Euro perspective - When I hear fiscally conservative, that means supporting a governmental policy that is frugal with spending and responsible with public assets and finances.
This has several parts, here are some of the most important:
a) Keeping a balanced budget - the government should not be spending more than it is collecting from taxes and income. (A little debt in dire times is fine, but that should be payed off when possible)
b) Responsible management and long term planning - the planning horizon should be counted in decades
c) Focusing on core tasks: national security, infrastructure, healthcare, education etc.
d) Not raising taxes unless strictly necessary, lowering them if it is permissible according to the above.
Socially liberal => supports personal liberties
Now why does government debt even matter? Well, because debt is owed somewhere, and if it becomes large may mean that the government is beholden to other parties for the debt.
Usually fiscal irresponsibility comes in the form of lavish promises (subsidies, tax cuts, projects etc.) with a jarring absence of an answer to the question “How are we going to finance this?”
Not raising taxes unless strictly necessary, lowering them if it is permissible according to the above.
The tax rate is never the issue. If the gov can push through a responsible plan for spending our consolidated resources so it costs less than we’d need to pay separately, then it’s a win. Fuckwit conservatives talk a about reducing taxes and conveniently omit how they’ll reduce costs to match. Hint: Here, it’s always food inspectors and anti-corruption.
Euro perspective - When I hear fiscally conservative, that means supporting a governmental policy that is frugal with spending and responsible with public assets and finances.
This has several parts, here are some of the most important:
a) Keeping a balanced budget - the government should not be spending more than it is collecting from taxes and income. (A little debt in dire times is fine, but that should be payed off when possible)
b) Responsible management and long term planning - the planning horizon should be counted in decades
c) Focusing on core tasks: national security, infrastructure, healthcare, education etc.
d) Not raising taxes unless strictly necessary, lowering them if it is permissible according to the above.
Socially liberal => supports personal liberties
Now why does government debt even matter? Well, because debt is owed somewhere, and if it becomes large may mean that the government is beholden to other parties for the debt.
What party runs on the platform of fiscal irresponsibility?
Usually fiscal irresponsibility comes in the form of lavish promises (subsidies, tax cuts, projects etc.) with a jarring absence of an answer to the question “How are we going to finance this?”
Right, but (at least in the US) those politicians will turn around and tell voters that they’re fiscally conservative. And they will believe it.
The tax rate is never the issue. If the gov can push through a responsible plan for spending our consolidated resources so it costs less than we’d need to pay separately, then it’s a win. Fuckwit conservatives talk a about reducing taxes and conveniently omit how they’ll reduce costs to match. Hint: Here, it’s always food inspectors and anti-corruption.