3 ms·

I hate when words drift in meaning and I am not happy to see the "conservatism" label being used with clearly alt-right media. I would go as far as argue that t

I hate when words drift in meaning and I am not happy to see the "conservatism" label being used with clearly alt-right media. I would go as far as argue that the GOP does not not represent conservative values any more and the party is Conservative in name only. (Likewise I hate it when socialism is labeled as liberalism in the US, or when cronyism and corruption are labeled as capitalism.)

pas 6y ago
These labels were never really defined anyway. Yes, I hate it too, just like "left", "right", "democracy" (is North Korea a democracy? they have elections! turnout is 100%, anyone can run for office! they even have 3 parties and independents too! yaay!) But at the same time it's the "no true scotsman" if we say that the moment some Conservative (or conservative?) says something dumb they stop being true Conservatives.
- dandare 6y ago
  Those are very good points.
amanaplanacanal 6y ago
You probably need to say “traditional conservative” or something like that to get at what you are talking about. What you see is what conservatism is now. Unfortunately.
rgoulter 6y ago
"I hate when words drift in meaning" John McWhorter discusses this as an inevitability with language. (Indeed, he wrote a book with title / subtitle "Words on the Move: Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)"). He discusses various examples of this happening, both in political and non-political contexts. His suggestion is to just accept it, and to help communication remain clear by using new words once old words become too ambiguous to be useful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmcqcyyR1Y0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmcqcyyR1Y0
- dandare 6y ago
  Good point. I wonder what would be the new names for * a political and social philosophy whose central tenets are tradition, organic society, hierarchy, authority, and property rights. * a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law. * an economic system characterised by private property and the recognition of property rights, capital accumulation, wage labor, voluntary exchange, a price system and competitive markets.

pas 6y ago

These labels were never really defined anyway. Yes, I hate it too, just like "left", "right", "democracy" (is North Korea a democracy? they have elections! turnout is 100%, anyone can run for office! they even have 3 parties and independents too! yaay!) But at the same time it's the "no true scotsman" if we say that the moment some Conservative (or conservative?) says something dumb they stop being true Conservatives.

dandare 6y ago
Those are very good points.

amanaplanacanal 6y ago

You probably need to say “traditional conservative” or something like that to get at what you are talking about. What you see is what conservatism is now. Unfortunately.

rgoulter 6y ago

"I hate when words drift in meaning" John McWhorter discusses this as an inevitability with language. (Indeed, he wrote a book with title / subtitle "Words on the Move: Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)"). He discusses various examples of this happening, both in political and non-political contexts. His suggestion is to just accept it, and to help communication remain clear by using new words once old words become too ambiguous to be useful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmcqcyyR1Y0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmcqcyyR1Y0

dandare 6y ago
Good point. I wonder what would be the new names for * a political and social philosophy whose central tenets are tradition, organic society, hierarchy, authority, and property rights. * a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law. * an economic system characterised by private property and the recognition of property rights, capital accumulation, wage labor, voluntary exchange, a price system and competitive markets.