Right Wing Ideas that have Moved America Forward?

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Hoosier, that was a very good post (the long one) and in general you're spot on.

One area I'd differ is "climate change". I think most people on the right understand there is something going on, but aren't sure what to do about it. Slapping regulations on United States companies may or may not be the answer. There are always unintended consequences of government action.

My point is one cannot confuse "action" with "productivity" and similarly, one cannot confuse "inaction" with "non-productivity".

I'm trying hard to be neutral with that. However I would point out that a lot of the right denies that it is man made and that we can really do anything about it.

My main point with the exception of trying to improve commerce and national defense/foriegn policy the right in general tends to be the side that tends towards in-action while the left in general tends towards action.

So while the right is not as likely to "move America forward" it's also less likely to make major mistakes that hurt people with it's policies. The left on the other hand is more likely to take action that moves America forward but IMO is also more likely to make mistakes that harm people.

This is why I don't fit in with either side. Because there are areas that I think are problems that the right is ignoring and their in-action is harmful to the country. But there are things that the left says are problems which I honestly believe is all hogwash based on a victim culture. But they want to radically change society to fix problems that don't really exist.

And then there is the third part where I see problems that the right denies but also note that these problems are vastly overstated by the left and who wants radical change where small tweaks are better.

So I don't necessarily see every action as being a good action.

 

[Huey Grey]

How about the emancipation proclamation?

This. And I might add the women's right to vote.

 

[Titanhawk2]

So the American Revolution was a plug for a socialist, entitlement society?

 

[zwick99]

Us capitalists pretty much provided everything positive that you have in the world. Us capitalists paid for ALL the schools, hospitals, bridges, regional rails, subways, roads, planes, trains and autos. Without us Rs the typical ghettocrat would starve. Capitalists pay for the socialist welfare programs.

Afronomics is a failure.

 

[markfromj]

Work.

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

The Republicans gave us:
The Sherman Anti Trust Act
The Dependent & Disability Pension Act
The Pure Food & Drug Act - led to the FDA
The Meat Inspection Act
The US Forestry Service/National Parks
The EPA
The Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Hepburn Act- Led to Regulation of RR and Interstate Commerce

 

[naturalmwa]

The Republicans gave us:
The Sherman Anti Trust Act
The Dependent & Disability Pension Act
The Pure Food & Drug Act - led to the FDA
The Meat Inspection Act
The US Forestry Service/National Parks
The EPA
The Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Hepburn Act- Led to Regulation of RR and Interstate Commerce

You get no credit for ideas your team opposes today. Most of these accomplishments are liberal. Rs used to pass all sorts of liberal things.

 

[joelbc1]

Democrats have controlled all three branches of government 11 times since 1945. Republicans 3 times. If you don't like what has happened to the country, look to the party in total control 11 times vs, the one in control just 3 times in the last 60 years.

To put a more accurate perspective on this james...since 1980....The Dems have controlled the WH and both Houses of Congress TWICE ('93 and '09) and the GOP have controlled all them TWICE ('03 and '05) also. Perhaps you didn't know, but the third branch of the government is the Judicial Branch..and they are "apolitical." (Of course I expect you would not agree about the Judiciary.)
Since 1981 (35 years), the Dems have controlled 2 of the three (the WH,The House,the Senate), a total of 6 times (1987, '89,'91,'07, '11 and '13). Since 1981 the GOP has controlled two of the three a total of 7 times (1981, '83,85,'95,'97,'99 and '15). This would include the 97th through the 114th Congresses.
So the past 30 years, which should more directly affect how you and I live, I ask what your point might be? Both parties have dropped the ball and statistically, both parties have had "control" of the ball an equal amount of time.

 

[NoleSoup4U]

I need to know the OP's definition of "right wing" before I can respond.

