Conservatism and Liberalism

It’s a good exercise to define basic political terms and how they apply internationally, as Krauthammer has done. But first we should understand how “left” and “right” labels are misunderstood in the United States.

Does Krauthammer really believe that Ronald Reagan’s main accomplishment was to reduce state control of the economy and cut down the bureaucracy? Sorry, Charles, but expanding the military is the surest way to increase state power, and those in favor of it can hardly be said to fear the power of bureaucrats. This contradiction is the odd secret (or is it the big lie?) of Republicans, who continually score political points by preaching free-market economics but who are generally more likely even than Democrats to practice pork-barrel politics wherever the military is concerned.

Welfare is welfare, whether it’s for the needy or the greedy.

BRAD BONHALL

Laguna Niguel