Return to Brooks and the "Progressive Conservative" Project
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40849)
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on August 30, 2004 at 6:37 AM
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on August 30, 2004 at 6:37 AM
I agree, Jonathan. Interestingly, Brooks does write this passage:
That's about the closest we get to a distinction.
Not long ago, there was a clear distinction between conservatives and Republicans. Conservatives believed in principles; Republicans sold out. Conservatives admired capitalism but understood that businesspeople fundamentally did not like competition and would much rather use their lobbying power to induce government to protect them from competition, to counter unfair advantage, to offer them subsidies and to issue regulations that blocked future competitors. Over the past few years the distinction between conservative and Republican has eroded. ...
That's about the closest we get to a distinction.
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40850)
by Pat Lynch on August 30, 2004 at 8:28 AM
by Pat Lynch on August 30, 2004 at 8:28 AM
Actually I had a very different take on this list of goals at the end. It looked exactly like Clinton in 1996. The GOP is now comprised of American liberals. Frankly I'm glad they've come out of the closet.
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40854)
by John Arthur Shaffer on August 30, 2004 at 8:46 AM
by John Arthur Shaffer on August 30, 2004 at 8:46 AM
I don't think it really shows they believe in a traditonal liberal Democratic agenda. What it shows is that whoever has the controls of the behemoth that is now the federal government will be unable to restrain its growth, much less cut its size and scope.
Beyond that, the Republicans now are controlled by many who would love to use government to impose their view of individual morality. So, you have corporate cronyism and paternalistic big brother telling you what to do. Isn't this fascism?
Beyond that, the Republicans now are controlled by many who would love to use government to impose their view of individual morality. So, you have corporate cronyism and paternalistic big brother telling you what to do. Isn't this fascism?
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40877)
by Pat Lynch on August 30, 2004 at 1:53 PM
by Pat Lynch on August 30, 2004 at 1:53 PM
Jonathan
It strikes me that we're seeing a remarkable divergence over issues at the mass level and an increasing shrillness among elites who can't stand not having their hands on the levers. Have you seen Mo Fiorina's latest book? He makes that very claim, so I can't take full credit for it.
John
I guess I would agree it's not a "traditional" Democratic agenda, but let's face it - aside from choice and the tax cuts, what is the real difference between Brooks and the Dems? In my view nada. Both know what issues will hit focus groups. Again, see my comment to Jonathan above.
gpl
It strikes me that we're seeing a remarkable divergence over issues at the mass level and an increasing shrillness among elites who can't stand not having their hands on the levers. Have you seen Mo Fiorina's latest book? He makes that very claim, so I can't take full credit for it.
John
I guess I would agree it's not a "traditional" Democratic agenda, but let's face it - aside from choice and the tax cuts, what is the real difference between Brooks and the Dems? In my view nada. Both know what issues will hit focus groups. Again, see my comment to Jonathan above.
gpl
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40888)
by John Arthur Shaffer on August 30, 2004 at 4:12 PM
by John Arthur Shaffer on August 30, 2004 at 4:12 PM
Pat,
I don't disagree the means are any different, but the ends are. Brooks and the Dems both support larger government funded differently (Dems more current income taxes and Brooks borrowed money which of course someday must be repaid). While one, myself included, might detest the Dems ends (say socialized medicine at least at some level) the net benefits are probably much more broadly distributed. But the result is inevitably the equal sharing of a poorly run bureaucracy.
Brooks, using Bush's Medicare drug benefit boondoggle as an example, seems to be fine with bigger government that benefits a much narrower special interest. Bush's plan doesn't even try to use the tremendous buying power of Medicare to get any kind of reduced price for pharmaceuticals. Thus, it is really just a corporate handout, creating demand that wouldn't otherwise exist to pay a higher price (with borrowed money providing a subsidy for those with the highest drug bills). It also gives great incentive to companies with existing drug benefits to dump their retirees onto the government rolls.
I don't disagree the means are any different, but the ends are. Brooks and the Dems both support larger government funded differently (Dems more current income taxes and Brooks borrowed money which of course someday must be repaid). While one, myself included, might detest the Dems ends (say socialized medicine at least at some level) the net benefits are probably much more broadly distributed. But the result is inevitably the equal sharing of a poorly run bureaucracy.
Brooks, using Bush's Medicare drug benefit boondoggle as an example, seems to be fine with bigger government that benefits a much narrower special interest. Bush's plan doesn't even try to use the tremendous buying power of Medicare to get any kind of reduced price for pharmaceuticals. Thus, it is really just a corporate handout, creating demand that wouldn't otherwise exist to pay a higher price (with borrowed money providing a subsidy for those with the highest drug bills). It also gives great incentive to companies with existing drug benefits to dump their retirees onto the government rolls.
Re: Well, that wasn't the best use of my time.....
(#40875)
by Jonathan Dresner on August 30, 2004 at 1:36 PM
by Jonathan Dresner on August 30, 2004 at 1:36 PM
Pat,
I had a similar reaction, actually. There was an awful lot of it that Kerry/Edwards could use, to be sure.
Of course, we have to distinguish between David Brooks' Republicanism and the views of anyone in the party that matters......
I had a similar reaction, actually. There was an awful lot of it that Kerry/Edwards could use, to be sure.
Of course, we have to distinguish between David Brooks' Republicanism and the views of anyone in the party that matters......
by Jonathan Dresner on August 29, 2004 at 9:57 PM