I would consider myself a conservative Liberatarian/Republican. However, when I look at the governments around the world and how they have evolved over the past few decades it seems like we are done. Consider that Canada, Australia, and the UK have all either adopted Labor/ Socialism as their goverment or they have adopted many of the priorities of the American Left (such as national health insurance and strict gun control). Even in the United States where the Republicans have seemingly increased their titular control it seems clear that California and New York will never again fall in the “Red” column (something that used to happen on occassion such as when Reagan ran for his second term). It’s just a matter of time until the Dems, turn Ohio, Florida, Missouri or some other essential block of the Republicans precarious coalition and then it’s all over. People seldom turn back once they go blue.
Roland? I don’t see a General Question in here and I note that you have made several unsupported assertions. I think you’d have been better off posting this in IMHO (where you will find it, now.
[ /Moderator Mode ]
Politics in the UK has moved very sharply to the right since the 70s and most socialists wouldn’t consider the Blair government to be socialist in anything other than name.
THe Liberal Democrats (UK’s third party) are quite some way to the left of the current labour party.
Which, of course, explains why the Democrats have consistently increased their majorities in both houses of Congress each election since 1992 when they finally captured an absolute majority in both houses.
Which also explains why any number of countries have moved further to the Right in the last 10 years or so, as they found that their socialist ideals were rapidly failing to get things done adequately.
Sorry, Roland. This is one where you are dead wrong. 
As the spawn of generations of democratic socialists, I’d have to disagree with the OP.
The world has gotten much less ‘socialist’… the recent radical-conservative government of Mike Harris in Ontario being only the closest example to me. Certainly waht now exists in the former Soviet Union isn’t as socialist as before. Even the Chinese are less socialist than before, although they really don’t want to admit it.
I love it how so many conservatives/Republicans still make themselves out to be such victims. And this despite re-taking the White House, and taking larger portions of the Congress. Quite frankly, I don’t understand how conservative talk radio is still going so strong. What could they possibly have to bitch about, now that they control everyting?
Just enjoy it while it lasts, and stop whining about how the evil Dems are always out to get you.
And I find it odd, although satisfying and amusing, that you would refer to yourself as “Cons” in the thread title. Works for me. 
Well, that’s what the people in those countries elected. But I guess if the Cons in this country keep offering what the people here want, you should have nothing to worry about, right?
My theory:
Those in power favor conservatism, the ideology of selfishness and greed, in order to keep that power.
Those out of power favor liberalism, the ideology of selflessness and compassion, in order to share that power.
Compare that with the lopsided nature of international politics these days, and everything becomes clear.
China is a capitalist frontier and Europe is facing an impending demographic event. Socialism is far from being on the rise.
That is definitely a “theory”, and not fact. Hmmm…those out of power favor liberalism? Let’s see…I have very minimal power in this world and the last thing I want in my life is other people dictating to me what is right and what is wrong. Apparently, if you don’t agree with the liberal ideas of “selflessness and compassion” being forced upon you, than you are wrong. Leftists today are like an adult giving a child a piece of candy. It seems like a nice gesture, and the intention may be good. But the worst harm can come from the best of intentions. That child needs to know the consequences of eating that candy. His teeth may rot out, he may get a tummy ache. People need to think for themselves, learn from their mistakes and be allowed the freedom to make those mistakes. They need to accept the responsibility of what they do and not expect others to pay for or fix their mistakes.
Oh, and yes. I am selfish. I want to proud of what I accomplish, I want to make my own mistakes and learn from them, and I want to someday love and cherish myself completely. Sure, I will struggle along the way, but because of that struggle, I will be more compassionate towards others and their struggle for their own identity.
Okay, let me attempt to clarify why I think the world has become more Socialistic in terms of my top issues (and these would probably rank high with many conservatives).
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Almost every country in the world now has gun control to a greater extent. For example Canada and the UK both adopted much stricter gun control measures during the last 20 years (the US presents something of a counter trend with many states offering permits that did not use to).
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How many nations are left which don’t offer nationalized health insurance of some form? This tends to be a large area of the economy (often eating up much more than 10% GDP) and even the United States has moved in the Socialist direction on this issue during the past 30 years with Medicaid, Medicare, and the new prescription drug coverage introduced under Bush.
