davebex13 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

damn. looks like i missed the intellectual age of America.

tomthefunky (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@mikesmith007x Capitalism is the voluntary buying and selling of goods and services in a free market. It has nothing to do with the problems we have today. Government interference in the free market as well has lunatic government spending is the source of our trouble. And your comment regarding capitalism failing as bad as the Soviet Union is one of the stupidest things I ever read. I got friends from Moscow who would laugh in your face at such a foolish, idiotic comment.

Eli1956 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Actually, what's amazing about this clip is that Goldwater (who for the record, I didn't really like) speaks entirely coherently, with logical arguments and for minutes at a time, which today's Republican candidates cannot do. There is also not a hint of the "sound bites" that are the norm today - only speaking in slogans, a few catchwords here and there...

mikesmith007x (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

How incredibly telling this video is. We have now officially tried what Goldwater advocates here from 1980 to 2008 and it totally blew up in our face. It failed as miserably as the Soviet Union failed. Modern day conservatism that advocates laissez faire capitalism is as destructive as pure socialism. Mixed economies have proven to be the best, i.e., Capitalism with smart and effective regulations and strong safety nets and unions to protect the people.

ucsbsucks (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thanks to Ross Douthat for linking to this video in his NY Times column this week. 

thedavidwilson (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

But how would we have known what Medicare was if they did not pass it?

thedavidwilson (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@moogrogue "-Jose, 18 years old, NYC"That explains it.

marcparella (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

"The congress should go slow, study, research..." No we didn't follow that advice, did we? Instead bill after bill was rammed through the Congress during the Great Society and look at the sorry shape we are in today.

FRSFreeStatePlus (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Conservatism should be about protecting Constitutional Rights for the individual. Not telling people how to live their own lives.

BigDaddyDJD (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I love his voice. its so commanding. Wish I sounded like that (goldwater I mean)