True Conservative ???

[2firfun50]

I need some help with this one. What is a true conservative??? Here the term a lot but no definition.

1. Don't want the federal government telling you to buy heath insurance or pay a fine, I get that. Wasn't Romney the first one with that in Massachusetts? What about Texas vehicle insurance? State says you got to buy it or get ticketed and car towed. Same thing?

2. Don't see much about the Patriot Act, except most of it violates the 4th amendment. Don't see many conservatives calling for its repeal. Didn't the Republicans come up with that one?

Those are just a couple of things that perplex me. So just what is a conservative?

[fickman]

I need some help with this one. What is a true conservative??? Here the term a lot but no definition.

1. Don't want the federal government telling you to buy heath insurance or pay a fine, I get that. Wasn't Romney the first one with that in Massachusetts? What about Texas vehicle insurance? State says you got to buy it or get ticketed and car towed. Same thing?

Romney did do it first. He'll use the escape clause that a state has the right, whereas the Federal Government doesn't. It's thin ice and a weak argument. He shouldn't have done it in MA, but it's too late. I do believe he'll work to defund / repeal / fail to implement Obamacare.

The car insurance isn't the same because you have the choice not to drive. In contrast, the punitive tax for not buying health insurance will be levied against those who are simply living and doing nothing, as a consequence of being alive.

There is a long track record of the government being able to compel you within certain guidelines once you choose to engage in an activity.

2. Don't see much about the Patriot Act, except most of it violates the 4th amendment. Don't see many conservatives calling for its repeal. Didn't the Republicans come up with that one?

Those are just a couple of things that perplex me. So just what is a conservative?

You don't see much about it because as soon as the ones who hate it get into office, they sort of like it. . . or see the complexities involved and realize that something serious is going on.

IIRC, John Ashcroft wrote it and pushed it originally, but it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. It was like Obamacare - few legislators read it before voting on it. Some of the tenants in it are just bringing the government's procedures into the 21st century. Times have changed and the laws were antiquated in light of new technology. I'd still like to see a lot of it fixed or done away with. . . I think TSA is the natural consequence of when we started down that road.

I think most people will view a "true" conservative as one who is conservative on both social and fiscal matters, but the definition is fluid based on who you're asking.

[Heartland Patriot]

I could write a nice long paragraph on this, but I have a feeling about what the actual intent was...so here is my simplistic reply: its OBVIOUSLY NOT the man currently occupying the White House, so I'm voting for the other guy.

[Jim Beaux]

I need some help with this one. What is a true conservative??? Here the term a lot but no definition.

1. Don't want the federal government telling you to buy heath insurance or pay a fine, I get that. Wasn't Romney the first one with that in Massachusetts? What about Texas vehicle insurance? State says you got to buy it or get ticketed and car towed. Same thing?

2. Don't see much about the Patriot Act, except most of it violates the 4th amendment. Don't see many conservatives calling for its repeal. Didn't the Republicans come up with that one?

Those are just a couple of things that perplex me. So just what is a conservative?

Seems youre either confuse or trying to make a political point; but one can be a Republican and not be a conservative. There are fiscal conservatives and social conservatives, and some have been dems...also, you are wrong, many conservatives are calling for repeal of the Patriot Act.

BTW many of us are only supporting Romney because he is the lesser of two evils.

[TLE2]

True conservative: The federal government should restrict itself to the two things authorized by the Constitution: deliver the mail and protect the borders. Anything else is heresy.

[2firfun50]

True conservative: The federal government should restrict itself to the two things authorized by the Constitution: deliver the mail and protect the borders. Anything else is heresy.

This was the kind of answer I was looking for and expecting. I tend to agree in most extent. But I'm not sure about the social consevative part. I believe the government should stay out of everyone's personel business and make no laws that favor one over another, especially in the tax code. We can't legislate morality.

I don't see why a home owner should get a tax break over a nonhome owner. (corporate welfare) (I'm a home owner)
I don't see why a married couple gets a tax break when a gay couple does not. (Unequal under the law)( I'm married to a wonderful woman who beat me on the CHL qual)
I don't see why corporations pay taxes at all. They create jobs and bring in employees who do pay taxes. (They are not voting individuals)
I don't understand why superpacs can provide unlimited campaign funds. (only individuals can vote, my voice is the same as theirs)
I don't understand why the rich folk's investment gains are not taxed as simple income. (In today's climate, it does not create jobs)

Am I