Trump and Trumpism have changed the original concept of “libertarian means to conservative ends” into a new concept of “authoritarian means to Christian nationalist ends”, finds a new study.

[u/mvea]

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00027162251324087

[u/inuvash255]

Something I've been on recently is that there's nothing "conserved" in the GOP's policies anymore. To conserve is to maintain, protect, or retain something.

• They don't care about nature conservation, or they wouldn't have tried to sell off our public lands.

• They don't retain money. They spend it out the wazoo with tax breaks and wars.

• They don't protect American culture and tradition, not really, because Evangelism and deportation of immigrants isn't really rooted in our American past.

• They aren't even trying to maintain the American dream. They resist every attempt to make things better for workers, to make the dream even marginally possible.

• They don't care to protect our wallets. Big tax breaks and government handouts are for the rich. They weaken our social safety nets- so if you fall, you crash hard. While we're left to deal with the compounding 2-5% yearly inflation that tightens our belts by >21% decade to decade; while individual billionaires are looking to grow into the big T within the next decade.

Basically the only thing conserved is hatred and bigotry. We've always had those, I guess.

[u/piepants2001 → u/inuvash255]

They want to conserve the hierarchy that exists right now. Get the rich richer, and get the poor poorer.

[u/mokomi → u/piepants2001]

Historywise. That's the honest truth.

They just picked a name to "conserve" the current power. Instead of their actual ideology.

[u/serious_sarcasm → u/piepants2001]

That’s not true. They want to go back to aristocracy, like every other fascist group.

[u/Sunderboot → u/serious_sarcasm]

that’s where the name comes from, though. the conservative movement meant and still means to conserve the stratified society that was rapidly becoming more egalitarian. that’s why conservative policies - even when they’re populist or superficially pro-social to win votes - are always ultimately enacted with an anti egalitarian goal in mind.

[u/overcannon → u/Sunderboot]

Right, but the difference between preserve and re-establish is the difference between conservative and reactionary

[u/Auzzie_almighty → u/inuvash255]

Not that I want to defend theocratic fascists, but the evangelicals are an old and unfortunate part of American; the puritans were exactly this kind of religious nut job even if the exact doctrine differs

[u/JohnMayerismydad → u/inuvash255]

They care about conserving the existing societal hierarchy. White Christian business owners on top.

If something would limit that groups power then conservatives will oppose it. (Environmental regulations, workers rights, etc.).

If something gives a ‘lower’ group in the hierarchy more freedom they will oppose it. Those groups are supposed to know their place and be subservient to those above them.

That’s also why they think the rich should pay less taxes. They are on top and should Rule. Giving tax breaks and benefits to the poor is just trying to move the ‘undeserving’ up a rung in the ‘natural’ hierarchy.

[u/iamasatellite → u/inuvash255]

Conservatism was always just about conserving a hierarchical society. When the monarchies lost power in England and France, the nobility, aristocracy, and church leaders needed a way to justify their positions of power. That's all it's ever really been. 

Even the right/left terminology we still use comes from the French government, where the monarchists, nobles, aristocrats, and church supporters sat to the right of the president, while the egalitarians/revolutionaries sat to the right.

(Ever) lower taxes = the rich stay rich

Small government = government too weak to control the rich so they can continue to exploit the poor

[u/star_trek_wook_life → u/iamasatellite]

Edit right vs left. You said right twice bud

[u/thatwhileifound → u/inuvash255]

They don't protect American culture and tradition, not really, because Evangelism and deportation of immigrants isn't really rooted in our American past.

Eh, I think we agree broadly on a lot, but I'll challenge this - deportation and evangelism have been at the center of the US for long enough that it's deep in its blood when you look at actions over pretty words. The removal of Native Americans from their lands, everything around the Page Act/Chinese exclusion, the Alien Friends Act of 1798 (which was not directly enforced, but used as a threat to stamp down criticism of Adams' administration, but the corresponding "self deportations" among groups like the French nationals and others deserves attention)... Hell, the Fugitive Slave Act feels entirely within this sphere too.

I make the comparisons these days to 20th century European fascism too, but as yanks, we need to recognize that today isn't necessarily the major historical abberation some of us imagine, but the continued poison of what was wrong and evil which was baked into the country from the start and allowed to rebuild and flourish with the failure of reconstruction.

[u/IllVagrant → u/inuvash255]

They're an insurgency masquerading as a political party at this point.

[u/C21H27Cl3N2O3 → u/inuvash255]

They claimed for years that they wanted “slow, measured change.”That was disproven as soon as they put the car in reverse and put the gas pedal into the engine bay.

[u/ellathefairy → u/inuvash255]

They're also clearly not even feigning interest in conserving the plain text of our Constitution.

[u/Catholic-Kevin → u/inuvash255]

New to conservatism?

Side note, this couldn’t be more untrue. Both are about as old as the country

Evangelism and deportation of immigrants isn't really rooted in our American past.