Just what is a "fiscal conservative?"

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

Because that to me sounds like something nobody would really want to admit to being.

To me a literal interpretation of a fiscal conservative is somebody who thinks: "I want to give big tax cuts to the ultra-rich: people who don't really deserve being rich but had great great grandfathers that made a ton of money by breeding and selling slaves two hundred years ago. And what I really want to do is tax the poor and middle class, and give their money to the military-industrial complex, which I own a lot of stock in, nevermind looting social security or driving up the deficit." Because that's basically what conservatives do when it comes to money.

Now what I think they really mean is the same thing as when they identify themselves as "Libertarian" or "Ross Perot voters." That is- they're Republican, but they're too embarassed by "social" conservatives to admit it. But they're afraid that their fathers or husbands or talk show hosts will call them a "dirty hippie" if they ever admitted to voting for a Democrat.

That's what I think every time somebody says "well, I'm a fiscal conservative."

Or am I missing something?

[Tempest]

1. What is a fiscal conservative?

An extreme rare breed hunted almost to extinction by the current GOP leadership.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. Well, for one...

Being fiscally conservative seems to be popular, even on the left.

Moreover, a literal interpretation of "fiscal conservative" is not the "I want to give a big tax cut blah blah blah..." Many FCs would tell you that's the opposite of fiscal conservatism.

Finally, being a fiscal conservative in the true (literal?) sense is not a bad thing. It wouldn't hurt to have more of them around.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Well, it's become a popular thing to say.

But like watching reality TV or meth, I wonder if people really think before doing it.

[emulatorloo]

12. I think you have your wires crossed -- "fiscally conservative" is opposite

of what Bush is.

Bush gives tax breaks to the wealthy, borrows money from China to make up the difference. That is fiscally irresponsible.

When people say they are "fiscally conservative" it means they understand that you don't borrow from China to make up for giving tax cuts to your rich friends. You try to pay as you go, and many "socially liberal" people are "fiscal conservatives."

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

"fiscally conservative" is exactly what Bush is.

Just like all the other conservatives that have come before him.

[emulatorloo]

18. Bush may say he is a 'fiscal conservative', but he isn't --

Please, do a google on

Is Bush fiscal conservative

and read some of the opinion pieces you get back.

Here's one:

http://www.cato.org/dailys/07-31-03.html

<snip>

'Conservative' Bush Spends More than 'Liberal' Presidents Clinton, Carter
by Veronique de Rugy and Tad DeHaven

Veronique de Rugy is a fiscal policy analyst and Tad DeHaven a policy researcher at the Cato Institute.

The Bush administration's newly released budget projections reveal an anticipated budget deficit of $450 billion for the current fiscal year, up another $151 billion since February. Supporters and critics of the administration are tripping over themselves to blame the deficit on tax cuts, the war, and a slow economy. But the fact is we have mounting deficits because George W. Bush is the most gratuitous big spender to occupy the White House since Jimmy Carter. One could say that he has become the "Mother of All Big Spenders."

The new estimates show that, under Bush, total outlays will have risen $408 billion in just three years to $2.272 trillion: an enormous increase in federal spending of 22 percent. Administration officials privately admit that spending is too high. Yet they argue that deficits are appropriate in times of war and recession. So, is it true that the war on terrorism has resulted in an increase in defense spending? Yes. And, is it also true that a slow economy has meant a decreased stream of tax revenues to pay for government? Yes again.

But the real truth is that national defense is far from being responsible for all of the spending increases. According to the new numbers, defense spending will have risen by about 34 percent since Bush came into office. But, at the same time, non-defense discretionary spending will have skyrocketed by almost 28 percent. Government agencies that Republicans were calling to be abolished less than 10 years ago, such as education and labor, have enjoyed jaw-dropping spending increases under Bush of 70 percent and 65 percent respectively.

Now, most rational people would cut back on their spending if they knew their income was going to be reduced in the near future. Any smart company would look to cut costs should the business climate take a turn for the worse. But the administration has been free spending into the face of a recessionary economy from day one without making any serious attempt to reduce costs.

<snip>

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. I don't know, but mostly they say they are socially moderate or

liberal along with it, which makes no sense.

[Democrats_win]

5. "what I really want to do is tax the poor and middle class and give their

money to the military-industrial complex, which I own a lot of stock in"

OMG! This is so true of the extremely rich and extremely crazy conservatives. Then they go to church and pretend they don´t have blood on their hands.

[applegrove]

6. In Canada it just means that you don't live beyond your means. That

you go into debt in times of crisis but pay your bills as a country. I am for 40% tax on the rich. A progressive tax system is the only thing that makes for equality over generations and produces a huge middle class (you grow the middle class) by redistributing the wealth in the form of support programs and education & health care.

