conservatism has done a lot of good for the country.
I’m not attacking you for saying this, but from my perspective conservatism has many misguided ideas like using supply-side economics (which historically doesn’t work), or removing regulations that protect businesses from hurting or taking advantage of people (a recent example of which is Net Neutrality).
I am genuinely interested in having examples of how conservatism has helped this country, and as a Democrat I’d like to hear it from someone who isn’t full of Fox News talking points. (Also I’m not saying that liberalism is somehow superior.)
Obamacare. Its conservative pedigree is indisputable: created by the Heritage Foundation, championed by Newt Gingrich, implemented by Mitt Romney. Beyond its credentials, it’s based on solidly conservative ideas – i.e. letting the marketplace meet consumer needs with the absolute bare minimum government regulation required for that to happen.
I was certainly among those on the Left who rolled their ideas at the idea that Obamacare could do anything to slow the increase in healthcare costs, but it’s demonstrated it can do just that. It’s certainly not perfect, but it works surprisingly well given it was partially disemboweled by making Medicaid expansion optional, and now by removing Gingrich’s darling individual mandate (the very one that he claimed would save conservatism). Is it superior to a single payer system? Probably not, but that fact that it works reasonably well even when hamstrung, combined with the fact that it actually got passed into law, cannot be dismissed.
Is it the Last Great Conservative Idea? Possibly. But credit where credit is due: the Heritage Foundation got one right.