"Smaller government"

[Amnesiac]

Do you think what the Republicans have historically called "smaller government" is really smaller government? They're the ones who constantly talk about slashing economic regulation, taxes and spending (in some ways), yet they also support increased intrusions into the lives of Americans. Things like regulating marriage, censoring television and radio, forcing creationism and intelligent design into school science curriculums, and calling for wire-tapping and GPS tracking of citizens for "increased security" don't seem like "smaller government" to me.

I think that the government should stay out of the economy as much as possible and out of the lives of citizens. I don't believe in having a government department dedicated to regulating communications. I don't believe in making purchasing health insurance mandatory (I wanted to see real universal healthcare). I don't believe in the government spying on its citizens. I don't believe that Muslims are evil, or that the United States is founded on "Christian principles".

[Continuum]

I don't understand. What's a "smaller government" anyway?

[Amnesiac]

I don't understand. What's a "smaller government" anyway?

A government that is smaller in size. For example, when conservatives in the US talk about smaller government, they want government less involved in the economy.

[Continuum]

A government that is smaller in size. For example, when conservatives in the US talk about smaller government, they want government less involved in the economy.

Then I felt what you said was kind of, ironic for them. I thought smaller, as in smaller in influence and in size.

[Peace God]

They only mean "smaller" fiscally...when it comes to social issues a lot of them seem to have no problem government involvement.