The Social Liberal/Fiscal Conservative myth

Almost no one is actually fiscally conservative. There are, however, many folks who bravely think the spending they disfavor should be cut.

 

This.

Our politics are social only. The rest is just window dressing.

 

For politicians actual fiscal conservatism is a guaranteed path to electoral defeat, keeping in mind that to reduce the deficit it's necessary to cut spending and increase revenue. Walter Mondale proposed raising taxes in 1984 and was defeated by one of the largest margins in history, both in the popular vote and in the Electoral College. George H.W. Bush supported a very modest increase in taxes and was challenged from within his own party by Pat Buchanan and lost the 1992 general election to Bill Clinton. Clinton supported a small tax increase in 1993 which actually impacted very few taxpayers with the net result being a wave election in 1994 giving the Republicans majorities in both the House and Senate for the first time since the 1952 election.

 

Ross Perot

 

What do the red and blue dots represent? I assume political affiliation?

 

It's not really possible to be both. You can be socially liberal and believe in fiscal responsibility, but you can't really be socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Liberal social policies require government spending.

 

Correct. The real "middle" is fiscal liberal social conservative. Lots of Christians left the Democratic party over abortion.

 

I'm not following the sourcing on this. A twitter poll?

 

Interesting example. I don't personally remember Perot talking much about social issues. Looking it up, it appears that he supported more gun regulations, was pro choice, and publicly came out in support of gay rights by 1996. I remembering my grandfather and I going to a Perot rally in Pensacola, and I really liked him at the time.

 

You can support gay marriage (could have), legal/decriminalized recreational drugs or prostitution, fully legal abortion, a lower bar for immigrants or foreign labor, reduced penalties for non-violent criminal offenders, ect., and also support less government spending.

It all depends what you mean by liberal. And the term can be used a number of different ways. There is no correct one.

 

I did a reverse image search on the image and got this. Havent had a chance to look into it yet, but will later. May add some relevant info.

Six ways you might consider visualizing political issues and ideologies this election - storybench

 

Thanks. So the dots represent Clinton/Trump/other voters from 2016.

 

Yeah is this self identification, or based upon some criteria?

I’m not sure what fiscal conservative really means. Low spending, low taxes, low deficits?

I’d call myself moderate liberal socially and moderate fiscally.

 

That sounds more libertarian than liberal. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

 

marriage should have never been any of the gov’s bidness

 

I consider myself a fiscal conservative. To me I jut want govt to spend money efficiently. I understand we're going to spend a shitload of money, just try not to waste it on things like giant walls, military bases overseas, and allowing people to buy Red Bulls with EBT.

 

I'd distinguish between aspects that may be defined as socially liberal. You can fall in the "just leave people alone" camp (abortion, gay/alphabet, religious rights, etc) while also thinking social programs need to be structured to wean people off them (aid to the poor) and limiting benefits to those that don't need them.