I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[TexMichFan]

You get no credit for ideas your team opposes today. Most of these accomplishments are liberal. Rs used to pass all sorts of liberal things.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Then the filthy liberals try to make rules to prevent helmet to helmet hits that cause brain damage. The conservatives are mad that the manliness of the game is at risk and want to continue the tradition of brain damage despite the concerns and will of the players union. The libertarians then come in and announce they are libertarians because that is what they do, and proclaim that helmets are the actual cause of the head to head hits and need to be removed from the game.

No, Libertarians(if you need to label) are smart enough not to play the game that's already rigged by Vegas in the first place.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Yep

Yes, they have indeed moved out wars forward, along with the wealth gap, along with handing more powers to the state, along with making Americans more divided and so on.

Someday you'll grow up to the truth and it's going to be difficult for you. You'll wake up one day and realize what some of us already know. You're a cage to yourself. Too bad.

 

[73chief]

This will be a very difficult question to answer since there will not be agreement on what is "right wing". First off, many policies/philosophies/laws can equally be claimed as both progressively liberal and conservative at the same time.

For the sake of the discussion, conservatism in the United States, and therefore conservative policies, emphasizes a tradition of "property rights". The right to own one's self and his/her abilities, and own what those abilities produce. Conservatism also has an emphasis upon retention of "tried and true" institutions as opposed to "innovation for innovation's sake". So with these basic fundamentals in mind, here is a list of conservative policies/laws/actions over the past 250 years that have moved America forward. They are in no particular order:

• First and form most the rejection by George Washington for calls that he be named King of the new United States with hereditary title in perpetuity. This was offered to him and his family and he unilaterally rejected it. This would have changed the direction of the nation forever.
• The 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 27th Amendment to the Untied States Constitution.
• Any law that has been passed which provides, guarantees, or advances personal property rights of US Citizens.
• The creation of the Revenue Cutter Service(current Coast Guard) by Alexander Hamilton. First action taken to protect property rights and rights of free commerce by combatting illegal commerce activities.
• Postal Services Act of 1792
• Coinage Act of 1792
• The Naval Act of 1794
• Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798
• The Louisiana Purchase
• The Monroe Doctrine
• The Treaty of 1819.
• Homestead Act of 1862
• Judiciary Act of 1869
• Creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission
• The Repeal of the Tenure of Office Act. I believe that took place in 1887(I think)
• Defiance of the "spoils system" by Grover Cleveland setting a precedence that ultimately became policy.
• The Purchase of Florida from Spain
• The Purchase of Alaska from Russia
• The Morrill-Land Grant Acts
• The Federal Aid Highway Act
• The Bretton Woods International Monetary Agreement of 1944.
• The Marshall Plan
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Theodore Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet"
• Federal Reserve Act of 1913
• The Potsdam Declaration
• The Truman Doctrine
• Establishment of the National Park and National Forrest Systems
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty(INF)
• And my personal favorite, the creation of the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Commission in 1925 which began the construction of Mt. Rushmore.

Those are just a few that came to mind.

 

[broth87]

Hoosier, that was a very good post (the long one) and in general you're spot on.

One area I'd differ is "climate change". I think most people on the right understand there is something going on, but aren't sure what to do about it. Slapping regulations on United States companies may or may not be the answer. There are always unintended consequences of government action.

My point is one cannot confuse "action" with "productivity" and similarly, one cannot confuse "inaction" with "non-productivity".