Saying you are a fiscal conservative in Canada means you can also be a social progressive or liberal or NDPer. And pretty much all parties govern fiscally conservatively after the 1980s. Even New Democratic Provincial Governments governed fiscally.

The USA is not currently governing fiscally conservatively because they are passing on the costs to their kids. Drowning future social programs and best policy options (health care) in the bathtub.

You pay your bills. That is what it means.

[emulatorloo]

7. many liberals are 'fiscal conservatives" - it means "pay as you go"

bush is "socially conservative," but not fiscally conservative, because he gives tax breaks to the rich and borrows money from China as he spends spend spend cash on Iraq war etc.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. You mean conservative as in "forest conservation"

or the opposite of "salt the roast liberally."

Because Bush is a fiscal conservative in the same way Reagan was a fiscal conservative- spend like there's no tomorrow.

[emulatorloo]

13. I don't think anybody calls Bush a "fiscal conservative"

besides Bush himself and his horrid Rove spin-team. And like so many things Bush says about himself, he's lying. He is no more a 'fiscal conservative' than he is a "Texas rancher."

and real "conservative conservatives" realize he is spending money crazily, while giving absurd tax breaks to the rich

[enid602]

8. conservatives

A fiscal conservative is someone who refuses to spend on education, jobs, housing or anything to do with the people's well-being. He is likely to overspend, however if there is war, providing that the bulk of it goes to corporate profits rather than expenditures to outfit the GI's.

[damntexdem]

9. Nowadays, I think that 'fiscal conservative' is an oxymoron.

Now, if you were to ask about fecal conservatives ............

[me b zola]

10. I think that you have summed it up well.

When I hear "fiscal conservative" I think it is code for de-funding of social programs in favor of tax cuts to the wealthy & heavier spending on "defense".

It seems as though Dems have been trying to redefine the term to mean a balanced budget, pay-go, and an end to wasteful/fraudulent spending. I'm cautious, though, when I hear a Dem use the term because some of them are more than willing to assist the pukes in the destruction of our social programs.

I think which meaning of the term "fiscal conservative" is meant depends on which horse's mouth that it comes out of.

[joemurphy]

14. a mythical beast, much like the unicorn

[Minnesota_Lib]

15. These days it means borrow and spend like there is no tomorrow

[Dave Reynolds]

16. I consider myself a fiscal conservative.

I may have the wrong definition, but to me it just means not spending more than what revenue is coming in, i.e. living within the budget.

[Justitia]

17. Progressives are fiscal conservatives to ENSURE the survival of social

programs! We believe in "pay as you go", because we feel very strongly that the animals on the other side of the aisle deliberately create deficits to decimate social programs.

Remember "Starve the beast" theory? And "deficits don't matter"? These are deliberate tools to absolutely destroy programs - the first things to get cut in a deficit are social programs, and Soc Security gets raided too.

Please, please do not conflate the word "conservative" in the phrase "fiscal conservative" with the "conservatives" from the other side of the spectrum - they are definitely polar opposites.

I am for MUCH LESS defense spending (i.e., crony contracts - Hello Halliburton?), non-privatization, reduction in foreign borrowing / debt, no crazy STAR WARS projects, less business tax loopholes, etc. etc. These are all things that make me a fiscal conservative and I want it to MAKE SURE that our gov't always has the $$$ it needs to provide for the security and well-being of our citizens.

We don't want our current robber barons to say - "oh well, we're now in the red, so we have to kill Medicare!"

[Phx_Dem]

19. a fiscal conservative..

wants to spend as little as possible for the functioning of the government. IMO the term really came into play as a rhetorical tool by framing dems as "tax and spend liberals" while they were "fiscal conservatives".

[Eugene]

20. A fiscal conservative is typically tight-fisted with govt. "largesse."

He believes that government should be fiscally responsible, should operate
within its means, and should not "waste" taxpayer dollars on anything
that doesn't wear a uniform or shoot. Just don't try to take away
his subsidized water.

They have largely been shoved aside by right wing radicals who try to bleed
the government to death while enriching themselves. Breaking the bank to line
the pockets of people at the top is not fiscal conservatism, it's kleptocracy.

[KingM34]

21. I'm fiscally conservative

I think the government should not spend more than its revenue unless there is a war or other national emergency. If we'd never blown our budgets (generally under Republican presidents), we'd have several hundred billion more a year to work with for all of those things we desperately need that are now wasted on interest on the national debt.

[marions ghost]

22. since it has been appropriated by the Repuglicans

"fiscally conservative" no longer has a positive meaning.