Since conservative politics became mainstream

[AllentownJake]

We have gone from a creditor nation to a debtor nation.

We have gone from a trade surplus to a trade deficit

Divorce has increased.

Family incomes have decreased.

Our economy went from a manufacturing economic base to a consumption economic base that is unsustainable.

Usury laws have been revoked.

Household debt has increased.

The dollar has lost considerable purchasing power.

America has fallen in its status in the world for Health Care for its citizens.

How about we start talking about what the past 30 years of conservative politics has wrought instead of trying to defend ourselves. We play too much defense when everything that has happened in the world for the past 30 years says we should be on offense.

[Birthmark]

1. All excellent points

Conservatism has greatly harmed America and Americans. (And it's not the first time, either.) Why this isn't pounded into the Peoples' heads by Democrats is a complete mystery to me.

[AllentownJake]

2. Easy answer

Elitist cowardice.

Most of the democrats we are electing are more invested in having the system benefit them personally than they are into any form of populism.

You are going to see populist rhetoric from the GOP in 2010, and it will be our fault.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Because They've Become Classical Republicans

To quote Bill Maher - we have a center-right party, and a crazy party.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. That's actually a bit simplistic.

I would guess that women actually having the option to leave and support themselves rather than being forced to rely on a husband no matter what an asshole he is has more to do with the divorce rate than "conservative policies".

[AllentownJake]

6. The number one cause of divorce is financial problems

Followed by a cheating spouse.

One could argue that the first cause is a symptom of the conservative policies on the middle class, the second appears to be a failure of the Christian nation myth.

Maybe if Christians focused more on fidelity in their own marriages, they'd be less worried about what the LGBT community does in their relationships.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. People have always had financial problems and infidelity. The difference is that now people have

the option to walk away---Hence the rising divorce rate.

And plenty of Democrats push religious politics on America.

[AllentownJake]

9. If you want to give the conservatives a pass on their war on the American family

It's up to you. I however, will continue to make the correlation that conservatives are responsible for higher divorce rates.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. I have no problem with higher divorce rates.

My grandma and my great grandma were in hellish marriages in the 30s and 50s. They stayed married. This did not mean that they were happy families.

My mom dumped my alcoholic father and there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not glad for that.

[AllentownJake]

12. Your family has a bad experience with marriages

Mine doesn't. I have a long line of faithful, flawed, but charitable men in my family so maybe my idea of the institution isn't as negative as yours.

That said, personally, I have no plans on it. My personality is not one that is conducive to being happy settled down.

[mwb970]

5. Thanks go to St. Ronaldus Magnus.

Reagan did more to ruin this country than any other modern president. He was much worse than even the emetic george w bush IMO. The Great American Decline began in January 1980 and continues apace.

[madrchsod]

7. both parties are to blame since 1973.

the war on the middle class started in 1973 and it has`t stopped. they keep us just live enough to feed them

[samplegirl]

11. Great Post!!!

In the conservative world....history did not begin until Jan 20th.

K&R

[ixion]

13. and the (privatized) prison population has sky rocketed

[stray cat]

14. and yet even DUers may help re-elect them due to a belief that dems are no different

and at least some dems may be worse than some of the GOP

[AllentownJake]

15. Conservative politics has entered the DNC

Just to a less of extent than the GOP.

Find me some fair trade democrats, the EFCA will not be passed this congress, and the health care bill is heavy on the corporate involvement light in the belief that government can be a solution to a problem the private market fails to address. That and the pro-war, pro-defense spending sector of the DNC.

Oh, and they are gutting the reform in the banking reform.

Is the GOP worse, yep. Does our current congress have much of a leg to stand on? Not really, they just are tamer conservatives. They haven't rejected Reaganism, they have embraced a good portion of it.

[KharmaTrain]

16. It's Always Been "Conservative"

Especially when it comes to economics. Yesterday I saw a thread on who was the last "Progressive" Democrat. My answer would have been "none of the above" or Teddy Roosevelt. Yes, FDR overaw a major social overhaul but it was more a product of the times than any real personal conviction. I really doubt if there hadn't been such a massive economic and social upheaval during the early years of the Depression, SSI and many other New Deal programs would never had seen the light of day.

Some have this fantasy that the Democrats were a true "liberal" or "progressive" party. Not in my lifetime it hasn't. It's policies have favored labor and the middle class, but their coffers have always been open to the same lobbyists and other big spenders as anyone. We live in a country of endless campaigns and thus the corporate money is more important than ever before. The public be damned as gathering the cash means more than the votes...cause without the cash there won't be votes.