What is the proper label for a social conservative but fiscally liberal?

[ObamaChristian]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

 

[NightHawkeye]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

Since you asked, the closest category I can think of is Communist.

No offense intended ...

 

[Kalevalatar]

Why, Christian Democrat, clearly (said a card-carrying member of the party).

Christian democracy

• In common with conservatism, traditional moral values (on marriage, abortion, etc.), opposition to secularization, a view of the evolutionary (as opposed to revolutionary) development of society, an emphasis on law and order, and a rejection of communism.
• In contrast to conservatism, open to change (for example, in the structure of society) and not necessarily supportive of the social status quo.
• In common with liberalism, an emphasis on human rights and individual initiative.
• In contrast to liberalism, a rejection of secularism, and an emphasis on the fact that the individual is part of a community and has duties towards it.
• In common with socialism, an emphasis on the community, social justice and solidarity, support for a welfare state and support for regulation of market forces.
• In contrast to socialism, most European Christian Democrats support a market economy and do not adhere to the concept of class struggle. This has not always carried over to some Latin American Christian Democratic Parties, which have been influenced by liberation theology.

 

[Needing_Grace]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

I call that a Catholic!

 

[Shane R]

Southern Democrat? By the pre-1964 definition.

 

[jayem]

Southern Democrat? By the pre-1964 definition.

Southern Democrats were strongly opposed to racial integration. Which was their defining characteristic, and probably not shared by the OP.

I'm thinking progressive conservative might be a reasonable term for him.

 

[KarateCowboy]

against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration

Common term for these is "clinically sane, decent person".

 

[Joykins]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

Christian Democrat. Not actually a US political party, but the concept exists especially in Europe.

 

[Redac]

Christian democracy, as has been mentioned. Conservative liberalism (yes that's a thing). It could trend any number of directions.

 

[Albion]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

I guess you'd be either a National Socialist or a Centrist, depending on how you look at it.

 

[only a sojourner]

ObamaChristian, I also take a conservative position on abortion and gay marriage. On economic issues I am to the left of the Democratic Party. See my thread "A Christian Economy" on the General Political Discussion sub forum. For example I think the Affordable Care Act is poorly crafted, convoluted and does not go far enough in providing universal healthcare. I don't feel there is any party in America I can really support. You call yourself ObamaChristian yet Obama and the Democratic party are pro-choice and support gay marriage. Is abortion, the killing of unborn children, less important to you than fiscal issues?

 

[WannaWitness]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

Moderate, plain and simple - like me, perhaps?!

 

[ObamaChristian]

ObamaChristian, I also take a conservative position on abortion and gay marriage. On economic issues I am to the left of the Democratic Party. See my thread "A Christian Economy" on the General Political Discussion sub forum. For example I think the Affordable Care Act is poorly crafted, convoluted and does not go far enough in providing universal healthcare. I don't feel there is any party in America I can really support. You call yourself ObamaChristian yet Obama and the Democratic party are pro-choice and support gay marriage. Is abortion, the killing of unborn children, less important to you than fiscal issues?

I am against pro-choice, but it's not a issue that would turn me away from a party.
I don't consider the killing of fetuses to be murder, because I don't consider it necessarily a human life, something in between.

I place it above the free will of the mother to abort a fetus, but not by much. It's a very close issue for me and I happen to come out on the side of pro-life by a small preference.

I am also against gay marriage but it's not a issue that would make me tow the party.

 

[Great Fiction]

I'm a social conservative (against gay marriage, abortion, illegal immigration and ect.)

But I'm fiscally liberal (higher tax rates for the rich, wealth redistribution is good, socialized medicine, money out of politics)

So what kind of conservative/liberal am I?

The proper answer is "Conservative Socialist"

Your description has noting to do with "Liberalism" which is a five hundred year old tradition of "rejecting" authoritative intervention for social conservative values and arbitrary taxation.

The media in two countries have turned the meaning of "Liberal up on its head" in the last 60 years and are now starting to look foolish for doing so now that more people are becoming educated.

Almost all of the U.S. American founders were "Liberals" who were strategic to limit the interventions of government.

What the media calls in error a "liberal" is a "Socialist" who wants the state to grant civil liberties, which socialistic conservatism legislated away, yet what the media calls a "Social Conservative" are "Conservative Socialists" who want the compulsory state to grant furthering family values in the law.

Left Socialists and Right Socialists are the primary divide in America and a few other countries

 

[Albion]

The proper answer is "Conservative Socialist"

In a way, I agree. However, there is no such animal, so I think we have to look for a better answer.

yet what the media calls a "Social Conservative" are "Conservative Socialists" who want the compulsory state to grant furthering family values in the law.

That might qualify as National Socialism, as I noted earlier, but it wouldn't be something that would deserve to be called Conservative Socialism since that would be a contradiction in terms.

 

[Christos Anesti]

A Radical Centrist or maybe Third Wayist? They combine positions from both sides of the political perspective. What you described really isn't socialism of any variety unless it includes collective ownership of the means of production. High taxes on the wealthy, welfare programs, and single payer are possible in capitalist system and without collective ownership of the means of production it really doesn't count as socialist just welfare state capitalism.

 

[Albion]

High taxes on the wealthy, welfare programs, and single payer are possible in capitalist system and without collective ownership of the means of production it really doesn't count as socialist just welfare state capitalism.

Oh, it certainly does. It would be a milder form of Socialism, but it's Socialism if the state redistributes the wealth through confiscation. Progressive taxation and an advanced welfare state is one way to do that.

 

[abdAlSalam]

Oh, it certainly does. It would be a milder form of Socialism, but it's Socialism if the state redistributes the wealth through confiscation. Progressive taxation and an advanced welfare state is one way to do that.

No again. Socialism isn't about "redistributing the wealth" in the sense that most American Conservatives are worried about. A social democracy is not a form of socialism. Socialism is by its essence a radical ideology that stresses revolutionary change rather than reformist change as advocated by social democrats. Socialism is more about form and function of production, whereas social democracy is completely compatible with having 'mixed' economic practices. While it can be argued that Progressive taxation and a welfare state are (temporary) goals of most (if not all) Socialists, it is erroneous to claim that a society with such programs is "Socialist".

 

[Albion]

No again. Socialism isn't about "redistributing the wealth" in the sense that most American Conservatives are worried about.

Unbelievable.

 

[Christos Anesti]

I'm just going by the traditional definition of "socialism" that has been used for generations and can still be found in our dictionaries today:

Full Definition of SOCIALISM (Merriam Webster)

1
: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2
a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3
: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done​

If the vast majority of the means of production are still owned by individuals and private companies / corporation then a society isn't socialist. Progressive taxation, single payer healthcare, and welfare programs can all be implemented in a capitalist country. Most modern capitalist countries have such programs right now.

I think the term "socialist" has been expanded in popular discourse due in large part to American party politics. If an economic conservative says "he supports welfare programs!" most Americans wouldn't find this that shocking. If on the other hand the economic conservative says " He is a socialist!" it immediately brings to mind for many people the totalitarian / failed states like the Soviet Union and general "anti-Ameican-ness". If they can convince people that welfare state capitalists or other non-libertarian capitalists are all actually "socialists" it works to their political favor. Unfortunately even some economic liberals fall for it because they hear the views they support labeled "socialist" all the time so eventually they say "hmm I must be a socialist then."