What Is A Conservative?

[XIX]

There seems to be a few people on here who are die-hard conservatives--that is, they always take the conservative side of a given debatable issue. Furthermore, they proudly consider themselves conservatives. I'm trying to get my head around this, so my question is this: what is a conservative, and what does a conservative believe in?

Is a conservative simply someone who believes in small government? Someone who thinks that we should not change much? Something else? In other words, when you talk about conservatives, what do you mean by the term "conservative?"

[S][N]

Conservative = Religiously extreme, Pro-Capitalist, Pro-poverity (IE: Maintaining and increasing the gap between Rich and Poor), extreme right-wing on moral issues to the point of ignoring other peoples thoughts and beliefs, trying to subject them against their will and rights as a free-thinking human being to a form of religious morality they don't hold.

Add more when it comes to mind.

[goldenchild17]

I don't know what camp I would fall in. I do consider myself very conservative in most senses. But I definitely don't support capitalism, at least not as it is usually practiced.

[Didymus]

i think a true strict conservative always supports small government in the economy, and anything that comes into conflict with this gets pushed aside, even human life to an extent, e.g. since many politicians who are conservatives aren't actually lookin to outlaw abortion, but rather bring it back to the states by overturning Roe v Wade.

[XIX]

[quote name='Didymus' post='1426275' date='Nov 28 2007, 01:31 PM']i think a true strict conservative always supports small government in the economy, and anything that comes into conflict with this gets pushed aside, even human life to an extent, e.g. since many politicians who are conservatives aren't actually lookin to outlaw abortion, but rather bring it back to the states by overturning Roe v Wade.[/quote]
But...that doesn't really make government any smaller. That just shifts the power of the government to the state level.

It sounds like people are really referring to decentralized government when they talk about "small government."

[Didymus]

[quote name='XIX' post='1426349' date='Nov 28 2007, 02:07 PM']But...that doesn't really make government any smaller. That just shifts the power of the government to the state level.

It sounds like people are really referring to decentralized government when they talk about "small government."[/quote]

state government isn't smaller than federal government?

it's easier for Governor Blagojevich to hear my voice than it is for President Bush to hear my voice; thus, it benefits me to want more power in the state level than the federal level...

I always thought decentralization was at the core of promoting small government.

I wouldn't say I hold all the conservative points of view though, so I def don't speak for "them"

[Maggyie]

[quote name='S][N' post='1426101' date='Nov 28 2007, 01:44 AM']
Conservative = Religiously extreme, Pro-Capitalist, Pro-poverity (IE: Maintaining and increasing the gap between Rich and Poor), extreme right-wing on moral issues to the point of ignoring other peoples thoughts and beliefs, trying to subject them against their will and rights as a free-thinking human being to a form of religious morality they don't hold.

Add more when it comes to mind.[/quote]


Put down the Ann Coulter and pick up the Russell Kirk or the Edmund Burke! You have been mainlining WorldNetDaily, but it's not too late Get outside your comfort zone and read some serious conservative political philosophy. By "serious" I mean it comes in a hardcover book with a jacket that doesn't have a huge American flag and the face of a bomb-throwing pundit on it. Too often people judge politics by the Michael Moores and the Sean Hannitys.

I don't think anyone on the face of the earth has ever been pro-poverty. "Mmm, poverty, that's a great thing, we need more of that!" Do you really think conservative politicians get up every day and think, "How can I maintain and increase the gap between the rich and the poor? I must work hard on that today! EVIL LAUGH!"

I think the word you are maybe looking for is indifferent. "Indifferent to poverty." It's not a good thing, it's wrong and very bad, but it's not eeeeeevil.

[XIX]

[quote name='Didymus' post='1426357' date='Nov 28 2007, 03:41 PM']state government isn't smaller than federal government?

it's easier for Governor Blagojevich to hear my voice than it is for President Bush to hear my voice; thus, it benefits me to want more power in the state level than the federal level...

I always thought decentralization was at the core of promoting small government.

I wouldn't say I hold all the conservative points of view though, so I def don't speak for "them"[/quote]
I see what you are saying. I meant that government is government is government. So whether the power goes to state government or federal government, it's still power that is going to a gov't.

So yeah, decentralization-------------->smaller government. I can buy that. It's not really a perfect description, but it works.

[Didymus]

[quote name='XIX' post='1426369' date='Nov 28 2007, 03:01 PM']I see what you are saying. I meant that government is government is government. So whether the power goes to state government or federal government, it's still power that is going to a gov't.[/quote]

ah, yeah.

but that has to do with America being a democratic republic rather than a democracy, no?

sorry, hope this doesn't hijack the thread

[Mateo el Feo]

[quote name='S][N' post='1426101' date='Nov 28 2007, 01:44 AM']Conservative = Religiously extreme, Pro-Capitalist, Pro-poverity (IE: Maintaining and increasing the gap between Rich and Poor), extreme right-wing on moral issues to the point of ignoring other peoples thoughts and beliefs, trying to subject them against their will and rights as a free-thinking human being to a form of religious morality they don't hold.[/quote]I've been proudly pro-poverity for as long as I can remember, and am always looking for ways to oppress free-thinking human beings.

