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Originally Posted by Flacolaco
Small government, low taxes, strong national defense, border security, pro-life, pro-capitalism...second amendment rights (a.k.a. READING THE CONSTITUTION)... maybe it's the way I "just think I'm supposed to be" (I'm not even originally from TX, and I can assure you I did NOT get here as fast as I could) but it seems like common sense to me.
Texas may be an arrogant, obnoxious state, but at least it's got it's political priorities within the realm of common sense.
And on the subject of conscription...would that really be such a bad thing? (mind you, we won't ever get there again)... but if every male had to Serve, wouldn't society have a little more honor, dignity and decency?
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I've spent my entire life here, and conservatism is taught like a religion, both figuratively and literally. I spent my entire childhood thinking I was a conservative, then I started thinking for myself and realized that wasn't how I felt about life at all. I can assure you I am not alone in being raised this way. I realize now that my dad is exactly the same, just hasn't come to the same conclusion that I did. Yet. But I try to convince him. He'll come around.
The things you listed, Flaco, about 'conservatism', have always seemed contradictory to me. Small government, but strong national defense (which in this world today cannot be done effectively with small government)? I don't even see how being 'pro-capitalism' (capitalist being something that we're not as a country, and never have been.. we've always had a strong mix of both capitalism and collectivism), but also concerned about border security that is needed because so many aliens enter the country illegally as a result of push-pulls that stem from capitalism, fit together. Do you wish to be a power in the world today? You can't really do that with 'small government.' I'm not saying it doesn't seem like common sense to you, but it's not really reasonable in the world today. At least to me, it isn't.
I consider conscription to be slavery, basically. The government is taking you away from the liberty and pursuit of happiness that are, according to our declaration of independence, unalienable rights, regardless of the public's, or individual's, opinion on the reasoning for the conscription. Yep, society
might have more honor, dignity, and decency (though with the way our government treats its veterans, perhaps not), but would it be real honor, real dignity, and real decency, if it's pounded into its citizens by the government? Talk about socialism.
My religion does not allow me to use violence against others. I cannot, therefore, condone any government attempt to inflict violence on others, and that includes non-combat options that come about from conscientious objector status. On the chance that conscription returns to this country, I won't be a part of it.
(I had a longer response originally, but accidentally browsed away from it. I will add more tomorrow).