# Accusing SC Justices of partisanship and prejudice. Isn't that hyperbole?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-sc-justices-of-partisanship-and-prejudice-isnt-that-hyperbole/1004550
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Tags:** trump
**Created:** [July 21, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-sc-justices-of-partisanship-and-prejudice-isnt-that-hyperbole/1004550 "2024-07-21T19:04:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author: ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [August 3, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusing-sc-justices-of-partisanship-and-prejudice-isnt-that-hyperbole/1004550/160 "2024-08-03T17:42:46Z")

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> [@Irishman](#):
>
> But dismissal of the concept of conservatism as a political philosophy is too much. Conservative used to mean
> 
> - limit government power (conservative of authority);
> - limit government spending (fiscal conservative).

No, I’m sorry, but it never really meant that at all. Conservativism is always and only about conserving hereditary power. There is no “social conservatism” or “fiscal conservatism”. Those are the false rationalizations of Reaganism for the real types of conservatism:

- Conservation of white power over nonwhites
- Conservation of male power over nonmales
- Conservation of hereditary wealth over workers

Contrary to Red Trihs above, I wouldn’t say conservatism prioritizes cruelty. All things being equal they’d rather be peacefully obeyed as in ages past. But they prioritize the _right to be cruel_ because this creates the atmosphere of intimidation that underpins the other forms of power they do prioritize. And you can only credibly claim the right to cruelty if you’re seen exercising it.

There is no “social conservatism” or “fiscal conservatism”, these are just different ways conservatives describe how they’re willing to treat others to conserve their own power. We all need to be clear that this was always just Reaganite whitewashing over conservatism’s uglier realities.

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