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Another huge issue for many conservatives (especially social/religious conservatives is opposition to an evolving “one world” type government.) Many see large “border free trading zones” as the first step in this direction. Consider how huge a step the EU is in this direction. Furthermore, many see NAFTA as a prelude to an EU style system in the United States. Furthermore, this is an issue that many Republicans support.
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China has moved towards capitalism, but has moved very little in terms of becoming a “liberal democracy”. Indeed, it almost only seems to be a matter of time until we will either go to war with China to defend Taiwan or let it be forcefully integrated into China as we stand by and do nothing. This is an issue that wll almost certainly play out in the next 50 years. As a conservative/libertarian I see nothing here to be happy about.
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How many nations still have a significant population that is opposed to abortion on demand? Other than Ireland I cannot think of many.
National health care excepted, I really don’t see how the issues you mentioned are particularly “socialistic”. In what way is gun control socialist? How is abortion socialist?
From the perspective of many non-Americans, the obsession with guns and gun control is frankly bizarre. Simply put, for the vast majority of the world’s population, this is a non-issue. Futhermore, it has nothing to do with left-right politics. If you try to make an argument from a personal freedom point of view, I’ll just point out that it’s very often left-leaning parties that support allowing more freedom in regard to sexuality and drug use. Simply put, gun control is first and foremost a cultural problem.
When did those nations get socialised health care? Certainly not in the last five years. Not even ten. If you look at local news in Canada, you’ll see that there is a lot of concern from some who believe provincial governments are moving away from universal health care. Try a search on “two tier” “health care” and “Canada”.
If you hanged around true lefties, you’d realise that this is actually a pretty funny argument. You see, globalisation is one of the left’s, the real international left, favourite whipping boys. Rants about how evil neo-cons are raping the poor through a globalised economy are more than common. Hell, let me quote from a random website:
When the free trade agreement was first signed between the US and Canada, its biggest opposition in Canada came from not the conservatives, but from the NDP, Canada’s social democrats.
Now, the interesting thing is that this topic is actually one on which many lefties and righties actually come to some sort of perverse agreement. It was protests from both the right and the left that brought down MAI, for instance.
The idea that the US and China are bound to go to war over Taiwan is ridiculous. Look around you. See how much stuff is “made in China”. China is in the process of becoming the world’s second largest economy. Like it or not, China and the US need each other. As it is, the US cannot survive economically in the short term without China’s manufacturing power. Of course, that has little to do with left and right politics. As has already been pointed out, China is moving away from the left. China is less socialist now, in pretty much every domain, than it was 20 years ago.
The really funny thing about your rant is that I hear the almost exact rant from lefties all the time. Money, capitalism, neo-cons, etc. are taking over the world. Socialist ideals are crumbling. OMG, where is the world going? That sort of stuff.
The real problem is that both you, and them, have these two little boxes labeled “left” and “right”. You try to squeeze everything, and I mean, really everything in either of these two boxes. The world isn’t moving towards the left and it’s not moving towards the right. It’s not becoming more “socialist” and it’s not turning more “consevative”. Those are false dichotomies. They’re little boxes in your mind.
I’m not saying you can’t talk about global trends. However, when you use issues like gun control, free trade, health care, and abortion to form an argument about those trends, you’re effectively taking a very narrow, very local reality and trying to fit the world into it. Like I said above, the relationship between those issues is cultural.
This is one of those threads that is difficult to reply to without moving into Great Debates territory. However, I will try. Lets take some of the issues individually.
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For most people I know (on the right) guns represent the peoples ultimate authority to resist a potentially repressive government. Many of us operate under the belief (some/many would say delusion) that the world is eventually headed for a Nazi like one world government with the “Antichrist” at its head. We believe that Christians, Jews, and even Islamic people (probably Hindu, Buddist as well) will be persecuted for failing to “bow” to some sort of one world forced religion. Ultimately, guns represent a way of resisting this domination to some small extent (think of the Freedom Fighters in Afganistan resisting the Soviets for some paradigm as to how people envision sush resistence possibly being effective).