[Dismas]

In the principled sense, the political term "conservative" is a composite of three general dimensions, of which a conservative may subscribe to any or all of these three to various degrees. Further, in some policy positions, one school may oppose another, so there are often heated internal debates.

The first dimension is often called "classical liberalism". Yes, it sounds odd, yet the term "liberal" was not synonymous with "leftist" or "progressive" up until modern times. Classical liberalism contends that laissez-faire capitalism is the most efficient, most productive, and most beneficial economic system extant. Well known advocates of classical liberalism are Dr. Milton Friedman, Dr. Thomas Sowell, and the Heritage Foundation. Much to the confusion of leftists, classical liberals view socialism and fascism to be virtually the same, and to be avoided at all costs.

The second dimension can be called "traditionalism". This philosophy encompasses the advocacy of Judeo-Christian morality and beliefs, a distinctly American (and regional) culture, and the protection of the Constitution by literal interpretation. While in character it is often strongly Anglo-Saxon Protestant in nature and norms, distinctly Catholic, Jewish, Irish, German, etc. variants do exist. Influence from such variants can be found in the anti-abortion campaign, when the Catholic Church stood alone against it in the seventies.

Lastly, there is the "sovereignty" dimension. Like traditionalism, one can hold strong opinions and positions contrary to other conservatives, and still be conservative. The majority, however, generally desire a strong and well funded military, secure borders, and deeply distrust foreign powers, especially the U.N. The variety in this dimension is perhaps the greatest, ranging from messianic neocons to isolationist paleocons.

I'm sorry if this doesn't help much, however I am being as truthful as I can.

[ironmonk]

[quote name='S][N' post='1426101' date='Nov 28 2007, 01:44 AM']
Conservative = Religiously extreme, Pro-Capitalist, Pro-poverity (IE: Maintaining and increasing the gap between Rich and Poor), extreme right-wing on moral issues to the point of ignoring other peoples thoughts and beliefs, trying to subject them against their will and rights as a free-thinking human being to a form of religious morality they don't hold.

Add more when it comes to mind.[/quote]

Ignorance is not bliss, get educated.


Conservative means to keep status quo. Then there is "right wing", someone who obeys the law, is for justice, is open minded, and believes that in most cases there is a clear line between right and wrong. There is no such thing as a "right wing extremist", the minute someone breaks the law, then they go left.

Liberal means to change. Then there is "left wing", someone who believes right and wrong is basically realtive, that they should be able to do whatever they want whenever they want without regard to others. They are the type to base their logic on unanswered questions and assumptions. Typically they see religion as a superstition and look at other people who know that there is a God with haughty eyes. Those who scoff at religion and attack seem more mad at God than disbelief and they "get back at God" by claiming disbelief. Many leftists believe themselves to be open minded because they don't form an opinion... which is just stupidity to avoid forming an opinion. To be open minded is to be open to arguements from all sides and making an educated opinion on the matter. To be open to an argument anytime in one's life and actually research new arguments that contradict our held positions is what open minded is... not blindly accepted everything argued.

[Socrates]

[quote name='XIX' post='1426369' date='Nov 28 2007, 04:01 PM']I see what you are saying. I meant that government is government is government. So whether the power goes to state government or federal government, it's still power that is going to a gov't.

So yeah, decentralization-------------->smaller government. I can buy that. It's not really a perfect description, but it works.[/quote]
"Government is government is government" is not exactly true.
It's the whole principle of subsidiarity.

The conservative believes that ideally things should be decided at the "smaller" local level, rather than at a higher level as much as possible.
Thus an issue concerning a town should be decided by the people and government of that town, rather than by the state, by the state rather than by the federal government, and then by sovereign national governments rather than an international body like the U.N.

Even at a purely practical level, this works best. The conditions, customs, and beliefs of different places vary, and local matters are best settled at that level before moving up to a higher authority. What may work best in one place may not necessarily work in another place.
It also keeps big government bureaucracies from becoming too powerful, and meddling where they have no purpose. The federal government should ideally only handle what cannot be handled at more local levels.
Having stronger local governments and less centralized power creates checks and balances on power. (This was the "federalism" invisioned by our founding fathers.) If federal government has unchecked power over its "subject" states, rather than being kept in check by them, it risks becoming a tyranny.

Edited November 29, 2007 by Socrates

[Spamity Calamity]

conservative is the opposite of liberal

just like right is the opposite of left

of course right is also the opposite of wrong

its good to be right

Edited November 29, 2007 by Spamity Calamity

[Socrates]

[quote name='Mateo el Feo' post='1426388' date='Nov 28 2007, 04:59 PM']I've been proudly pro-poverity for as long as I can remember, and am always looking for ways to oppress free-thinking human beings.[/quote]
Is poverity a combination of poverty and prosperity?