What does"fiscal conservative" mean to you?

@tenente

I totally agree with you. But I don't know how many times we have to live it before the idea changes concerning fiscal responsibility. It seems to me that Democrats have been more responsible.

@SWMae what changes would you recommend in order to effect that change?

unrelated: the way President Trump has “weaponized” fiscal tools (such as taxes, duties and tariffs) is new, bold, scary and short sighted. Is it working and should it continue? I don’t like it, it feels like a nuclear option, but I’m afraid the damage is done and there’s nothing to stop future governments from using it (USA and others...)

@tenente

Oh my, I won't even pretend I have the answers. For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would want a career in politics.

Now, this is just my opinion but I don't understand why Republicans can’t stop talking about how much Democrats spend, but the GOP makes cutting taxes their number one priority and it destroys the revenue side of the equation. I think tax cuts which disproportionately favor the wealthy cost regular taxpayers more than they ever get from the cuts. Trickle-down economics doesn't work. Conservatives are running the longest con in history by funneling more money to the wealthy.

But anyway, the reason for my posting this is I'm confused with the media narrative that Republicans are fiscally responsible. I can’t figure out if the conservatives just have that much better of a PR machine, or if their voters are really that blind they believe it?

I hope I didn't offend you. You've been very respectful. I'm just being honest how I feel.

@SWMae I don't remember democrats putting up a fight over the spending bill, or the first massive spending bill that Trump signed. There are fiscally conservative Republicans, unfortunately not enough.
Democrats never seem to have a problem spending except for the military. Look at what the democrat candidates are proposing. How much will their ideas cost taxpayers and add to the debt?

@GunSmoke9

Thank you for being respectful. We may disagree on policies but I welcome civil debate.

"How much will our ideas cost taxpayers and add to the debt?"
I honestly don't know GunSmoke9, but hey, what do we have to lose? I wish the Republicans would look at the policies of Democrats with an open mind just as Democrats should look at Republican policies with an open mind. Goodness, could we just work together? Clinton had a surplus in his years. He didn't erase the debt. He only didn't add to it. That would be much of an improvement compared to the half a trillion dollars trump's presidency has added to the deficit. We've heard the doom and gloom of higher minimum wages, stronger labor unions, fair housing, affordable healthcare, affordable continuing education, equal pay policies... But what if?? What if it works? We'll survive trump's legacy and we will survive a "socialist's" legacy. Let's give it a chance. After all, there's a reason Wallstreet is beside itself with glee at the prospect of trump2020. Thinking always on the short term, of ridiculous tax breaks for the 1%, and endless deregulation, they completely fail to see the impending disaster of our country headed towards an economic cliff... But do they care about little ol' us? My answer is 'no'. Sadly.

My father remained a Republican because he believed in "fiscal responsibility". But when he actually looked at how the different administrations handled their spending, he realized the most fiscally responsible were the Democrats. Currently, my father doesn't relate to whatever the GOP has become under trump. He doesn't recognize the Republican party he once belonged to and loved.

Once, in a friendly debate with someone who votes conservative because his main concern is the deficit, I brought out actual statistics and he said: “no I get that, but I’m talking PHILOSOPHICALLY”. What does that even mean? Evidently, all that philosophical debt reduction is far more important than actual debt reduction.

I just wish Democrats and Republicans could work together.

@SWMae You asked what do we have to lose? I say we have plenty to lose if we adopt what the democrat candidates are pushing. There is no doubt that cost, taxes will rise. Offering Medicare to illegals will be more of an incentive for more to cross illegally. We need to take care of Americans first.
Capitalism inspires people, socialism doesn't. Socialism causes more people to depend on government. Capitalism grows economics, socialism kills economics. It's not just about giving so called free stuff, but government control of businesses. They all are talking about putting the health insurance companies out of business. What next? The oil industry, the coal industry, big pharmacy? It's dangerous giving the federal government so much power and control. Not what our founders wanted. Scary thing is, if their policies are made law, they are forever. Even if data shows negative results, those pushing them will keep pushing them. I believe we do better when the federal government has less control and power, not more. Would colleges be less expensive if government was less involved?
It was Newt and the Republicans that forced Bill Clinton to sign a balance budget. Same as getting him to support welform reform.
Why don't both sides work together? Because is all about winning the next election. Making one side look, and making the other side look bad.