# The Tea Party is not socially conservative my ass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 11, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760 "2010-10-11T06:09:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/381 "2010-10-16T19:40:18Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > > [@Strassia](#): > > > > My contention is the whole point of the current tea party movement, on a large scale is to get Republicans in office without having to address what happened the last time they were in Congress. > > To say _nothing_ of dodging responsibility for that near trillion dollar debacle they fomented in in Iraq, and SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS! > They wouldn’t want to have to take responsibility for that, now would they? That debacle in Iraq goes all of the way back to post-WWI and the Treaty of Versailles. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/382 "2010-10-16T19:44:41Z")
> [@George\_Kaplin](#): > > > [@Morella](#): > > > > Dumbass…I have enough work. I need equipment, and employees, and that costs money. I can either pay it in taxes, where it will be spent on Chinese windmills and otherwise flushed down the toilet, or I can buy more equipment and hire people to operate it. Because I have to pay it in taxes, jobs will not be created. That’s how it works. Why is that so difficult to understand? > > May I ask, what does your business produce? Properly located freight. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/383 "2010-10-16T19:51:44Z")
So why do you want your taxes increased? [/quote] I don’t believe a word Fox News publishes. Period. I don’t either, but I’ll listen to anything, and if it sounds like horse shit, I’ll research it. That’s all a link is, just a place to look. You have to make your own decisions, and I hope that you wouldn’t believe, or disbelieve, anything just because it comes from a particular source. That would be ignorant. My taxes aren’t going up, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar. [/QUOTE] Anyone who thinks that taxes are not going up is a dreamer, or just hasn’t looked into the historical data. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/384 "2010-10-16T19:53:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > **Morella** : > > What would you consider a fair top marginal tax rate, with which conservatives would be satisfied, and no longer campaign for tax cuts? I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/385 "2010-10-16T19:54:56Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > **Morella** : > > > > What would you consider a fair top marginal tax rate, with which conservatives would be satisfied, and no longer campaign for tax cuts? > > I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? What makes you think you work harder? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/386 "2010-10-16T19:57:10Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Can you read for comprehension? I am asking, if its only focus is getting rid of government waste, why are all the candidates it endorses socially conservative? Is everyone who is fiscally conservative also socially conservative? Is gay marriage government waste? Since when did abortion laws have an effect on the deficit? DADT seems to cost the government money, shouldn’t they support repealing it? Or has this purportedly fiscal movement been taken over by social conservatives? If this movement is based solely on fiscal issues, where are the socially tolerant candidates? > > Ever watch _Battlestar Galactica_? “You have to pick your side”. I would be in complete agreement with a political party, that supported these ideas : > > Religion is total bullshit, and should be abolished. > The EPA and most other regulatory agencies should be abolished. > All prescription drugs should be freely available to adults. No drugs should be illegal. > Gays should not be allowed to legally marry, but they can do anything else they want to do, as long as the government doesn’t have to pay the bill for their AIDS. > Antitrust regulations should be toughened. > No American company should be allowed to use foreign labor. > Any person living in this country illegally should be shot. > Welfare, public education, and social security should be abolished. > No free health care, for anyone. > > Does any party align with all of these ideas? No. I will vote conservative, despite the fact that I obviously disagree with much of the conservative agenda, because it is the lesser of all of the evils. I won’t hate black people, and I won’t praise Jesus, whether the party that I have chosen to vote for does or not. That’s what we all have to do…pick our side. It’s not a perfect world. God damn that is some scary shit right there. Let’s all take a moment to be thankful the two party system hasn’t resulted in one that includes the list above. