I wish Republicans were more old school fiscally conservative. But they learned from Democrats that promising all kinds of stuff that doesn't have to be paid for by tax increases, or that the increase will be on somebody else, is a great marketing tool for getting votes. BOTH party's now spend and spend, they just have different ideas of how to spend.
We need conservatives, both fiscal and social. We need liberals (Democrats). In a functioning system the balance each other out. Of course, we don't have a functioning system. What we have is winner take all, and to hell with the other side.
Most of the social progress we've made in the past 60 years has been through Democrat movements. Unions, civil rights, cleaning up the environment, etc. All good things. But like all good things, the Democrats take it to the extreme, and conservatives are there to put the brakes on.
Unions have been great for this country. Great for working people. But then unions grow powerful enough, especially public unions, to coerce huge unfair (to the taxpayer) benefit and retirement packages. Then you are left with the California or Illinois nightmare.
My friend Ernie worked for years at the big TWA overhaul base in Kansas City. He was a sheet metal mechanic. If his work was slack he wasn't allowed to pick up a broom and sweep up the shop. He couldn't help out in any other department. Against the contract rules. TWA didn't care if the flight attendants went on strike. But they had to cave to the skilled trades unions or the planes wouldn't fly. The skilled workers were just too hard to replace. So they got work rules that were extremely restrictive. TWA eventually moved the overhaul base out of the country. Most airline maintenance is now done somewhere else.
Unions are a good thing but not to extremes.
The fight over immigration is also an example. Immigration is a good thing. But Democrats are locked into open borders because they have to pander to their base. A country can only assimilate a reasonable number of immigrants per year, and we are in danger of being over run. Immigrant caravans are not a good thing. Too many immigrants puts tremendous pressure on social services, the education system, law enforcement and health services.
In short, Democrats have good ideas, and should get a lot of credit, but we need conservatives to keep them grounded, and fiscally responsible. Of course, that would require both sides to quit calling each other names and act like grown-ups. That ain't gonna happen.
