The Downside of "Compassionate Conservatism"

"Compassionate conservatism" was supposed to be the magic bullet. If small-government conservatism was dead, what did it matter -- because, after all, Republicans could prove that they "care" as much as the Democrats do and thereby win new adherents.

Well, it sounded good in principle. But nothing comes free, and for every new Republican all the federal spending was supposed to create, it may have lost a few, as well. This piece by John Tierney points out that the much-ballyhooed "South Park conservatives" have a strong libertarian streak -- and, accordingly, they've been anything but pleased with all the bigger government.

As South Park creator Trey Parker pointed out, the religious right used to have more to offer: "The Republicans didn't want the government to run your life, because Jesus should. That was really part of their thing: less government, more Jesus. Now it's like, how about more government and Jesus?"

What the "compassionate conservatives" need to remember is that the government tends to force "competitors" out of every field of endeavor it occupies. The more government there is, the less perceived need there is for anything but government -- including Jesus -- because, ultimately, too much government stifles everything it touches . . . including the human soul.