In response to:
For the most part, those who are fiscally conservative and socially liberal usually end up giving ground on their fiscal philosophy- "for the greater good", of course. Look where that's gotten us.
As for "socially conservative and fiscally liberal"- they're either fooling themselves, or completely clueless on the definition of conservative. Gentillylace: if you believe that people should be coerced by the power of the State to support those who can't or won't support themselves- no, you ARE NOT a conservative, even though you may agree with us on an issue or three (and we welcome your support).
For some years now, we have been told about a major division within American conservatism: fiscal conservatives vs. social conservatives.
This division is hurting conservatism and hurting America -- because the survival of American values depends on both fiscal and social conservatism. Furthermore, the division is logically and morally untenable. A conservative conserves all American values, not just economic ones.
By "social conservatism," I am referring to the second and third components of what I call the American Trinity -- liberty, "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum."
It is worth noting that a similar bifurcation does not exist on the left. One...
Call it "situational philosophy".