business.
- Speaking of regulations' regulations are barriers to entry into any business. However, regulations also serve to force businesses to do 'good things' or not do 'bad things'.
We all want our food to be safe; we all want our cars to be safe. At the same time, in Alabama, the arcane laws on breweries and foodservice, the laws are so nitpicky that they specify the size of the sink in your kitchen, the chemistry of the grout in your floor (I'm not kidding), and the availability of staff and records. Traditional conservatives tend to look at all of the hoops and the (sometimes high) cost of jumping through them and rankle.
At the same time, it doesn't take many cases of people getting sick to realize that regulations are important. The sink size ensures that food processing containers can be properly washed. The tile grout requirements are related to bacterial growth. Anyone who has ever caught a glimpse of the kitchen of your favorite disgusting local restaurant to understand the other side of this argument.
- The government should only tax for the money it needs. By the same token, the government should tax equitably for the money they need; and it shouldn't feel like a kick in the balls.
Conservatives tend to key in on the amount of money coming from their paychecks and see that as painful. They see it as "the government taking their money". This is particularly poignant when mixed in with #'s 1 and 2, viewing perceived government waste and enforcement of "unnecessary regulations".
Liberals key in less on the amount of their tax bill and more on their tax bill relative to others. Recognizing that important programs aren't cheap, liberals aren't afraid to call a spade a spade and point out that those who have benefited the most to society also owe it the most.
I could go on. The point of this diary, though, is to observe that surprisingly often, when cast as a balance of two legitimate interests, conservatives and liberals or progressives often agree on the principle, and key in on different parts.
Let's keep these things in mind as the 'republicans' descend into wingnuttia. If we acknowledge the legitimacy of the underlying principles that some classical conservatives have, we can help shape them into a natural 'loyal opposition'. If they become comfortable, welcomed, and embraced as an honored minority, we may be able to stem a resurgent republican party and maintain a longer term progressive majority.
Share your own principles and what you key in on vs your conservative counterparts.