Ignorance belongs to those who only think there's one way forward, their way. The truth is both parties have moved this country forward albeit in different ways. Its amazing that our country has managed to not only stay afloat but thrive with the party system up until about the last 30 years when it has become almost completely obstructionist. Thomas Jefferson, who I believe to be the smartest American statesman ever to live, predicted the fall of this country because of the party system and the fact that it was so divisive. He was wrong for the better part of 200 years but I'm starting to fear that his words are starting to ring true. Neither side of the aisle will work with the other anymore. Some of our best Presidents were the result of congressmen and women working together and compromising. FDR was a damn socialist and served 3 full quality terms and into a 4th because the Congress at the time worked together. That truly was the greatest generation of Americans.
Now, if a member of one party even tried too work across the aisle, they're labeled and ridiculed. Chris Christie in a tragic tone dealing with destruction in his state got help from President Obama and they actually worked together and it led to a hug between the two that has essentially ruined Christie's political career in the Republican Party ever since. It's stupid. Rubio works with the gang of 8 on immigration reform and gets labeled a RINO. Stupid.Joe Lieberman worked across the aisle and basically got kicked out if the Democrat Party and now serves as an Independent. Stupid. Nothing will ever get shoved and this country will never heal racially or financially or in any other way until we get past this nonsense.

 

[naturalmwa]

Don't be silly. You can't claim the EPA as a wright wing idea when it's a wright wing idea to eliminate it. The ref is blind.

 

[broth87]

This will be a very difficult question to answer since there will not be agreement on what is "right wing". First off, many policies/philosophies/laws can equally be claimed as both progressively liberal and conservative at the same time.

For the sake of the discussion, conservatism in the United States, and therefore conservative policies, emphasizes a tradition of "property rights". The right to own one's self and his/her abilities, and own what those abilities produce. Conservatism also has an emphasis upon retention of "tried and true" institutions as opposed to "innovation for innovation's sake". So with these basic fundamentals in mind, here is a list of conservative policies/laws/actions over the past 250 years that have moved America forward. They are in no particular order:

• First and form most the rejection by George Washington for calls that he be named King of the new United States with hereditary title in perpetuity. This was offered to him and his family and he unilaterally rejected it. This would have changed the direction of the nation forever.
• The 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The 27th Amendment to the Untied States Constitution.
• Any law that has been passed which provides, guarantees, or advances personal property rights of US Citizens.
• The creation of the Revenue Cutter Service(current Coast Guard) by Alexander Hamilton. This protected property rights and rights of free commerce by combatting illegal commerce activities.
• Postal Services Act of 1792
• Coinage Act of 1792
• The Naval Act of 1794
• Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798
• The Louisiana Purchase
• The Monroe Doctrine
• The Treaty of 1819.
• Homestead Act of 1862
• Judiciary Act of 1869
• Creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission
• The Repeal of the Tenure of Office Act. I believe that took place in 1887(I think)
• Defiance of the "spoils system" by Grover Cleveland setting a precedence that ultimately became policy.
• The Purchase of Florida from Spain
• The Purchase of Alaska from Russia
• The Morrill-Land Grant Acts
• The Federal Aid Highway Act
• The Bretton Woods International Monetary Agreement of 1944.
• The Marshall Plan
• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Theodore Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet"
• Federal Reserve Act of 1913
• The Potsdam Declaration
• The Truman Doctrine
• Establishment of the National Park and National Forrest Systems
• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty(INF)
• And my personal favorite, the creation of the Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Commission in 1925 which began the construction of Mt. Rushmore.

Those are just a few that came to mind.

That's solid work. It's only a short list but a powerful one.

 

[moral_victory]

No, Libertarians(if you need to label) are smart enough not to play the game that's already rigged by Vegas in the first place.

One problem. Libertarian politicians exist.

 

[millhawk]

So Lincoln was a liberal? Conservatives believe in a color blind society, liberals still advocate racism.

BINGO!! they've turned it into an industry.

 

[TexMichFan]

Don't be silly. You can't claim the EPA as a wright wing idea when it's a wright wing idea to eliminate it. The ref is blind.

The question the OP asked was what right wing ideas have moved America forward.

It was not what ideas moved America forward that liberals now feel they can't claim.

Upon further review the ref's call has been confirmed.

 

[73chief]

So Lincoln was a liberal?

