Fiscally conservative?

[Worldtraveller]

I didn't want to derail another thread, so I want to discuss this in more detail.

No offense, but everyone claims to be fiscally conservative.

What does this even mean anymore? Hell, the dems are more fiscally conservative than the GOP and this has been true for at least the last 50 years. That is, if you define fiscally conservative the old fashioned way (trying to balance the budget, passing budgets and bills that help the overall economy). It's meaningless twaddle now, when coming from politicians, and most people, because they make the claim, but then don't actually do it. We all know that just making the claim is enough in the GOP as long as you have (R) after your name, though.

I'm curious if anyone has ever claimed to be fiscally liberal.

?? Fiscally conservative is a relatively common accepted principal: low taxes, free market, mutually beneficial trade is good, lower government spending, and minimal government debt. Are you trying to say that there isn't anyone in favor of higher taxes, higher government spending, less trade, and more government debt? If they do, they are not fiscally conservative.

The above quote by Harry seems a bit self serving, and circular. If you're in favor of these things, it makes you a 'fiscal conservative'. However, the items listed are not goals in and of themselves, they are simply a means of doing...something.

A real economic policy should have some clearly stated, or at least easy to define, goal. i.e. the greatest good for the greatest number, or to make the rich even more rich, or to create social conflict by economic competition....whatever.

To me, fiscally conservative means more that you want to spend what you have wisely. You don't spend wastefully on things that only help a few, or have poor returns for the investment. This last point is very important, in my opinion, and is mostly ignored by almost all those who call themselves fiscally conservative (and one of the biggest reasons I think the term as used today is mostly useless, like xian).

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Here we disagree. An economic policy can have a very simple goal: Keep the economy running smoothly. Activism from government tends to cause problems because it's very hard for government to actually accomplish the objectives you talk about.

Rather, a light hand on the tiller, keep away from the shoals and let the current (economy) do it's job.

Note that this does not mean the Republican approach of trying to destroy anything remotely helping the people!

 

[Harry Bosch]

I didn't want to derail another thread, so I want to discuss this in more detail.

No offense, but everyone claims to be fiscally conservative.

What does this even mean anymore? Hell, the dems are more fiscally conservative than the GOP and this has been true for at least the last 50 years. That is, if you define fiscally conservative the old fashioned way (trying to balance the budget, passing budgets and bills that help the overall economy). It's meaningless twaddle now, when coming from politicians, and most people, because they make the claim, but then don't actually do it. We all know that just making the claim is enough in the GOP as long as you have (R) after your name, though.

I'm curious if anyone has ever claimed to be fiscally liberal.

?? Fiscally conservative is a relatively common accepted principal: low taxes, free market, mutually beneficial trade is good, lower government spending, and minimal government debt. Are you trying to say that there isn't anyone in favor of higher taxes, higher government spending, less trade, and more government debt? If they do, they are not fiscally conservative.

The above quote by Harry seems a bit self serving, and circular. If you're in favor of these things, it makes you a 'fiscal conservative'. However, the items listed are not goals in and of themselves, they are simply a means of doing...something.

A real economic policy should have some clearly stated, or at least easy to define, goal. i.e. the greatest good for the greatest number, or to make the rich even more rich, or to create social conflict by economic competition....whatever.

To me, fiscally conservative means more that you want to spend what you have wisely. You don't spend wastefully on things that only help a few, or have poor returns for the investment. This last point is very important, in my opinion, and is mostly ignored by almost all those who call themselves fiscally conservative (and one of the biggest reasons I think the term as used today is mostly useless, like xian).

I'm just not understanding your point. I'm personally pro-business, pro-economic development, anti-leverage, and pro liberal social issues. There are millions and millions of people like me. Sure, I'm against people who "spend wastefully on things that only help a few, or have poor returns for the investment". Why do you believe otherwise?