From: pjm@anegada.sps.mot.com (Patrick J. McGuinness)
Subject: Re: Wanted: True Conservative Positions
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin TX
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 14:29:32 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.211203.25763@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> c60a-zg@volga.Berkeley.EDU (Martin Guerrero-LabA) writes:
>In article <1992Aug13.002816.23884@oakhill.sps.mot.com> pjm@anegada.sps.mot.com (Patrick J. McGuinness) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug11.205628.29187@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> c60a-zg@volga.Berkeley.EDU (Martin Guerrero-LabA) writes:
>>>Wanted: What are the true conservative positions on:
>>There are different types, so I'll do the "Reagan"-type.
>>Better yet, I'll do my own opinion:
>>
>>>1) Foreign Aid?
>>Can be wasteful, but support if it serves the national interest.
>>>     a) Economic	
>>I do not support giving money to Governments for "economic development",
>>since free enterprise is the best economic development plan devised,
>>and this would only encourage more statist economic policies.
>>>     b) Military
>>Only to serve a valid strategic interest.
>>>     c) Aiding insurgents/rebels
>>With communism no longer a threat, probably no need for that.
>>Better to support democracy through diplomatic and economic methods.
>>
>>>2) Immigration
>>Generally favor open immigration.
>>
>Good idea!
>
>
>>>3) Minimum Wage
>>Oppose it since it destroys jobs.
>>
>>>4) Solution to "racism"
>>Equality of opportunity and a color-blind society.
>>Enforce EEOC laws.
>>
>>>5) the "Buy American" idea
>>It's bogus. Support free trade as better for the economy and the country.
>>
>Yes, I dislike the Buy American idea.  Was this an idea by the Unions by
>any chance?  (<== not a cynical comment)

That's a part of it ... the other part is the *businesses* who
want to protect their own market share without being competitive.
Remember that most trade disputes, e.g., dumping complaints, are
initiated by American companies.
>
>>>6) Workers going to other countries to reduce labor costs and reduce
>>>   cost per item.
>>(see immigration :-) )
>>I think you are talking about companies, though. If trade
>>and immigration is open, we should realize that campanies too can
>>go overseas. The solution is to maintain competitiveness at home,
>>and not try to build walls of protectionism, which will only
>>make the situation worse over the long run.
>>
>>NB: A Buchanan conservative might be different on 1,2 and 5.
>
>Yes, that was going to be my next question.  I browsed through some of
>Buchanan's positions and in my view, some of it seemed rather 
>not conservative in terms of foreign aid, open immigration, and 
>the "Buy American" idea.  Do true conservatives really support him on this?

No. I think most are more pro-free trade and for an open and inclusive America.

>What is a "Buchanan Conservative?"  Is Conservatism changing to
>Buchanan's style?

One of Reagan's virtues was his ability to bridge the gap
and form an alliance between the traditionalist conservatives
(e.g. Buchanan, Schafly) and the classical liberals/libertarians
(e.g. Kemp, DuPont, Cato Institute-types).

A "conservative crack-up" has started over a number of issues that
divide traditionalists from libertarians. I don't think there
is any movement in favor of Buchanan per se.  If anything,
"traditionalists" tend to fighting losing battles -- standing athwart
history, yelling "Stop!".

More important is the world-wide intellectual trend away from belief
in brute Government power to solve social problems.  That favors
conservativism in general, as opposed to liberalism, but it
favors the libertarian/classical liberals.
Buchanan's opposition to free trade, for example, bucks that trend.

>Who are the American Politicians in favor of 
>True Conservatism, not Buchanan's?

I would put Kemp above all other politicians right now, but there is no
"True" anything. 

------------
P. McGuinness
Newsgroups: alt.politics.elections,alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.bush,talk.politics.misc