Interesting thread, but your questions are a little nebulous themselves.
What liberal politicians, specifically?
What big central government policies? (Obama’s “building the economy from the ground up” sounds more like rhetoric than concrete policy)
Please expand on the “litany of things” you reference.
As to the larger question, to my mind there is always a fine balance to be struck between anarchy and totalitarianism. Too often both sides reflexively respond to the fringe extremists of the opposition, and as a result we get a lot of invective and rhetoric hurled back and forth but no actual dialogue in terms of how to best balance the needs of the collective against individual freedoms.
Wasn’t asking our host, I was asking you. Your OP asks questions based on rather vague presumptions. I’m just curious if you can articulate what “big central government policies” are being promoted by which “liberal politicians.” Otherwise it feels like you are simply repeating reductive conservative talking points about “libs” and then demanding someone defend against those simplified and nebulous talking points.
By no means is it the same message. Conservatives still by and large agree with Ronald Reagan when he said government is more often the problem not the solution. The general message of conservatism is that your goals and dreams are realized through rugged individualism and hard work.
Not sure that “hard work” has anything to do with either side.
I’d say:
Conservative: aspirations and hardships are ultimately the responsibility of the individual. Therefore the individual is tasked with achieving aspirations and relieving hardships.
Liberal: aspirations and hardships can be individual, societal, or both. Therefore the individual and society are tasked with achieving aspirations and relieving hardships.
Do you deny that Sean Hannity and others on tv and radio don’t do this? I’ll provide a few for you. Increased Federal government control or potential total control of the following: Childcare, Healthcare, Energy, Education, Law enforcement.
Every political campaign regardless of the level it is on promises if they get elected all will be good with the world.
Many developed nations have a hybrid system where capitalism is the foundation of their economic system yet has elements of what I imagine many would refer to socialism.
The UK has a socialized form of medicine which is not perfect but works. Alongside that are huge non government controlled industries and businesses in the fields of medical research, pharmaceuticals, even private health care.
Apart from a fringe few no one in national politics today is advocating for a complete socialist state where the state controls everything.
Here are some of the main ideas coming from today’s Democratic party. Increased Federal government control or potential total control of the following: Childcare, Healthcare, Energy, Education, Law enforcement. This is by no means an exhaustive list either.
You don’t need the rest of it. You have identified the motive. Control equals power, and it’s all about power. The power to decide. The power to impose values. The very root of the word “govern” is to rule.