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The above argument also applies to our concerns about one world government. Although, even if I was an atheist I would still be very concerned due to the way that I believe “checks and balances” inherent in our current system would be reduced. Thus, under the current system if “Hitler” comes to power in Nigeria his influence is limited. However, if “Hitler” comes to power in a “one world” system then everyone is screwed. It’s hard to look at History and not be concerned about a repressive government. In the course of human events there have been precious few governments that haven’t repressed significant portions of their populace. People in power tend to like to consolidate that power and reduce the likelihood of their ever having to relinquish such power.
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For many of us on the “right” abortion is a moral issue equivalent to slavery. We believe that the unborn are living beings with rights that approach (and in some cases equal) those of a living baby. Thus, we view abortion as the slaughter of innocents. Note again that even if I were an agnostic (which my wife claims that I am, although I know that I’m probably not) my position on this issue would be unchanged. Note that I recognize the right of privacy found in Griswald V Conn. and perfected in Roe V Wade exists, I just believe that it is overcome in some cases by the rights of the unborn.
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As to China I believe that the “mistake” of the Right which began with Nixon and continuing right up until today is to equate capitalism with freedom. Without political/ religious freedom, capitalism is merely a tool in the arsenal of the despot making his/her economy more productive.
I understand why YOU don’t like gun control, globalization, abortion, or China. What I don’t understand is why you think those things are socialist.
Left and right wing are relative terms. A left winger in the US would be about the same as a right winger in europe. A religious right winger in the US would be a left wing moderate in the middle east.
Canada created national health insurance long before it was a priority in the US.
Well Wesley you are actually making my point better than I did when you say that a left winger in the United States would be a right winger in Europe. Exactly so! Fifty years ago I don’t think that would have been the case. Also, perhaps I chose a poor term in “Socialist” perhaps a better one might have been “dominant Left Wing Ideology” this would also include such concepts as adopting Kyoto to fight global climate change, and supporting slow/managed growth initiatives, and population control measures that utilize abortion. Gun control tends to be a priority for the “dominant Left Wing Ideology” just as tax cuts and deregulation are usually key issues for the dominant “Right wing Ideology”.
Also, I don’t think it is necessary to demonize left wingers or right wingers as being selfish or foolish. Rather I believe that both sides seek a world which fosters the greatest good for all. As a “right winger” I believe that my approach will lead to the greatest wealth, health, and freedom for everyone. However, I understand that “Left Wingers” believe that I’m all washed up and that there approach is far superior. To me it’s like too doctors one a surgeon and another a Dr. of Internal medicine deciding how best to treat a patients cancer. One proposes surgery while the other insists that chemotherapy is the only way to go.
Guns: The UK has had effective gun control for many many years. It is a myth that you can’t own a gun in the UK - lots of people do. However what you can’t own is a gun whose sole purpose is to kill other people - eg automatic weapons, pistols etc. Shot guns and rifles are OK. There is no real partisan argument about this, we’re all pretty happy with the status quo. There are no votes in liberalisation of gun control here. Perhaps it’s a cultural thing?
The significant increase in gun control following a couple of killing sprees (including one in a primary school) all happenedd under a Conservative regime.
Nationalised Medicine: Again hardly a new development for us here - we’ve had the NHS since the 1940s and before that there was an informal system that worked pretty well. However medicine in the UK has become less nationalised (for example it is impossible to find an NHS dentist if you are an adult - you have to go private. We also pay for things like specs and a fee for medicines - all moving away from the original “free at the point of use” ideal. Also many people have private medical insurance (it’s a common employment perk).
Free trade areas: THese are considered to be a Conservative ideal here. The people who tend to oppose them in the UK/EU tend to be old style statists who fear competition. However I would agree that the centralisation of power in Brussels is a retrograde step from a Conservative viewpoint.
China: Not an issue here.
Abortion: THis is a function of religion in Europe, not politics.
I agree. Seriously. I am a firm believer that every man should have a good bolt action or semi-auto .30-cal rifle and at least 1000 rounds of ammo (preferably 10,000 rounds). And the skill and courage that goes along with using it.