EconomicPolicyJournal.com: Robert Wenzel: The Conservative Case For The Welfare State?: How Conservatives Have Adapted to The Safety Net

EconomicPolicyJournal.com: The Conservative Case for the Welfare State?: It is really hard to believe that Bruce Bartlett once worked for Ron Paul. And friends tell me he was a pretty solid libertarian. Things hav...

Its hard to compare American Conservatives with Canadian Conservatives or European Conservatives because. American Conservatives are simply different, in Canada and Europe Social Democrats or even Socialists. Are seen as center-left and people who are called the Conservatives over there are Conservative. Compared with the Socialists but not Conservative in an American sense, Conservatives in Europe in Canada. Look more Liberal then they do Conservative in America and would be considered center-left in America. Where Social Democrats or Socialists are considered far-left in America and you would have a hard time fining. Any American Conservative who supports the idea of a public safety net especially in the 1930s, 40s and 60s. When social insurance spending by the Federal Government took off and you'll have a hard time today even. Of finding a real Conservative not a Neoconservative or a Theocrat but a real Big Government is the problem. And enemy Conservative whether it interfering with my money or personal life who believes in the safety net.

Had Conservative Republicans been in charge in the 1930s and 40s, the New Deal never gets created I think. Thats obvious and had Conservative Republicans been in charge in the 1960s, the Great Society never gets created. And I think thats obvious as well but even with this being the case Conservatives in this country have come to. The conclusion that the safety net is here to stay because there's at least one major political party that supports it. And the fact that Americans by in large believe in some form of a government safety net, Medicare and Social Security. Are by far the most popular things that government does in this country, so Republicans have made the political. Calculation that the safety net is here to stay and instead of trying to eliminate it or gut it to the point where. It would no longer be effective and popular, they've decided to make the best of it and perhaps. Decentralize it as much as possible.

To give you an example when Richard Nixon back when he became President in 1969 was seen as a mainstream. Conservative Republican and he's the President that brought the idea of Federalism back to the Federal Government. That government closest to home is the most effective and so fourth so instead of trying to eliminate the. New Deal and Great Society what he and his administration did was establish a Federalist policy in how these programs. Would be operated and give the states and localities more authority, responsibility and resources to run some of these programs.