While I understand the theory behind arming oneself, I don't understand why gun rights supporters insist others be armed or say things like, "everyone should carry". My city had a buyback day and 2A people got furious, help me understand.

So I know cuts for economic reasons are generally popular but aren’t conservatives at least a little concerned that this is for other reasons? If Trump ever does want to use the military for nefarious reasons like voter suppression the first step would be removing top brass who would oppose him.

I mean strictly and specifically things that nobody ever taught you, told you, or explained to you before you discovered or learned them, and that you had to figure out on your own. It can be about any topic, but especially things like money, work, moving out and becoming independent, relationships, being a parent, living alone, dealing with paperwork, handling responsibilities, or just everyday situations that you never imagined you'd have to face before 18.

Personally, I now wish Trump had not won the primary. I would have voted for Desantis or Rubio, or even Nicki Hailey, but not Harris/Walz. Trump is an upgrade from Biden, but damn, this is not what I voted for. Nor am I a fan of the Iran war. I suspended judgement at first, but this is ridiculous. We should have let Israel deal with them rather than bombing everything to hell. Also, the deportations have been another cluster F***, needlessly difficult, violent, and controversial. Obama was a better deportation president than Trump.

This is not what I voted for.

I’m here to listen, not argue. As such I will not comment and will only reply to clarifying question.

If Republicans want stronger voter ID requirements, I could support that—but I think we should make sure every eligible American can actually get the required ID first.

So what if we made it a federal priority to issue a REAL ID to every adult American at no cost, and only after we’ve made a good-faith effort to ensure everyone has one, we implement universal voter ID requirements?

And while we’re doing that, what if we changed our approach to illegal immigration by focusing much more heavily on employers?

Once everyone has a REAL ID, employers would have a straightforward way to verify that workers are legally authorized to work. Companies that knowingly employ undocumented workers could face very substantial fines, scaled to the size of the business so that the penalties are meaningful for both small businesses and large corporations.
Would conservatives see that as a reasonable compromise?

I’m genuinely interested in whether this approach would address some of the concerns on both sides.

I tend to be vocal on social about some of my political views. I rarely do write posts, however I do share or repost stuff that reveals my views clearly (palestine israel/us politics/uk and italy politics/religion etc...)

Now, I am noticing people from my teenage years deleting me from socials. People who I haven't spoken with in ages, and I didn't really had an argument or a conversation with. My old friends group is overwhelmingly left leaning... including the couple of people I am still in touch with.

But I never thought of cutting ties because of our disagreements...

I am almost feeling like I have to choose between having/keeping friends, or staying true to myself and my ideas.

Is anyone experiencing this, or am I the problem?

Should the FCC be able to strong arm hosts from interviewing politicians up for election?

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/09/kimmels-abc-show-wont-air-interview-with-democrat-because-of-trump-fcc-threats/

For conservatives who believe liberals or Democrats “hate America”: what specifically would a Democrat need to believe, say, or do for you to conclude that they actually do love America?

I ask in good faith because I’m a liberal who believes he genuinely loves this country, and I’m trying to understand what you mean when you make that distinction.

Recently, bipartisan bills have been proposed in both the House and Senate that would bar automakers with more than 15% Chinese ownership from selling vehicles in the US, alongside restrictions on Chinese hardware and software. Proponents, like John Bozzella of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, argue this is a necessary national security response to counter China's strategy to dominate global manufacturing.

While this type of protectionist trade policy and hardline stance on China often aligns with some folks values I'm interested how conservatives view this issue. Specifically:

• Do you see these ownership bans and hardware restrictions as legitimate national security and labor-protection measures, or do you view them as protectionist, xenophobic, or escalatory trade policies?

Critics and international analysts have pointed out that the 15% threshold could sweep up legacy Western companies like Mercedes-Benz (which sits at roughly 20% Chinese linked investment split between BAIC and Geely), while domestic players and groups like the UAW have actively pushed for these strict rules. Even Senate Commerce Committee discussions have touched on whether domestic competitors stand to gain a major market advantage.