Definitely a conservative. A political disciple of Henry Clay. His political philosophy was drawn from the Whig party of Clay. That was based on traditions of limited government, fiscal responsibility, national identity, territorial expansion, and the modernization of the economy. As far as the issue of slavery, the abolitionist movement was born of the very fundamentalist religious movements of the day, especially within the Puritan and Quaker religions. So from a historical perspective, the abolition of slavery was definitely considered a conservative idea at the time. that even goes back to the debate over the Declaration of Independence.

However, his suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War was then, and is still now, not a conservative idea and is a point of contention amongst scholars.

 

[Hawk in SEC Country]

You get no credit for ideas your team opposes today. Most of these accomplishments are liberal. Rs used to pass all sorts of liberal things.

You just moved the goal posts.

 

[Hawk in SEC Country]

One problem. Libertarian politicians exist.

God forbid we give people as much freedom as possible. Why do you want a Gov't that controls every aspect of your life?

 

[moral_victory]

God forbid we give people as much freedom as possible. Why do you want a Gov't that controls every aspect of your life?

Context you imply junky.

 

[naturalmwa]

The question the OP asked was what right wing ideas have moved America forward.

It was not what ideas moved America forward that liberals now feel they can't claim.

Upon further review the ref's call has been confirmed.

Nope, regulating industry to protect the environment is not a right wing idea. The ref is fired.

 

[naturalmwa]

God forbid we give people as much freedom as possible. Why do you want a Gov't that controls every aspect of your life?

Because people do bad things when you give them libertarian levels of freedom.

 

[naturalmwa]

You just moved the goal posts.

Nope, the idea has to be right wing to fit through the goal posts. You're ejected from the game for not following the rules.

 

[naturalmwa]

Definitely a conservative. A political disciple of Henry Clay. His political philosophy was drawn from the Whig party of Clay. That was based on traditions of limited government, fiscal responsibility, national identity, territorial expansion, and the modernization of the economy. As far as the issue of slavery, the abolitionist movement was born of the very fundamentalist religious movements of the day, especially within the Puritan and Quaker religions. So from a historical perspective, the abolition of slavery was definitely considered a conservative idea at the time. that even goes back to the debate over the Declaration of Independence.

However, his suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War was then, and is still now, not a conservative idea and is a point of contention amongst scholars.

The anti slavery movement was born out of the labor movement and the desire to have a man be paid a living wage. Liberal. The bible is pro slavery remember.

 

[Hawk in SEC Country]

Nope, the idea has to be right wing to fit through the goal posts. You're ejected from the game for not following the rules.

You're changing the framing of the OP to meet your own views and opinions. The question was not...based on what we are told they stand for now. The question was "What ideas or implementations have they made that have moved us forward. WHEN THEY MADE THEM..."

You're failing miserably at this.
We can go on for days on things the Democrats have done that we are told they no longer stand for. You know.... like Jim Crow......

 

[naturalmwa]

You're changing the framing of the OP to meet your own views and opinions. The question was not...based on what we are told they stand for now. The question was "What ideas or implementations have they made that have moved us forward. WHEN THEY MADE THEM..."

You're failing miserably at this.
We can go on for days on things the Democrats have done that we are told they no longer stand for. You know.... like Jim Crow......

"When they made them" is an addition you are making, meaning you moved the goal. Regulating industry for the common good has always been a left wing collectivist idea. Jim Crow is a right wing idea. Learn your political philosophies. Something isn't right or left just because it has an R or D next to it.

 

[73chief]

The anti slavery movement was born out of the labor movement and the desire to have a man be paid a living wage. Liberal. The bible is pro slavery remember.

Not even close. The modern abolitionist movement organized as a direct response to the Missouri Compromise of 1820. William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan founded the American Anti-slavery Society on the basis of a religious belief that it was a social and moral evil. Garrison was a disciple of the Presbyterian minister John Rankin who was one of the earliest individuals to promote the abolition of slavery in the United State by forceful means. Garrison wrote for and published along with Benjamin Lundy, the Genius of Universal Emancipation, a Quaker newspaper in Baltimore. He later co-founded the Liberator in New England. Tappan was a devout Calvinist. He made his fortune as a dry goods importer and later an abolitionist publisher. The first formal national anti-slavery convention was held in 1837 in New York City. Over 1/3 of the delegates were Quaker activists.

