HUFFINGTON POST: …The Nobel Prize-winning economist wrote in a blog post Saturday that people who identify as conservative, but take stances opposing the conservative mainstream — acknowledging the connection between humans and global warming, opposing austerity and favoring tax increases, for example — often find themselves disowned by the conservative movement…
What the conservative critics of the reformists within their ranks may be surprised to learn though, is that some of their very idols went against the dogma they’re espousing today. Former British Prime Minister and conservative icon Margaret Thatcher actually raised taxes, violating a major tenet of the current conservative movement. In fact, taxes as a share of the economy increased during her tenure.
In addition, former President Ronald Reagan, a GOP hero, enacted the largest tax increase in four decades, according to Joseph J. Thorndike, the director of the Tax History Project at Tax Analyst. Reagan was able to obscure the increases though by giving them a different name: “revenue enhancements,” which came from closing loopholes in the tax code… (more)
EDITOR: For many, “Conservatism” is more like a religion with all of the related mythology rather than an inclination. They worship by reading the Wall Street Journal weekdays, the Economists on the weekend, and by watching FOX TV. When they get together they reinforce each other’s thinking by reciting from their three part ‘bible.’ We classify the Economist as the Readers Digest for college sophomores.
I like your peppery comment. It reminds me of the Woody Allen line, “Did you hear they’re going to merge the magazines Dissent and Commentary? They’re calling it Dysentery.”
Also, this great quote from Harry S. Truman:
“Republicans approve of the American farmer, but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home–but not for housing. They are strong for labor–but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights. They favor minimum wage–the smaller the minimum wage the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all–but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine–for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing–but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think American standard of living is a fine thing–so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people. And they admire theGovernment of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.”