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I think there's a lot of general confusion over that "conservatism" is.
First, it's not "evil" or even "bad". It's a legitimate political philosophy that boils down to minimal possible intervention in society, including but not limited to the economy.
First, it's not "evil" or even "bad". It's a legitimate political philosophy that boils down to minimal possible intervention in society, including but not limited to the economy.
Liberals and moreso progressives, believe that the state can/should if not "engineer" society, exercise its power to shape society and use its machinery to level the playing field. To address inequalities that arise from an insufficiently regulated free market system.
If you buy into the notion that these are the primary, functional differences between liberalism and conservativism, you cannot escape the conclusion that a part of the reason for the rise of the hard right is the "gains" made by the liberals towards their "better society" goals.
These liberal "gains" include state intervention in free speech, reduction of personal property rights and freedoms, so-called political correctness, identity politics, redistribution of wealth via taxation and a slew of other things cheered by the left and reviled by the right.
Every time there is a gain that the left cheers, the right moves a little further right and gets a little more angry.
Every time the right gains or undoes something the left feels a deep existential angst and loss of optimism.
Every time the right gains or undoes something the left feels a deep existential angst and loss of optimism.
We're not going to end the conservative personality type. We're not going to end the liberal personality type. If we ever get all the way to either promised land, half of us will be very unhappy.
"They should all move to another country" is a bad take by both sides.
"They should all move to another country" is a bad take by both sides.
So, we need the centre. We need the centre like we need air. We need the centre to be the bridge and keep both sides from even *trying* to get *all the way* to their respective happy places. Most of don't want to live in either.
Our political atmosphere has taken on a desperate, fight for survival aspect. If the other side wins, we say, "it's all over".
We're demonizing each other, responding to the most radical of each end.
We need to see each other. We need to remember we have a *democracy*.
We're demonizing each other, responding to the most radical of each end.
We need to see each other. We need to remember we have a *democracy*.
What is happening in Canada with our conservatives is a move towards Trumpism.
That's not conservatism. Not even a little.
When I freak out about @erinotoole, it's not because he's a conservative, it's because he endorsed Trumpism.
That's not conservatism. Not even a little.
When I freak out about @erinotoole, it's not because he's a conservative, it's because he endorsed Trumpism.
Conservatism doesn't scare me particularly, but Trumpism scares the living bejesus out of me.
