Are today's conservatives really conservative?

[bringbackbill]

I don't think today's conservatives very closely resemble the conservatives we used to know. The conservatives used to promote the abolishment of the Dept of Education. They felt schools were best left in the hands of local and state governments. Now we have "No Child' which is the biggest intrusion of the feds ever into local schools. Conservatives used to support a balanced budget amendment. Now we have the biggest deficits in history. Descretionary spending has increased faster under the Republicans than the Democrats. Conservatives used to believe in smaller government. Now we have a new beuracracy in Homeland Security that is one of the biggest. Conservatives used to try to eliminate or cut back entitlement programs, now we get the Prescription drug plan for seniors, the biggest entitlement program since Medicare and Medicaid. Conservatives used to be against 'nation building'. Even Bush saiud he oppossed it when he ran in 2000. And now that is exactly what we are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I will admit that today's conservatives still hold the line on social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, etc. They also have been conservative on taxes, but overall I don't think this new bunch would get Reagan's approval.

[lew]

A lot of conservatives are still conservatives.


Vast majority of Republicans, however, are no longer conservatives.

[kinggovernor]

I blame the baby boomer entitlement generation, they are doing their best to ruin this country

[ballz2wallz]

I think it's a result of having to choose the lesser of two evils, which is a shitty position to be in for all conservatives.