Goldwater Conservativism

Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Tolerance in the face of tyranny is no virtue. ~Barry Goldwater

I agree with this. It is the essence of traditional conservative american political thought.

I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution ... or have failed their purpose ... or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is 'needed' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should be attacked for neglecting my constituents' 'interests,' I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty, and in that cause I am doing the very best I can. ~Barry Goldwater

How did it happen? How did our national government grow from a servant with sharply limited powers into a master with virtually unlimited power? In part, we were swindled. There are occasions when we have elevated men and political parties to power that promised to restore limited government and then proceeded, after their election, to expand the activities of government. But let us be honest with ourselves. Broken promises are not the major causes of our trouble. Kept promises are. All too often we have put men in office who have suggested spending a little more on this, a little more on that, who have proposed a new welfare program, who have thought of another variety of 'security.' We have taken the bait, preferring to put off to another day the recapture of freedom and the restoration of our constitutional system. We have gone the way of many a democratic society that has lost its freedom by persuading itself that if 'the people' rule, all is well. ~Barry Goldwater

This was the voice of conservatism in the 60's. 50 years later, the problems are much worse. This Barry is probably rolling over in his grave because of the current Barry.

I have been struck by the last quote many times. Even under Reagan, i was appalled at the steady increase in govt.. both in programs, warmongering, the welfare state, & all the statist pseudonyms that have built up up like maggots on roadkill. Now we're on the verge of bankruptcy, & we have no fiscally or politically conservative voice to bring reason & common sense to the government. We need a new Goldwater.. someone who will go into the federal budget, not with a scalpel, but a machete, or better yet, a chainsaw.