Topic: Ford Conservativism vs Reagan Conservativism
There was a time when US conservatives were pragmatic on both domestic and foreign policy, and by pragmatic I mean solution minded and efficient with resources. True to their pragmatism, they tended to be relaxed on social issues (such as abortion and sex etc), careful when making decisions, and promoted a free market. I call this Conservative brand Ford Conservatism because he was the last US president to be one.
But then something ridiculous happened. Reagan came in and all hell broke loose. The Republican party shifted from its earlier pragmatism to be dominated by religious fanatics convinced of America's moral superiority. To illustrate my point, Reagan criticized the very man who embodied pragmatism, Henry Kissinger (a brilliant statesman who ranks with Bismarck), and became infuriated when Kissinger's staff shot down his ridiculous criticisms during one primary election. Barry Goldwater was even disillusioned with the direction the party had taken. The party has since then promoted abstinence education (which has been shown as ineffective), tried to reverse Roe v Wade, been influenced by Evangelical elites, and on several occasions upset the global balance of power in a way that has been costly to the US. The list of non-pragmatic nonsense goes on.
I know I have not gone in to great detail, but I am just bringing some ideas to the front. In my view, the Republican party has taken a wrong path, and this is why those principle trenching (take idealistic considerations above practical ones) and wasteful Democrats have managed to regain power again. The decade's shifting from pragmatism has spelled the downfall of the Republican party, quite frankly because it has lead to unsuccessful and costly outcomes.
I am proud to consider myself a non-Reagan conservative. I am pragmatic, I love science, I believe in evolution, I say keep abortion and sex ed, I think people should be judged by their merit, I want a free-market economy and less government control, I believe the US should ease tensions and try to keep a balance of power, and more importantly I believe religion should stay out of politics.
Can the pragmatic conservatives present a modern image and regain power? Can they give the Reagan conservatives the boot for good?
I hope so, because if not to protect our country from the evil Democrats, to protect us from the evil Reagans.