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/387 "2010-10-16T20:03:21Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Can you read for comprehension? I am asking, if its only focus is getting rid of government waste, why are all the candidates it endorses socially conservative? Is everyone who is fiscally conservative also socially conservative? Is gay marriage government waste? Since when did abortion laws have an effect on the deficit? DADT seems to cost the government money, shouldn’t they support repealing it? Or has this purportedly fiscal movement been taken over by social conservatives? If this movement is based solely on fiscal issues, where are the socially tolerant candidates? > > Ever watch _Battlestar Galactica_? “You have to pick your side”. I would be in complete agreement with a political party, that supported these ideas : > > Religion is total bullshit, and should be abolished. > The EPA and most other regulatory agencies should be abolished. > All prescription drugs should be freely available to adults. No drugs should be illegal. > Gays should not be allowed to legally marry, but they can do anything else they want to do, as long as the government doesn’t have to pay the bill for their AIDS. > Antitrust regulations should be toughened. > No American company should be allowed to use foreign labor. > Any person living in this country illegally should be shot. > Welfare, public education, and social security should be abolished. > No free health care, for anyone. > > Does any party align with all of these ideas? No. I will vote conservative, despite the fact that I obviously disagree with much of the conservative agenda, because it is the lesser of all of the evils. I won’t hate black people, and I won’t praise Jesus, whether the party that I have chosen to vote for does or not. That’s what we all have to do…pick our side. It’s not a perfect world. It sure wouldn’t be a perfect world if you were in charge. Your ideas betray a broad spectrum of reality you simply don’t understand and probably are too stupid to learn. Typical 21st century American conservative, ignorance and anger are the only ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/388 "2010-10-16T20:07:09Z")
You increase your staff when the present one can not keep up with demand. Cutting company taxes will just make the owners richer if they are keeping up with the customers. They will not add staff because they have lots of money. The owners have had tax cuts for a decade and employment has not dropped., it has gone way up. The wealthy are accumulating unprecedented piles of money. They are not hiring. Tax cuts to the top, our old trickle down theory, has been destroyed as a workable economic model. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/389 "2010-10-16T20:09:55Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > **Morella** : > > > > What would you consider a fair top marginal tax rate, with which conservatives would be satisfied, and no longer campaign for tax cuts? > > I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? For sake of argument, your wish is granted. You may have a flat tax. What rate is it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/390 "2010-10-16T20:12:09Z")
Some minor points of clarification. You are aware, I trust, that some of the persons currently living illegally in the US are children? Would you recommend smaller caliber weapons? Perhaps some clemency may be offered if they are willing to pull the trigger on the scoundrels responsible for their condition, that is, their parents? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/391 "2010-10-16T20:15:00Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > **Morella** : > > > > What would you consider a fair top marginal tax rate, with which conservatives would be satisfied, and no longer campaign for tax cuts? > > I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? Because you do not. There is a TV program that the CEOs go and do the work of the people at the bottom of the corporation ladder. They are always stunned to see how hard they work , and how much they care about doing a good job. The bosses had the feeling that people who make poor money don’t work hard or care. They are as wrong as you. But it is allowed to blame the poor for their lot in life and to look down on them. Do their jobs and live their lives and you would see how far off that attitude is. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/392 "2010-10-16T20:42:11Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > Religion is total bullshit, and should be abolished. > The EPA and most other regulatory agencies should be abolished. > All prescription drugs should be freely available to adults. No drugs should be illegal. > Gays should not be allowed to legally marry, but they can do anything else they want to do, as long as the government doesn’t have to pay the bill for their AIDS. > Antitrust regulations should be toughened. > No American company should be allowed to use foreign labor. > Any person living in this country illegally should be shot. > Welfare, public education, and social security should be abolished. > No free health care, for anyone. > > Does any party align with all of these ideas? No. Well, the Somali New Democratic Party comes close… Their list of who should be shot is a bit longer, though. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/393 "2010-10-16T20:47:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > [@Morella](#): > > > > I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? > > For sake of argument, your wish is granted. You may have a flat tax. What rate is it? For sake of argument, I would have to see some data on what it would cost to run the government, after the cuts that I suggested were implemented. It wouldn’t be much. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/394 "2010-10-16T20:49:17Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > For sake of argument, your wish is granted. You may have a flat tax. What rate is it? > > For sake of argument, I would have to see some data on what it would cost to run the government, after the cuts that I suggested were implemented. I’ll wait. