Conservativism defined
Merriam-Webster On line Dictionary defines Conservatism as a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change; specifically: such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health care coverage). This is fairly clear, But I believe the definition goes deeper than Merriam-Webster defines it.
According to Conservative Resources, there are six key elements defining Conservatism:
1. Belief in natural law.
2. Belief in established institutions.
3. Preference for liberty over equality.
4. Suspicion of power - and of human nature.
5. Belief in exceptionalism.
6. Belief in the individual.
1. Conservatives tend to believe in a higher order law as opposed to liberals who tend to support the written law. Simply put, this means Conservatives believe certain rights are inherent, given by God or they exist platonically, while liberals believe any rights given to man are derived through the written law. In other words, a government grants and guarantees the citizen any rights he/she may have.
2. A strong belief in institutions like family, church, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are among some of the strong institutions in which a Conservative places his beliefs. Conservatives do not blindly oppose progress, but nor do they believe in change merely for social experimentation. On the other hand, a liberal will tend to believe the world can and will be changed through government forces in what Franklin Roosevelt called "bold persistent experimentation".
3. A reality most people do not accept in the present world is people can not be free and equal at the same time. Conservatives desire liberty, they desire to maximize freedom (to paraphrase Barry Goldwater) and do not accept that everyone is or should be on a level playing field whether they have earned the right to be or not.
4. Government is regarded as a necessary evil by Conservatives. If we lived in a perfect world peopled by perfect beings, no government would be necessary. This is the reason, it is believed, government must be controlled with checks and balances, and decentralized so it does not turn into a dictatorship. Along these lines, it is believed government is best exercised at the lowest possible levels first.
5. Conservatives recognize there are those among us that excel; they have superior abilities, talents, and/or intelligence. A liberal believes these individuals are lifted up by the masses. Conservatives believe these individuals exist as role models and inspire others to better themselves.
6. Barry Goldwater stated, "Every man, for his individual good and for the good of society, is responsible for his own development. The choices that govern his life are choices he must make; they can not be made by any other human being, or by a collectivity of human beings."
This then, is the context in which my future posts will be written.
"When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people."
(Edmound Burke)
According to Conservative Resources, there are six key elements defining Conservatism:
1. Belief in natural law.
2. Belief in established institutions.
3. Preference for liberty over equality.
4. Suspicion of power - and of human nature.
5. Belief in exceptionalism.
6. Belief in the individual.
1. Conservatives tend to believe in a higher order law as opposed to liberals who tend to support the written law. Simply put, this means Conservatives believe certain rights are inherent, given by God or they exist platonically, while liberals believe any rights given to man are derived through the written law. In other words, a government grants and guarantees the citizen any rights he/she may have.
2. A strong belief in institutions like family, church, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are among some of the strong institutions in which a Conservative places his beliefs. Conservatives do not blindly oppose progress, but nor do they believe in change merely for social experimentation. On the other hand, a liberal will tend to believe the world can and will be changed through government forces in what Franklin Roosevelt called "bold persistent experimentation".
3. A reality most people do not accept in the present world is people can not be free and equal at the same time. Conservatives desire liberty, they desire to maximize freedom (to paraphrase Barry Goldwater) and do not accept that everyone is or should be on a level playing field whether they have earned the right to be or not.
4. Government is regarded as a necessary evil by Conservatives. If we lived in a perfect world peopled by perfect beings, no government would be necessary. This is the reason, it is believed, government must be controlled with checks and balances, and decentralized so it does not turn into a dictatorship. Along these lines, it is believed government is best exercised at the lowest possible levels first.
5. Conservatives recognize there are those among us that excel; they have superior abilities, talents, and/or intelligence. A liberal believes these individuals are lifted up by the masses. Conservatives believe these individuals exist as role models and inspire others to better themselves.
6. Barry Goldwater stated, "Every man, for his individual good and for the good of society, is responsible for his own development. The choices that govern his life are choices he must make; they can not be made by any other human being, or by a collectivity of human beings."
This then, is the context in which my future posts will be written.
"When the leaders choose to make themselves bidders at an auction of popularity, their talents, in the construction of the state, will be of no service. They will become flatterers instead of legislators; the instruments, not the guides, of the people."
(Edmound Burke)
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