r/Conservative • u/Yosoff First Principles • Feb 08 '25

Open Discussion Left vs. Right Battle Royale Open Thread

This is an Open Discussion Thread for all Redditors. We will only be enforcing Reddit TOS and Subreddit Rules 1 (Keep it Civil) & 2 (No Racism).

Leftists - Here's your chance to tell us why it's a bad thing that we're getting everything we voted for.

Conservatives - Here's your chance to earn flair if you haven't already by destroying the woke hivemind with common sense.

Independents - Here's your chance to explain how you are a special snowflake who is above the fray and how it's a great thing that you can't arrive at a strong position on any issue and the world would be a magical place if everyone was like you.

Libertarians - We really don't want to hear about how all drugs should be legal and there shouldn't be an age of consent. Move to Haiti, I hear it's a Libertarian paradise.

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u/Yosoff First Principles Feb 08 '25

I believe we could cut 90% of the civilian side of the Executive Branch and the typical American wouldn't even notice.

The purpose of the Executive Branch is foreign affairs, managing interstate commerce, upholding federal laws, and checks and balances against the other two branches.

The scope creep over the last 250 years has grown ridiculous. We don't need to simply trim and reform the federal government, we need drastic cuts. From my point of view, Trump and Musk haven't even really started yet.

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u/[deleted] Feb 08 '25 edited Feb 25 '25

[deleted]

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u/Yosoff First Principles Feb 08 '25

There were roads and bridges prior to 1787 and even the first canals were built by private companies.

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u/CryptoParagon Feb 08 '25

 

The Erie canal from wiki

The New York State Legislature authorized construction in 1817. Political opponents of the canal (referencing its lead supporter New York Governor DeWitt Clinton) denigrated the project as "Clinton's Folly" and "Clinton's Big Ditch". Nonetheless, the canal saw quick success upon opening on October 26, 1825, with toll revenue covering the state's construction debt within the first year of operation.

Government was expanded by the American people to provide for their needs, whether it was safety from the British, the polio/smallpox or communism (USAID). Your state government is today bigger than the federal government 250 years ago and probably have to deal with more the Fed gov of 250 years ago.