Compassionate Conservatism.
Is widely misunderstood. Leftists call it an oxymoron and those on the Right do not want anything to do with it as it smacks of leftist do-goodism. Both attitudes are sad.
Campassionate conservatism is rooted in the calling we all should hear and answer to help others in need. It is not code words for more government spending it is a call to shut off Nick At Nite and to help others on your own.
The question comes down to then what role does the government properly play in "compassionate conservatism". It should play a role, I think the government's assistance should be limited and should focus on infrastructure. For example last night an attendee at the Lincoln Day Dinner committee meeting told us about a friend who set up a clinic for folks unable to pay for their own medical care. She said the DHHS in DC threw in $600,000 for the clinic and that was to fund the facilities and equipment. The clinic is staffed by volunteers. I am guessing the clinic is now dependent on private fundraising to refresh their variable costs (heat, bandages, vaccines, and the like). That is compassionate conservatism.
Compassionate Conservatism is the realization we are not 100% self-made we depend on others and others on us.
Compassionate conservatism demands the government get out of the way of individuals who want to do something to improve their community. It demands we occasionally sacrifice for others. The strong must help the weak so the weak become stronger and more able to stand on their own. This applies locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. Compassionate conservatism is helping with the aim of making others as self sufficient as possible. It does not aim to create dependency. The old saying "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime" applies here. The left feeds the man for the day the right aims to enable the man to eat for a lifetime.
Campassionate conservatism is rooted in the calling we all should hear and answer to help others in need. It is not code words for more government spending it is a call to shut off Nick At Nite and to help others on your own.
The question comes down to then what role does the government properly play in "compassionate conservatism". It should play a role, I think the government's assistance should be limited and should focus on infrastructure. For example last night an attendee at the Lincoln Day Dinner committee meeting told us about a friend who set up a clinic for folks unable to pay for their own medical care. She said the DHHS in DC threw in $600,000 for the clinic and that was to fund the facilities and equipment. The clinic is staffed by volunteers. I am guessing the clinic is now dependent on private fundraising to refresh their variable costs (heat, bandages, vaccines, and the like). That is compassionate conservatism.
Compassionate Conservatism is the realization we are not 100% self-made we depend on others and others on us.
Compassionate conservatism demands the government get out of the way of individuals who want to do something to improve their community. It demands we occasionally sacrifice for others. The strong must help the weak so the weak become stronger and more able to stand on their own. This applies locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. Compassionate conservatism is helping with the aim of making others as self sufficient as possible. It does not aim to create dependency. The old saying "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime" applies here. The left feeds the man for the day the right aims to enable the man to eat for a lifetime.
posted by Marcus Aurelius at 1:54 PM
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