The Once "Grand Old Party", the Once "Republican Party" of Lincoln, is No More

Because so many "Republicans" or "conservatives" no longer know who they are or what they stand for, while still believing and reveling in past glory when they are no longer what they once were and had become known and praised for.

Now Democrats have their own concerns and issues, but nothing as vast or problematic as the MaGA GOP today with its confused messaging, autocratic orientations, lies and disinformation platform.  

They are now mostly ideology over citizens, party over country, leader over party, autocracy over democracy.

Most Trump supporters feel free to ignore this, as it's info they probably aren't interested in having to know, or deal with.

There are still "Republicans" but the party at large refers to them as "RINOs", Republicans in name only, while those calling others that are, for the most part, actual RINOs.

The once-Republican Party of Lincoln, originally founded in the mid-1800s, was shaped by principles of abolitionism, civil rights, and federal power to unify the country.

Over time, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the party shifted from its roots as an advocate for civil rights and anti-slavery, embracing more conservative economic policies focused on business and limited government.

By the 20th century, Republicans moved away from the progressive policies associated with Lincoln's era, with further shifts in the 1960s as the party increasingly courted Southern conservative voters.

This transformation saw the GOP evolve into a party defined more by conservative values, limited federal intervention, and an emphasis on states’ rights, markedly different from Lincoln’s original vision.

The Democratic Party, historically rooted in states' rights and agrarian interests, gradually took up the mantle of civil rights and social reform that once defined Lincoln's Republican Party. This shift began in the early 20th century, as Democrats adopted more progressive policies under leaders like Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who expanded federal government intervention to address economic inequality, labor rights, and social welfare during the New Deal era.

The transformation accelerated in the 1960s when Democratic leaders like John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson championed civil rights legislation. Johnson’s support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 solidified the party's role as an advocate for racial equality and social justice, a position that further distanced them from the segregationist elements of their past.

This shift also led to a realignment of voter bases: as the Democratic Party became associated with civil rights and progressive social issues, many conservative Southern voters shifted to the Republican Party. The modern Democratic Party thus came to champion many of the inclusive, equality-focused ideals that had characterized Lincoln’s Republicans, while the GOP shifted toward a platform emphasizing traditional values, limited government, and conservative policies.

Today’s Republican conservative values differ significantly from original conservative principles. Classic conservatism, as articulated by thinkers like Edmund Burke, emphasized caution in societal change, a respect for tradition, and a commitment to stability, with an emphasis on personal responsibility, rule of law, and small government. Traditional conservatives believed in upholding institutions and norms, often avoiding radical shifts in policy that could disrupt social order.

In contrast, modern American conservatism has evolved, particularly within the Republican Party. Today, it often emphasizes a populist approach that challenges established institutions and norms, including the judiciary and the media. Recent conservative movements within the GOP have supported significant government intervention on issues like immigration, reproductive rights, and voting laws, focusing less on institutional stability and more on advancing specific social agendas. The GOP has also embraced fiscal policies that diverge from early conservative economic prudence, such as deficit spending and tax cuts for corporations, which early conservatives might have viewed skeptically.

This shift represents a move away from traditional conservatism’s focus on incremental change and institutional respect toward a more populist, activist form of conservatism that prioritizes ideological goals over the original conservative caution.

A more precise term for today’s Republican Party might be "populist right" or "nationalist right." These terms capture the party’s shift from traditional conservatism to a platform that emphasizes strong national identity, populist appeals, and a willingness to disrupt established norms to achieve specific political and cultural goals.

Populist Right: This term reflects the focus on appealing directly to "the people" or "the common man" and often emphasizes anti-elite, anti-establishment rhetoric. This populist approach involves a strong appeal to certain groups' grievances and perceived loss of status, frequently targeting institutions like the media, academia, and government as "elites" who are out of touch with everyday Americans.

Nationalist Right: This term reflects the increased emphasis on national sovereignty, a strong stance on immigration, and a focus on traditional American identity and values. Nationalist right politics prioritize policies that favor domestic interests, sometimes at the expense of international alliances or global institutions.

Right-Wing Populism: Combining elements of populism with conservative ideas, this term encapsulates a political style that challenges established structures while using conservative rhetoric on social issues.

Each of these terms captures aspects of the modern GOP’s orientation that differ from traditional conservatism, particularly its embrace of more radical change and direct appeals to popular, often nationalist sentiment.

These people who support Donald Trump and his MaGA are focused on concepts, and ideals over people. That is merely a tool in life, but when used blindly, it leads to what we see today from the Right wing. To wit...

People who view the world primarily through ideological frameworks rather than through the lens of individual experiences and actual impacts on people are often referred to as ideologues. Ideologues hold rigid beliefs, interpreting events and issues through the lens of their preferred ideology without necessarily considering the practical or human consequences.

This kind of outlook, sometimes called ideological absolutism or dogmatism, can lead to a detachment from real-world consequences and empathy, as they prioritize the purity or consistency of their ideas over the nuanced, complex needs of people. Political theorists also refer to this as political moralism, where abstract principles are valued over pragmatic, compassionate approaches to governance and interpersonal issues.

In extreme cases, such a perspective can foster authoritarian tendencies, where the enforcement of ideology takes precedence over individual freedoms and wellbeing. This mindset can be seen in people who prioritize ideological "wins" even when they come at a personal or societal cost, causing harm in both governmental policies and personal relationships.

I wish us ALL the best, for those of us with the best intentions at heart, where the "best intentions" actually are, our best for us all.

Cheers! Sláinte!

"20 lessons from the 20th century" by Timothy Snyder

Compiled with the aid of ChatGPT