The white working class in the northern states was strongly against the abolition of slavery at this time due to fear the freed blacks would flood northern job markets and take too many jobs. Freed slaves in the north were persecuted and locked out of most employment at this time. So there was no desire by working class whites in the north at this time for the abolition of slavery based on a desire to have a man receive a living wage. In fact, their attitude on the issue was the exact opposite. They knew freed slaves would work for less and force them out of work.

 

[73chief]

You're changing the framing of the OP to meet your own views and opinions. The question was not...based on what we are told they stand for now. The question was "What ideas or implementations have they made that have moved us forward. WHEN THEY MADE THEM..."

You're failing miserably at this.
We can go on for days on things the Democrats have done that we are told they no longer stand for. You know.... like Jim Crow......

He has a history of this, and yes he is failing.

 

[TexMichFan]

Nope, regulating industry to protect the environment is not a right wing idea. The ref is fired.

First you were at "they can't get credit for something they now oppose" and now you are it "was not a right wing idea".

Those posts are rocking and rolling.

 

[naturalmwa]

Not even close. The modern abolitionist movement organized as a direct response to the Missouri Compromise of 1820. William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan founded the American Anti-slavery Society on the basis of a religious belief that it was a social and moral evil. Garrison was a disciple of the Presbyterian minister John Rankin who was one of the earliest individuals to promote the abolition of slavery in the United State by forceful means. Garrison wrote for and published along with Benjamin Lundy, the Genius of Universal Emancipation, a Quaker newspaper in Baltimore. He later co-founded the Liberator in New England. Tappan was a devout Calvinist. He made his fortune as a dry goods importer and later an abolitionist publisher. The first formal national anti-slavery convention was held in 1837 in New York City. Over 1/3 of the delegates were Quaker activists.

The white working class in the northern was strongly against the abolition of slavery at this time due to fear the freed blacks would flood northern job markets and take to many jobs. Freed slaves in the north were persecuted and locked out of most employment at this time. So there was no desire by working class whites in the north at this time for the abolition of slavery based on a desire to have a man receive a living wage. In fact, their attitude on the issue was the exact opposite.

That's not a correct understanding of history. The workers in the north were having their wages undercut by the free labor down south. The norther worker wanted slavery to end so that they couldn't be undercut by the cheaper cost of production in the south. This was the birth of the American labor ethic which was part of the free soil movement which became part of the R party. You underestimate the importance of cash in the fight to end slavery.

 

[naturalmwa]

First you were at "they can't get credit for something they now oppose" and now you are it "was not a right wing idea".

Those posts are rocking and rolling.

Both those positions are in concert. The EPA wasn't right wing, isn't right wing, but getting rid of it is right wing.

By 73's definition for a thing to be right wing it must be pro small government and pro personal property. The EPA and several other examples in this thread violate that standard. The EPA is big government regulations that weaken personal property rights in favor of the collective. But I'm glad to see all the cons suddenly proud of the EPA and so many other liberal ideas.

 

[zwick99]

Without us Rs the USA would be Africa and most hoodiecrats would stave. US Rs do the work and pay the taxes to support your welfare programs.

 

[73chief]

That's not a correct understanding of history. The workers in the north were having their wages undercut by the free labor down south. The norther worker wanted slavery to end so that they couldn't be undercut by the cheaper cost of production in the south. This was the birth of the American labor ethic which was part of the free soil movement which became part of the R party. You underestimate the importance of cash in the fight to end slavery.

