Could the Republican Party appeal to a centre right atheist?

I am sure there are US citizens that hold similar positions to you and loath the current state of the GOP. I know some who do but can't offer any data. The GOP should drop the cultural/pseudo-Christian agenda and get on with actual conservative politics, but I don't see that happening any time soon. They're too entrenched.

Well, if Republicans can manage to get rid of Trump's influence someday, they might manage to get back to being fiscally conservative. As it is, you can only count on them being socially conservative, and as you note, they've been taking that to unhealthy degrees. I'd love to see them get more fiscally conservative so that they can counter the Democrats, but Trump doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

stevil said:

Firstly, I'm not a USA citizen. But I am centre right with regards to fiscal policy. I believe in Capitalism, I believe in minimising government. I believe people should be afforded as much freedoms as possible.

But I am centre right rather than far right, because I don't accept anarcho-capitalism, I don't think companies left to their own devices particularly care about employees or the environment and so I think Government does need to intervene somewhat to help out those people that are at the mercy of the big wealthy companies.
I consider healthcare to be a human right, and think society/government should provide.

But, from what I can see (as an outsider to USA), the Republican party seem to be more focused on cultural nonsense rather than a positive economic policy.
They seem to be stuck in an ultra conservative, White Christian mindset. They seem to be mostly focused on fear of change, and fear of a non White Christian society.

I have none of these fears. I'm not worried about cultural changes, I'm not afraid to go outside my house, I'm not afraid of my neighbors sinning. I'm not afraid of people kissing on tv or in the streets, I'm not afraid of kids being taught about various sexual orientations or about transgenerism. I'm not afraid of brown immigrants or of efforts to improve the lot of impoverished minorities.

But if I were a USA person, I'd be keen to have a political party that represents a centre right position, but not a Christian White one.
My question is, does the Republican party appeal to people that are fiscally centre right? and if so, how?

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They tried that and it didn’t work. It helped the affluent and failed to address much of anything relevant to the middle class and poor. As more people started appreciating just how empty their policies were, the efficacy of their economic propaganda began to wane, which opened the door for the culture warriors to take over the party.

Not that they were ever all that fiscally conservative anyways. A better way to describe their policies was austerity for groups they didn’t care for and largesse for those they did.

stevil said:

Firstly, I'm not a USA citizen. But I am centre right with regards to fiscal policy. I believe in Capitalism, I believe in minimising government. I believe people should be afforded as much freedoms as possible.

But I am centre right rather than far right, because I don't accept anarcho-capitalism, I don't think companies left to their own devices particularly care about employees or the environment and so I think Government does need to intervene somewhat to help out those people that are at the mercy of the big wealthy companies.

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That's precisely the kind of government that today's Republican Party wants to minimize under the banner of deregulation.

They're also not so keen on spending on healthcare, education, welfare, and other things you might consider the legitimate business of government.

At the same time, they are generally eager to increase defense spending.

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As for the Christian/nonChristian divide. I think it will be a long time before the GOP becomes more welcoming (or appealing) to non-Christians.

Before he was fired for misconduct, David Silverman was head of American Atheists and also politically conservative. He was going to have a booth at CPAC in 2014, but the organizers cancelled him. CPAC isn't literally a Republican Party event, but it certainly was then an important gathering for GOP politicians (although currently it is so Trump-aligned that his potential competitors are avoiding it).

If anything, the GOP seems even less welcoming to atheists now than it was in 2014. A number of elected Republicans now openly brand themselves as Christian nationalists. While they are a minority, the majority is unwilling or unable to get them to keep it to themselves. Or maybe they don't think it hurts the GOP brand.

FWIW, Silverman now chairman of Atheists for Liberty, which appears to be a politically conservative group in favor of personal freedoms and separation of church and state. But it also strays into the culture wars, decrying the "new religion of wokeness."

iluvatar5150 said:

They tried that and it didn’t work. It helped the affluent and failed to address much of anything relevant to the middle class and poor. As more people started appreciating just how empty their policies were, the efficacy of their economic propaganda began to wane, which opened the door for the culture warriors to take over the party.

Not that they were ever all that fiscally conservative anyways. A better way to describe their policies was austerity for groups they didn’t care for and largesse for those they did.

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This. Ten years ago you would have been fine, but now you'd be better off holding your nose and considering yourself a moderate Democrat, honestly. There's a small core of Republicans in some swing states that are trying to hold on to fiscal conservatism as a Republican value but they're very much swimming upstream.

At this point, it's getting more and more difficult to make the case that it's morally acceptable to align with the GOP in hopes that it will represent fiscal conservatism instead of whatever it is that they stand for now.

stevil said:

Firstly, I'm not a USA citizen. But I am centre right with regards to fiscal policy. I believe in Capitalism, I believe in minimising government. I believe people should be afforded as much freedoms as possible.

But I am centre right rather than far right, because I don't accept anarcho-capitalism, I don't think companies left to their own devices particularly care about employees or the environment and so I think Government does need to intervene somewhat to help out those people that are at the mercy of the big wealthy companies.
I consider healthcare to be a human right, and think society/government should provide.

But, from what I can see (as an outsider to USA), the Republican party seem to be more focused on cultural nonsense rather than a positive economic policy.
They seem to be stuck in an ultra conservative, White Christian mindset. They seem to be mostly focused on fear of change, and fear of a non White Christian society.

I have none of these fears. I'm not worried about cultural changes, I'm not afraid to go outside my house, I'm not afraid of my neighbors sinning. I'm not afraid of people kissing on tv or in the streets, I'm not afraid of kids being taught about various sexual orientations or about transgenerism. I'm not afraid of brown immigrants or of efforts to improve the lot of impoverished minorities.

