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Mark Twain On Patriotism; A good read
Topic Started: Aug 19 2004, 08:03 PM (258 Views)
cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Trotsky, did I hear Trotsky mentioned?! The roots of neoconservatism are grounded in Trotsky's political ideas. So much, again, for "conservatism" in the US. Neoconservatives are liberals. Social conservatives are liberals. Fiscal conservatives are few and fair between. That in a nutshell defines the Republican Party today.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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MrsS
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Hessia/Germany
Chris... or anybody else,
could you please define an American Neoconservative?
I often heard it but I admit I can`t imagine what it stands for.
Thanks
Anneliese


Anneliese
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
OK, short version. If you want more, ask.

Neoconservatives were originally liberal Troskyites, i.e., socialists. But with an imperialist bent. They might be called cultural conservative in contrast, and comparison, with social conservatives. Meaning not conservative at all. Generally, they uphold "liberal" domestic policies and imperialistic global policies, imperialistic economically and militarily. Since the end of the Gulf War, bitterly disappointed, they pushed and planned the invasion of Iraq. The Bush doctrine was written by two, Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Perle, jettisoned as an embarrassment, but endorsed by Cheney and Rumsfeld and others now in the Administration. Their spokesperson today is William Kristol, The Weekly Standard editor and frequent guest on FOX, and son of Irving Kristol, the "godfather" of neoconservatism.

Why just let Irving himself speak of neoconservatism, and not without disdain for paleoconservatives (traditional, fiscal conservatives): The Neoconservative Persuasion.

Some say Bush is a neoconservative. No, he is a social conservative advised by neoconservatives.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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MrsS
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Hessia/Germany
Thanks for explaining and for the link, which I read....and now I`m trying to sort it.
The author is right: Neoconservatism is unknown in Europe.
Did I get it right when I understand it as conservatism with some liberal aspects?


Anneliese
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Conservative with respect to free-market economics I suppose, otherwise liberal domestically and imperialistic globally.

It is very difficult to say since the terms liberal and conservative have in the US been twisted into meaninglessness. But I'm trying to speak the way the world does.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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MrsS
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Hessia/Germany
cmoehle
Aug 27 2004, 08:53 PM
...since the terms liberal and conservative have in the US been twisted...

Oh ya...I`ve been struggling with that in American forums for a long time. ;)
Especially the term "liberal" often is equated with socialism or marxism or leninism or whatever you have on the extreme left...and I have a quite different understanding of beeing liberal.


Anneliese
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cmoehle
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Chris - San Antonio TX
Your understanding is likely more classical, and more accurate historically.
Politics is the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of social order.
--Barry Goldwater
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