Ask Lemmy

I assume they're not that big into politics and just wanna appear moderate.

Racist. It’s always dogwhistle racism.

I think they're a goddamn idiot. I like it more when people tell me that they don't have enough time to think about this shit and so they don't have an opinion.

"I believe good things but don't want to actually sacrifice anything or be responsible for any of my actions that my prevent good things from happening"

"I dont mind the gays, but I keep voting for Fascists because right wing talking points about how Unions make the prices of eggs go up."

I prefer to use the term fiscally responsible.

It's fiscally irresponsible to cut taxes for the billionaires and corporations when we have record deficits.

It's fiscally irresponsible to cut the IRS budget when that results in less revenue.

Republican voters have been brainwashed into thinking that Republicans are somehow more responsible with the economy and budget, when history shows that Republicans drive up the deficit with irresponsible tax cuts.

Someone who is a conservative who has a gay friend or a gay kid that they love and accept.

As someone who said this when they were younger

"Uninformed idiot"

now that I'm older I'm fully liberal since i am more informed.

I don't want to be included with the rest of the domestic terrorists in my political party.

"I pay lip service to minorities, but don't want to allocate resources to their needs"

"Socially liberal" right up until the point that we start talking about worker's rights, the dignity of poor people, and the exploitation of cheap slave labor on the other side of the world

"I vote Republican, but I'm self-aware enough to know that I should be embarrassed about it." (In the US)

"I'm an uninformed idiot."

Conservatives are fiscally reckless. Look at every conservative president's deficit spending, and economic crashes. Look at the states most dependent on federal funds.

Even if you had zero morals and voted 100% on fiscal policies, the best choice is very clearly not conservative.

If they're American I would point out that they have no representation for their conservative views because there is no fiscally conservative party in the United States.

Usually they are lying. It means they hate poor people.

Every discussion I've had with someone who said this has led me to expect ignorance. I think its something people who don't know much like to say because they think it sounds good.

So many people with such brutal takes on it -- helps to quantify who the audience is on lemmy I guess.

Socially liberal fiscally conservative, to me at least, means that the person is in favour of equality in the sense of equality of treatment from the government, but is not in favour of additional big spending projects to try and have equality of opportunity. They're pro-choice, but likely against the government funnelling money into providing abortions for women (so abortions available, but not gov subsidized). They're pro-trans rights in terms of being fine with whoever doing whatever they want with their body/partners of choice, but against government paying for trans-specific gender affirming procedures and parades to highlight those groups. They're in favour of things like universal medicare/dental care, because those programs are shown to be a net benefit fiscally and socially.

In general, they support socially progressive ideas, so long as they're fiscally costed out and beneficial to the public purse. They're against increased government spending / reach, preferring 'small government', with the social components placed more on individuals to fund directly.

"I don't care about minorities enough to sacrifice anything about my way of living."

“I’m a republican, and I will consistently, and wrongly, vote in what I think are the best interests of my wallet while paying lip service to liberal social ideals. “

“I don’t hate women and minorities but I don’t see anything wrong with an economy built off of their exploitation.”

"I don't hate you because you're a POC, a woman, or queer. I hate you because you're poor."

They don't want to pay money for social spending they don't realize they benefit from while wearing the costume of an ally.

Either "I hate poor people but I love weed" or "I'm lying because my actual views would scare people off".

"I don't actively hunt members of marginalized communities with one of my many obnoxiously customized firearms but I still have a weird kink for giving tax cuts to billionaires in exchange for a worsened quality of life because I have a 12 year old's understanding of how the world works."

Conservativism, in all forms, is not a real ideology. It's narcissism. A conservative will redefine conservative values based on their own identity.

So the "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" idiot is lying to themselves about who they are. They want fiscal policies that benefit themselves, and they don't want to be labelled a bigot, but they are fine with bigots in office as long as they get the fiscal policies that benefit themselves.

Ask them what they mean by "fiscal conservative," and they will probably vaguely gesture and say "lower taxes." What they mean is "lower taxes for me." Fiscal conservatives still want to spend government money on programs they like. They want boondoggles in their backyard, earmarks and pork barrel projects, and social safety nets as long as they are the recipient (Medicare, Social Security, Veteran benefits, etc.)

They want to frame it as responsible restraint. Pull funding from programs they don't understand, like scientific research, or don't like, like foreign aid (except of course if strong ties to their home country).

And when they say lower taxes, when pressed, they will describe how their property tax or income tax or capital gains tax or death tax is really bad "for the economy." They want good schools and roads and infrastructure, but they want someone else to pay for it.

Calling themselves conservative gives them license to be as selfish as they want to be without having to admit that they don't actually have any values.

"I'm simple and don't bother to look deeper into anything"

They want to virtue signal trivial social issues to avoid admitting they're just plain conservative.

“Sure the problems are bad, but the causes? The causes are good.”

Just buncha utter bollocks

"But in practice, I almost certainly vote Republican."

As someone who has used the term before.

Social liberal: I think you should be able to do whatever you want in your personal life, even if it harms yourself. I'm willing to negotiate with harming consenting adults while recognizing the possibility, even likelihood, of an imbalance of power making it difficult to properly give consent, or for it to be recognized by the public at large, e.g., maybe Amazon workers aren't really okay with peeing in bottles because they don't have enough time or facilities for bathroom breaks, just because they accepted the job. Doing things that harm those you have guardianship over is not acceptable because they are not in a position to give consent.

Fiscal conservative: I want money in the public trust to be spent effectively. This doesn't mean I want less taxes, I'm in fact okay with more. A city near me has 30% of its budget dedicated to police services, yet we have some of the highest violent crime in Canada. The simple fact is, a lot of crime is driven by poverty and lack of opportunity. So why are we paying to catch and jail poor people with no skills who are trying to survive and not paying for skills training, robust childhood education, and at least minimal supports so people don't have to be desperate enough to risk their lives and mine so they can survive? It doesn't make sense and there's no indication it's working. FYI, school meal programs tend to help the local economy to the tune of about $7 for every $1 you spend on them. That sounds terribly fiscally responsible to me...

"I'm not gay, but $20 is $20."

I will get high with you, and then turn you into the cops when you can't pay rent.

"I'm a dumbass who's too embarrassed to say I vote Republican."

'I'm conservative and racist and I'm fully aware of that. However, I have enough sense not to say that in polite society... Unless you're cool with it? "

I think the person saying it wants to avoid family or acquaintances giving them shit for not sharing their political views.

Most of my family is very conservative stereotype vile people. I've heard that exact phrase from the few left leaning relatives as they try to wigle out of unconfortable conversations. I myself am the black sheep that just tells the repugnicans that their views disgust me.

Euro perspective - When I hear fiscally conservative, that means supporting a governmental policy that is frugal with spending and responsible with public assets and finances.

This has several parts, here are some of the most important:

a) Keeping a balanced budget - the government should not be spending more than it is collecting from taxes and income. (A little debt in dire times is fine, but that should be payed off when possible)

b) Responsible management and long term planning - the planning horizon should be counted in decades

c) Focusing on core tasks: national security, infrastructure, healthcare, education etc.

d) Not raising taxes unless strictly necessary, lowering them if it is permissible according to the above.

Socially liberal => supports personal liberties

Now why does government debt even matter? Well, because debt is owed somewhere, and if it becomes large may mean that the government is beholden to other parties for the debt.