A History of Social Conservatism

Written by Republican Ron Hill who says he writes/speaks for the "rational wing of the Republican Party."  Just wanted to share.

1860: Social Conservatives claim that slavery is supported by the Bible. Churches even split to create the Southern Baptist and the Methodist Church, South; completely separate denominations from  Northern churches. Social Conservatives claim that tradition, history and religion are on their side.

Social conservatives lose. Society doesn’t devolve into race wars as predicted by social conservatives.

1919: Social Conservatives use the Bible, morality, and family, to argue for prohibition.  

Social Conservatives win.Violence ensues in many large American cities as gangs fight to bring alcohol to people. Moonshining takes off, creating more crime. Unsafe, unregulated alcohol poisons many Americans.  

1920: Social Conservatives use the Bible, history and tradition to justify why women should be denied the right to vote.

Social conservatives lose. Women get the right to vote.  Society doesn’t fall apart as predicted by social conservatives.

1933: After seeing the results of prohibition, the country votes to legalize alcohol.  

Social Conservatives lose. Violence and accidental poisoning drops off as America becomes a safer and freer country.

1955:  Social Conservatives claim Elvis and Rock and Roll are evil and will lead to mayhem and a breakdown in the social order. Movies are evil, and playing cards are a sin.

Social Conservatives lose; Rock and Roll is still around, Elvis Presley didn’t lead young people into Satan Worship. Society continues to function.

1964:  Social Conservatives argue that the Bible, tradition, and history justify Jim Crow in the South. They warn that society will fall apart if blacks are given equal rights with white Americans.

Social Conservatives lose, society doesn’t fall apart but becomes stronger. 

1980′s – present:  Social Conservatives take over school boards in the South, and insist that “abstinence only” sex education be taught, despite overwhelming research that “abstinence only” sex ed is a huge failure.

Society loses, especially Southern families, as Southerners lead the nation in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases, abortions, and unwed mothers. Nonetheless, social conservatives claim to be “pro-family”.

2000- present: The Family ”Research” Council, The American Family Association, and Americans For ”Truth” About Homosexuality are used as “expert” witnesses by reputable media despite lacking any academic or scientific credentials that would qualify them as experts on gay issues. Like their predecessors, they use the Bible, history and tradition to defend their positions, along with a healthy dose of lies, distortions and fake research. Eventually, these groups are labeled as “hate groups” by the KKK and Aryan-Nation busting Southern Poverty Law Center because of their repeated lies and distortions of truth. Nonetheless, the media continue to use them as “expert” witnesses and many Republican presidential candidates continue to associate with, and defend them.

Society loses, as social conservatives twist facts to support their own private religious beliefs. American families are directly harmed by these “pro-family” groups who teach Americans lies about their own family members.  

Fortunately, the history of social conservatism is one of repeated losses – and each time social conservatives lose America became a stronger, more free society.  Of course, as they claimed with ending slavery, allowing women to vote, and abolishing segregation, social conservatives now claim that  allowing gay Americans to have equal rights will somehow lead to society falling apart. Their is no logical reason to believe this is true, but they like to claim it nonetheless. Fortunately, polls show that Americans – even Republicans, increasingly see through the lies. It’s only a matter of time before gay equality is the law of the land and social conservatives are proven wrong once again.

For the rational wing of the Republican Party
Ron Hill

 “And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of ‘conservatism’.”  — U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater, aka “Mr. Conservative” 

h/t PHB

More later.
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