But if I were a USA person, I'd be keen to have a political party that represents a centre right position, but not a Christian White one.
My question is, does the Republican party appeal to people that are fiscally centre right? and if so, how?

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President Trump proved that the GOP isn’t as hawkish on this “big government” idea; oh he pared the staff to the bone, but still wanted the very same performance, even though governments have proven that their efficiencies are at least on-par with the private-sector and many times, better.

public hermit said:

I am sure there are US citizens that hold similar positions to you and loath the current state of the GOP. I know some who do but can't offer any data. The GOP should drop the cultural/pseudo-Christian agenda and get on with actual conservative politics, but I don't see that happening any time soon. They're too entrenched.

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And yet are convinced that they’re not the ones who moved significantly to the right simply by trying to hold on to the olden-days. Let the kids have the world to play with for THEIR time, us B**mers have to step aside, we done our damage.

Libertarians are economically conservative and socially liberal.

It is a minor party, garnering 2-3% of the vote.

stevil said:

Oh, so maybe I'm a Libertarian then.

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They are fairly extreme on 'free market capitalism', and the destruction of most government functions, so it may not be a good fit.

The "poverty and welfare" issues page of the Libertarian Party's website says that it opposes regulation of capitalist economic institutions and advocates dismantling the entirety of the welfare state:

We should eliminate the entire social welfare system. This includes eliminating food stamps, subsidized housing, and all the rest. Individuals who are unable to fully support themselves and their families through the job market must, once again, learn to rely on supportive family, church, community, or private charity to bridge the gap

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Education[edit]​

The party supports ending the public school system.

Healthcare[edit]​

The Libertarian Party favors a free market health care system without government oversight, approval, regulation, or licensing.

As Fantine notes, the LIbertarian Party has a few percent of the electorate (making it actually one of the more successful third parties in the US, while still insignificant). Practically, there is some overlap between libertarians and the GOP. Ron Paul has run for president as both a Republican and a Libertarian, and his son Rand Paul is a GOP senator from Kentucky with a lot of libertarianism in his make-up.

stevil said:

Wow, that's pretty extreme far right stuff there.
Basically, a person that can't afford health care, they want them to take to the streets and literally beg for their lives.

Seems like a system where the wealthy will thrive, and won't have to worry about putting back into society.
The poor will be strong armed by the wealthy. Homeless, uneducated and no hope for any kind of medical treatment. Basically forced into crime and an early grave. What a system!

But then again, I thought all this stuff is also what the Republican party want too.

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In my not so humble opinion, the Libertarian party platforms represent the combination of the absolute worst of the two major parties. Of course, your opinion could vary.

stevil said:

Seems like a system where the wealthy will thrive, and won't have to worry about putting back into society.
The poor will be strong armed by the wealthy. Homeless, uneducated and no hope for any kind of medical treatment. Basically forced into crime and an early grave. What a system!

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To be fair that's late stage capitalism and America: from the outside looking in it really is a selfish and uncaring society.

I suppose the writings of Ayn Rand might appeal to a non religious conservative. If I was an atheist, agnostic etc. , I might be drawn to her philosophy. I only read her 1 book: We the Living which seemed pretty good. In the 1950s & 60s, she was influential in the then more secular, conservative Republican circles.

Firstly, I'm not a USA citizen. But I am centre right with regards to fiscal policy. I believe in Capitalism, I believe in minimising government. I believe people should be afforded as much freedoms as possible.

But I am centre right rather than far right, because I don't accept anarcho-capitalism, I don't think companies left to their own devices particularly care about employees or the environment and so I think Government does need to intervene somewhat to help out those people that are at the mercy of the big wealthy companies.
I consider healthcare to be a human right, and think society/government should provide.

But, from what I can see (as an outsider to USA), the Republican party seem to be more focused on cultural nonsense rather than a positive economic policy.
They seem to be stuck in an ultra conservative, White Christian mindset. They seem to be mostly focused on fear of change, and fear of a non White Christian society.

I have none of these fears. I'm not worried about cultural changes, I'm not afraid to go outside my house, I'm not afraid of my neighbors sinning. I'm not afraid of people kissing on tv or in the streets, I'm not afraid of kids being taught about various sexual orientations or about transgenerism. I'm not afraid of brown immigrants or of efforts to improve the lot of impoverished minorities.

But if I were a USA person, I'd be keen to have a political party that represents a centre right position, but not a Christian White one.

but not a Christian White one.

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???? How about a "Christian black one"

There should not be a merging of any religion and a government. Children 's education is the responsibility of the parents .... and they should have a right to know what is being taught (presented in the classroom) .... and also if something being taught (of moral concerns) that the parents don't agree with then they should be given the opportunity to "opt their child out of it" without consequence ... meaning they should be electives (not compulsory) ... the basic core teaching should be to treat everyone kindly and I would hope everyone would agree with that. Sure it's important for children to learn about cultural differences .... but the parents should be the ones to decide when that is to occur.

Lukaris said:

I suppose the writings of Ayn Rand might appeal to a non religious conservative. If I was an atheist, agnostic etc. , I might be drawn to her philosophy. I only read her 1 book: We the Living which seemed pretty good. In the 1950s & 60s, she was influential in the then more secular, conservative Republican circles.

Ayn Rand - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

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Personally, I'm repelled by her philosophy of realism and ethical egoism.

Yttrium said:

Personally, I'm repelled by her philosophy of realism and ethical egoism.

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To her credit, she never tried to force her ideas on anyone and actually experienced Marxist totalitarianism. Although a materialist, she probably cared less if anyone found her philosophy appealing but was otherwise religious & believed in a moral necessity for charity.

stevil said:

Firstly, I'm not a USA citizen.

But if I were a USA person,

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The word you're looking for is American. I don't know why some non-Americans feel the need to use such tortured, contrived and incorrect phrasing.