Quote:

The political reality is that fiscal conservatism and social conservatism tend to go hand in hand.

That's certainly true, but why does it have to be that way? I am a fiscal ultra-conservative and socially conservative in my personal beliefs, but I don't believe in forcing my socially conservative personal beliefs on others, so I guess that would make me a practical social moderate/slight liberal. I guess that makes me a libertarian.

People who are extremely socially conservative usually aren't quite as conservative on fiscal issues. Fiscally conservative, no doubt, but it doesn't approach their zeal for social conservatism.

The thing that gets me so frustrated with really socially conservative people is that the entire body of their political opinions are based off of "social issues" (AKA - abortion and gay marriage). I know; a lot of people in my family are like this and I'm seen as a political black sheep "liberal" even though I'm more fiscally conservative than they are. It's funny on one hand but annoying on the other because such a narrow range of wedge issues is so dominant in their thinking.

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"(The Fed) is in the business of imposing false values." - Jim Grant
"When the fear of losing money overcomes the fear of being thought stupid, that's when you get capitulation." - Art Cashin