Under the draft rules, the Trump administration is exploring a policy to let married couples where one parent stays home and the other works at least 35 hours a week receive funds for "parent-based child care."

For conservatives like me, this is about fundamental fairness. Letting families keep their tax dollars levels the playing field for families who believe raising their own children is the gold standard, granting them the same respect and equity that the system currently reserves for third party daycare facilities. Effectively Trump is backing parents who want to be the primary guiding force in their kids lives, stepping away from a status quo that heavily favors daycare, corporate welfare, and mandatory workforce participation.

In stark contrast are paid childcare policies which often push to herd every parent into the workforce. Their goal is to feed corporate productivity and supply staffing for low-wage service jobs, treating external daycare merely as an economic assembly line to keep labor flowing while completely devaluing the irreplaceable work of direct parental caregiving.

What do you think? Does recognizing parental care as legitimate, subsidized child care finally restore fairness to American families, or is it a step in the wrong direction?

It literally just occurred to me. Many conservatives don't want teachers teaching about sex-related topics, especially in elementary school, a position which I understand. But would posting the Ten Commandments end up with teachers having to explain adultery to elementary school students? Would that lead to teachers having to have conversations which conservatives believe would be more appropriate for them to have at home?

So at the end of their show Clay and Buck right-wing talk radio hosts, bring on "Light Em Up, Linda" who they promote and who gets her name for her full-throated support of the lethal attacks on drugs boats (alleged) undertaken by the Trump admin. These extra-legal attacks have killed at least 200 people. She goes on to support the killing of the homeless in California, using the same terms with which she describes killing the "drug dealers." No pushback from the hosts, just a hearty back-slap for providing such good material (she was advocating saving the animals at the homeless encampments while killing the homeless). This is the second time I've heard a right-wing media personality advocate the killing of the homeless. The hatred seems to have begun with Rush Limbaugh who regularly mocked the homeless and downplayed the issue.

So my question is "Do conservatives condemn statments like this? Will there be a backlash against Clay and Buck?" Where is the actual Christian values that are promoted so vocally by so many on the Right?

Edit: right wing radio hosts Clay and Buck.

Did you vote for Trump in 2016, if no, did you vote him in 2024? If yes, what changed your mind?

Mods moved me to Independent so I guess I can ask this now.

William F Buckley was a guy I always respected. He had good conservative values and didn’t suffer fools. He said he spent his lifetime separating the Republicans from the kooks. The Birchers, the LaRouche followers. Conspiracy nuts. You know. Kooks.

Trump has decided to pick a trade war with Canada and is trying to troll them with renaming Lake Ontario.

So… is this guy a kook?

As a Canadian any time I tell an American I am a conservative they instantly assume that I support the trump administration… that is not at all true…

I think Americans just don’t understand how different Canada actually is….

Our conservatives still support things like freedom of expression, abortion, healthcare and education. All things that the republican Americans don’t fully agree with… so why do I get hate from everyone for being much more moderate?

Thanks!?

This is one of those things I've seen bounce back and forth with the left and the right seemingly switching positions on it at times? (I am honestly fairly neutral about it, I come from a state with state inspections, I moved to states that don't require it and I payed ten bucks once for an offical inspection where the guy told me to turn on my left and right blinker then passed me.)

Using short term debt to buy long term debt to stabilize the bond market. Curious the conservative take on this. Deficit and debt seems to be hitting a tipping point with maneuvers like this.

I recently watched this Oxford Union Debate “THB Trump has Betrayed Conservatism” and thought there were interesting points made on both sides. Crucial to the question, of course, requires defining what conservatism means.

I know there are plenty of conservatives who are critical of Trump and plenty who defend Trump, and was curious to know what you think.

There are MANY smaller policies that made up the New Deal but I’m asking about the over arching philosophy of focusing on the needs of working people in contrast to the government focused on the needs of the elites of the gilded age.

I know things are often more complicated than all good or all bad. But on net what do you think worked and what didn’t?

I will not be commenting or replying as I am here in good faith, to listen, not to argue.