The free soil movement was a fringe movement in the very late 1940s/early 1850s primarily as part of the Democratic and Whig parties, primarily in the state of New York. They did run their own candidate in the 1948 and 1952 presidential elections. One being former President Martin Van Buren. This occurred over 30 years after the formation of the modern abolitionist movement. They were focused on anti-slavery issues in the new western territories only and distanced themselves from the established militant abolitionist movement in New England. The Compromise of 1850 basically eliminated the one issue that they had and many of the members migrated to the newly formed Republican Party and the movement was basically non-existent after 1853.

The south had less than 1/10 of the industry that the north did and a very small percentage of industrial labor in the south was occupied by slaves. Slaves were used primarily for agrarian labor in the south. There was a much smaller need for agrarian labor in the north since there were very few large farms in that region and the crops grown in the north were less labor intensive than the cotton and tobacco grown in the South. Southern slaves were absolutely zero competition for industrial workers in the north as long as they were slaves in the south.

In the 1830s and early 1840s there were numerous riots and violence against the northern abolitionist movement led by working class whites based on fear that freed blacks would migrate north and take their jobs. I would recommend you google the Farren Riots in 1834 to find out what northern working class whites thought of abolition.

You aren't even close on this one.

 

[DrVenkman]

Gridlock only makes sense if the current rules are the ones you like, or if you fear the rules that will emerge absent gridlock will be worse than those in place now.

Since the Great Deregulation and Great Tax Cuts for the Rich of the last several administrations, the plutocrats, oligarchs, big corporations, Big Money, Big Oil and Big Pharma and such have the rules stacked very strongly in their favor.

Sure, they'd like to be able to concentrate wealth and power even faster. So they will back the politicians who will do that. But if nothing gets done, they are pretty happy with the way things are.

This is getting more to what I would argue is the bigger issue.. Over many administrations, the monetary policy in this country has allowed for the decline in interest rates, pretty much going back to the Carter administration, as mentioned awhile back. YES there have been excellent growth phases but monetary policy has been unable to keep up. The US has plenty of social issues that are wrapped in financial dark cloaks (like social security, healthcare costs, infrastructure spending, education- particularly higher education costs) and this country has had plenty of times when it could have built up a bigger reserves and truly looked at taking care of some of these financial issues over a longer period of time. Right now, with the country approaching 20 trillion$ in debt and a declining economy, we can not address it now. Unless some huge changes can be made. I believe that over time, in the name, of capitalism which is intrinsic to the fabric of this country, administrations have looked to take care of business AND jobs first. Foregoing the 20T$ problem in the room.

great website right here: http://www.usdebtclock.org/

 

[Hawk in SEC Country]

"When they made them" is an addition you are making, meaning you moved the goal. Regulating industry for the common good has always been a left wing collectivist idea. Jim Crow is a right wing idea. Learn your political philosophies. Something isn't right or left just because it has an R or D next to it.

once again....you're applying your own definitions to suit your argument.
What parties made those decisions.......regardless of where it leaves on the scale of political ideology......the original question is
What things have Republicans done to move the country forward. People have named them.......and you devolve your argument in to whether TODAYS politics state if it's a right wing, or left wing ideology.....when we know both parties have had their ideologies shift for both good and bad.

You're being intellectually dishonest and you'd rather play bullshit games. Nothing is worse than a smart person playing stupid.

 

[naturalmwa]

once again....you're applying your own definitions to suit your argument.
What parties made those decisions.......regardless of where it leaves on the scale of political ideology......the original question is
What things have Republicans done to move the country forward. People have named them.......and you devolve your argument in to whether TODAYS politics state if it's a right wing, or left wing ideology.....when we know both parties have had their ideologies shift for both good and bad.

You're being intellectually dishonest and you'd rather play bullshit games.

You're wrong. Read the original post again. The question is right in the title. You are trying to redefine the question from right wing ideas to Republican ideas. Insisting on basic reading comprehension is not moving the goal posts, it's respecting them.

There is no dishonesty on my part. You and a few others simply didn't read the original question. I'll do you the courtesy of not questioning your integrity. Mercy is another liberal idea.