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/395 "2010-10-16T20:53:15Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Some minor points of clarification. > > You are aware, I trust, that some of the persons currently living illegally in the US are children? Would you recommend smaller caliber weapons? Perhaps some clemency may be offered if they are willing to pull the trigger on the scoundrels responsible for their condition, that is, their parents? What is the point in discussing the details of a plan that does not exist, and will probably never exist, in the United States? I feel that all illegal immigrants should be shot. I do not believe that it will ever happen, in the United States. We always have to be higher and mightier than everyone else, whatever the cost to our own lives. That’s just one of the reasons why we’re going down in flames. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/396 "2010-10-16T20:53:38Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > For sake of argument, your wish is granted. You may have a flat tax. What rate is it? > > For sake of argument, I would have to see some data on what it would cost to run the government, after the cuts that I suggested were implemented. It wouldn’t be much. Let’s say defense and entitlements are decimated, leaving a Federal government that costs as much to run as, say, the 1950 equivalent (~$44.8 billion), adjusted for inflation (to ~$395 billion). The actual 2010 total is about $3,720 billion, or 9.5 times the 1950 amount. Of course, you’ll have to give back all those highways… ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/397 "2010-10-16T20:54:40Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > > > For sake of argument, your wish is granted. You may have a flat tax. What rate is it? > > For sake of argument, I would have to see some data on what it would cost to run the government, after the cuts that I suggested were implemented. It wouldn’t be much. Have you stopped to consider that the cuts you want to implement are stupid? And that with those cuts the GDP would crash because of social disorder? And that thick-headed lazy morons like you aren’t exactly gonna excel when reduced to the social-darwinism you crave? I’m more sure that you’ll stay wrapped up in your ignorance and whine while the prosperity engendered by more intelligent people makes your life better. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/398 "2010-10-16T20:55:31Z")
> [@Morella](#): > > We always have to be higher and mightier than everyone else, whatever the cost to our own lives. That’s just one of the reasons why we’re going down in flames. As the Tea Party is fond of saying, “Freedom Isn’t Free!” ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/399 "2010-10-16T21:02:38Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > > [@Morella](#): > > > > I’m more into the “flat tax” idea. Why should I be taxed at a larger percentage just because I work harder? > > Because you do not. There is a TV program that the CEOs go and do the work of the people at the bottom of the corporation ladder. They are always stunned to see how hard they work , and how much they care about doing a good job. The bosses had the feeling that people who make poor money don’t work hard or care. They are as wrong as you. > But it is allowed to blame the poor for their lot in life and to look down on them. Do their jobs and live their lives and you would see how far off that attitude is. Did I mention that I own a SMALL business? As well as being a CEO, I am a pilot, aviation mechanic, truck driver, network administrator, and everything else that my business needs, whenever it needs me, which is most of the time. And, for the smartass who is bound to ask, yes, I do have ATP, A&P, CDL, and Comptia Network+. Now, for those of you who think that you work harder than I do, I have to ask: How many hours a day do you sleep? (I don’t sleep every day) How many hours a day do you spend at home? (I am only home once a month, at best, for a couple of days) How many times a day do you get to eat, and how long do you take? (I eat once a day, sometimes twice, and I cram it in while I’m doing other things) When your phone goes off with a problem at work, do you drop everything, any time of the day or night, and go off to fix it, even if it means travelling thousands of miles, going days without sleep, or risking your life? (That’s in my job description) Do you work in any kind of weather, even if it is dangerous? (Yup) If you need new job skills, such as an industrial rating or a foreign language, are you willing to spend every minute of your free time learning it? IF you work as hard as I do, and you’re willing to do it for me, please, let me know, because I can probably find a way to hire you, with or without a tax cut. ---
**Author:** ![Morella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Morella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morella)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760/400 "2010-10-16T21:06:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > > [@Morella](#): > > > > For sake of argument, I would have to see some data on what it would cost to run the government, after the cuts that I suggested were implemented. It wouldn’t be much. > > Let’s say defense and entitlements are decimated, leaving a Federal government that costs as much to run as, say, the 1950 equivalent (~$44.8 billion), adjusted for inflation (to ~$395 billion). The actual 2010 total is about $3,720 billion, or 9.5 times the 1950 amount. > > Of course, you’ll have to give back all those highways… Oh, god dammit, that’s funny! I almost choked on the cheesburger than I’m shoveling down. Have you ever heard of IFTA? Look it up, and then you’ll understand what I mean when I say… If the government wants to give me a break on my IFTA tax, I’ll pay the goddam 39% income tax and smile about it! I could use a few million bucks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tea-party-is-not-socially-conservative-my-ass/556760.md?page=21)