That's an accelerationist or a nihilist. If the status quo is pro-immigration and pro-LGBT rights, wanting to keep this status quo will make you a "conservative" because you want to conserve the status quo.

People love to harp about the good ole days

They're reactionaries.

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 24 points 9 months ago (2 children)

"Conservatives" haven't wanted to conserve anything in a very long time. They want to prop up the rich with government subsidies, hurt the poor, control the women, and hopefully kill some sick people along the way. That's a damned far sight from conserving traditional American values.

[–] thesporkeffect@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

The thing they want to conserve is a hierarchical society defined by wealth and privilege

[–] Senal@programming.dev 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

i'd imagine a part of the problem is that at least some of them do in fact see those things as "traditional american values" so from their perspective they are conserving their version of reality.

Genuine question as i don't actually know the answer, is conservatism considered to be the conservation specifically of "traditional" values. Like, is there an agreed upon timeframe in which these traditional values were held or is it more of a moving target sort of thing ?

[–] Seasoned_Greetings@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I'm no expert, but I always thought the American brand "conservative" stood for "fiscal conservative", as in, to save money by limiting government spending.

That definition lines up well with their actual policies which tend to be cutting government spending, tax cuts, downsizing government jobs, etc.

Not really conserving traditions. Although there's plenty of that in their cultural identity.

Edit: to be clear, the party has long since moved past being actually conservative. The most accurate description they might have now would be the party of spite.

[–] rusticus@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago

Relevant: https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jul/29/tweets/republican-presidents-democrats-contribute-deficit/

[–] tormeh@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 9 months ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism vs https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatism_in_the_United_States

[–] YeetPics@mander.xyz 8 points 9 months ago

Nah that's just how they look from a sane individual's perspective. They think they're helping, it would be cute if it wasn't so fucking sad.

[–] Facebones@reddthat.com 6 points 9 months ago

This though. People love to harp about the good ole days but leave out that the good ole days were good cause only cishet white men could participate in the economy