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No, because "moderate conservative" is not a stable political position, at least as far as social issues go. It really consists of people who are comfortable wi

by defen 6y ago

No, because "moderate conservative" is not a stable political position, at least as far as social issues go. It really consists of people who are comfortable with things how they are and who oppose liberal attempts to remove unprincipled exceptions to liberalism. Liberals have a vision of what they are fighting for, conservatives only have something they are fighting against. The one exception to this which has had some political success is abortion, because it has been successfully framed as fighting for the rights of the unborn. Consider the "moderate conservative" opinion 100 years ago on women having the vote; compared to today's moderate conservative. Or on segregation 60 years ago. Or on gay marriage 20 years ago. Or on transgender issues today vs what will be considered "moderate conservative" 20 years from now. The only cohesion they do have is on economic issues, but people are finally starting to realize that it's been a grift all along, perpetuated by big business and conservative establishment elites. "We'll pander to you on social issues (and then fold like a house of cards) in exchange for moving your job overseas, importing workers to reduce labor costs, and lowering taxes on the rich" So given this loss of trust in the conservative establishment, people find themselves rootless and end up finding a community in this sort of nuttery (whether it be Q-Anon or ethnostate fantasies). Barring a return to throne-and-altar conservatism (which seems unlikely) I don't see it getting better any time soon.

jandrese 6y ago
It doesn't have to be a "stable" political position for people to have principled discussion. In fact I'd expect any community to drift as the norms of society change. Granted, Conservatives should resist such change because that's what it means to be conservative, but it doesn't mean you set a marker in the sand and never deviate. That would be reactionary.
- defen 6y ago
  > In fact I'd expect any community to drift as the norms of society change. But then, you've already conceded that progressivism is right (but perhaps moving too fast for your comfort) - so what is the point? If you know that whatever you're defending will be seen as beyond the pale of civilized discourse within a generation? Imagine a moderate conservative forum dedicated to principled discussions created in 2000. Everyone there agrees that gay marriage is a bad idea. Now teleport that forum into 2021 - do contemporary moderate Republicans denounce it as a hotbed of homophobia and profusely apologize for their posts there 20 years ago? Or do they hold it up as an example of a community of moderate conservatives dedicated to principled discussions of the issues?

by defen 6y ago

jandrese 6y ago

It doesn't have to be a "stable" political position for people to have principled discussion. In fact I'd expect any community to drift as the norms of society change. Granted, Conservatives should resist such change because that's what it means to be conservative, but it doesn't mean you set a marker in the sand and never deviate. That would be reactionary.

defen 6y ago
> In fact I'd expect any community to drift as the norms of society change. But then, you've already conceded that progressivism is right (but perhaps moving too fast for your comfort) - so what is the point? If you know that whatever you're defending will be seen as beyond the pale of civilized discourse within a generation? Imagine a moderate conservative forum dedicated to principled discussions created in 2000. Everyone there agrees that gay marriage is a bad idea. Now teleport that forum into 2021 - do contemporary moderate Republicans denounce it as a hotbed of homophobia and profusely apologize for their posts there 20 years ago? Or do they hold it up as an example of a community of moderate conservatives dedicated to principled discussions of the issues?