reduced*
When in doubt, read Levin’s book ... there’s no better “definition” than that.
That is the way they wish to define conservatism but conservatism is not simply the reliance on quaint traditions. I would suggest that at the core of conservatism is the search for truth. We believe in the law of Occam’s Razor we do not go when the light of inquiry is still red. We do not tend to accept vast generalization based upon the popular culture at the moment instead we dare to assess whether something is correct before we support it. We do not accept at face value the ramblings of children as a political movement to change the world or save it. We are the critical thinkers and we weigh the cost of change and the necessity of it not rushing to embrace what flies in the face of human history for the sake pleasing or entertaining sometimes naive youth.
We are the governors that keep the machine called civilization from flying apart while it moves forward.
Stubborn opposition to progressivism, yes.
I am little more than a quaint relic, therefore, I believe that government doesn't give me rights. I give the government rights.
Yeah, dopey, I know...
Also, please give your source for the Goldwater quote about big government. I think that you have misattributed the quote to him.
I stopped reading after that, so, I won't impose any further editorial demands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUB78Nte8RA
THADDEUS MCCOTTLE, Congressman (MI)
Our liberty is from God not the Government.
Our sovereignty is in our souls not the soil.
Our security is through strength not surrender.
Our prosperity is from the private sector not the public sector.
Our truths are self evident not relative.
TEN PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATISM ...By Russell Kirk (Distilled by Jo Nuvark)
FIRST Conservatives believe there exists an enduring order with moral absolutes.
Man and that order are in harmony with one another. Human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permanent.
SECOND Conservatives embrace custom, convention and continuity.
To destroy old customs dictates that new (and perhaps inferior) customs are necessary to replace them. Conservatives champion tradition because they prefer the devil they know to the devil they don’t know.
THIRD Conservatives believe in the principle of prescription.
Why change? To prosper, we must stand upon the proven foundation laid in our past.
FOURTH Conservatives are cautious and discreet.
Any public measure ought to be judged by its probable long-run consequences, not merely by temporary advantage or popularity.
FIFTH Conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
The only true forms of equality are the Last Judgment and before a just court of law. All other attempts at leveling lead to social stagnation. Society requires honest and able leadership, yet if natural and institutional differences are destroyed, soon a tyrant or demagogue will create new forms of inequality.
SIXTH Conservatives understand that man is flawed.
Because man is imperfect, no perfect social order can be created. All that can reasonably be expected is a tolerably ordered, just, and free society, in which some evils, maladjustments, and suffering will continue to lurk.
SEVENTH Conservatives believe that freedom and property are closely linked.
Separate property from private possession, and the beast becomes master of all. Upon the foundation of private property, great civilizations are built. The more who possess private property, the more stable and productive society. Economic leveling does not equal economic progress.
EIGHTH Conservatives uphold voluntary community and they oppose involuntary collectivism.
In a healthy community, the decisions most directly affecting the lives of citizens are made voluntarily - and in general agreement by those affected - by local political bodies or by private associations. But when these functions pass to a centralized authority, genuine community is threatened.
NINTH Conservatives perceive the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
When every person claims to be a power unto himself society falls into anarchy. A state in which an individual or a small group are able to dominate the wills of their fellows without check is a despotism. The conservative tries to limit and balance political power. Power the revolutionaries thought oppressive in the hands of an old regime, can become worse in the hands of tyrannical new masters.
TENTH Conservatives understand that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled.
When a society is progressing in some areas, usually it is declining in other areas. Conservatives know that any healthy society is influenced by two forces - Permanence and its Progression. Conservatives favor reasonable progress. Nothing in a society should ever be wholly old, and nothing should ever be wholly new.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
This information comes from the National Republican Committee
VFW - U.S.M.C. Clay Strombeck Black Hills, South Dakota
1. Copy this and give it to your liberal friends.
2. Ask them to read it with you right then and there.
3. Take them somewhere to sit down. 9 out of 10 will
discover they are actually conservative.
DEFENSE - Republicans believe that the only way to preserve
world peace is to have a powerful, prepared defense. The Republican
Party and its leaders are strongly opposed to domestic and international
terrorism, and are committed to a policy that will make no concessions
to terrorists. The Republican Party believes in working diplomatically
to help resolve dangerous regional conflicts and has achieved a reduction
of nuclear weapons. Defense Peace and freedom can be only achieved though
strength. History has shown, painfully, that weakness and vacillation
invite aggression. Democrats administrations have cut America’s
defenses. Relying on talk and good intentions to preserve world peace,
Democrats advocate sublimation of our sovereign interest to the authority
of the United Nations.
ECONOMY - The Republican Party believes that the free enterprise
system is the key to individual and national prosperity. Republicans
seek to protect the free enterprise system against unwarranted government
regulation, believe that “individuals shall prosper.” The
Democratic Party has, time and again, encouraged budget deficits and
continues to fight plans to balance the federal budget, call for reducing
the federal deficit through reductions in defense and tax increases,
believe that “government shall provide...”
BUDGET - Republicans believe the family is the foundations of our
social order; the school of democracy, believe it is important that
we reflect upon and consider carefully the impact of government
actions upon family life. Democrats support efforts to make federal
programs and benefits available.. same sex couples.
CRIME - Republicans believe the first obligation of government is
to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Both adults &
juveniles must learn that actions have consequences & that they
are responsible for their behavior. Democrats often vote to water down
crime fighting provisions and support endless appeal processes.
THE ENVIRONMENT - Republicans Republican Party recognizes the importance
of a safe and clean environment, and believes that the environmental
concerns must be balanced against economic growth and energy development.
Republicans emphasize the free market, exploration of new energy
stores, and an environmentally friendly approach to bringing new energy
resources to the American people. Democrats also recognizes the
importance of safe and clean environment, but lacks concern for the
economic factors involved and the jobs that regulations cost. Democrats
emphasize conservation to solve the energy problems and place environment
over development which results in continued reliance on foreign oil.
br /> REGULATION - Republicans The Republican Party strives to cut excessive
regulation, decentralize the federal government and return power to
state and local governments. Would exempt small businesses from
regulation wherever feasible. Democrats Democratic policies stifle
business, especially small business, with endless regulation, paperwork
and red tape.
EDUCATION - Republicans believe in local control of school boards, have
advanced the concept of school vouchers allowing parental choice for
lower income families to seek the best school for their children.
Democrats consistently protect the status-quo of our falling educational
system resisting creative efforts to improve opportunities for our children.
POVERTY - Republicans remedying poverty requires that we sustain and
broaden economic recovery, hold families together, get government’s
hand out of their pocketbooks, and restore the work ethic.
Democrats “For some, the goal of independence requires greater
support and assistance from government. We pledge to provide that support.”
WELFARE - Republicans support: able-bodied recipients of welfare to
work, time limits on assistance, incentives to receive schooling or
job training and pursuing” dead-beat dads” for child
support. Democrats vote against requiring recipients to work and time
limits on welfare.
TAXES AND SPENDING - Republicans continue to fight for limits on taxes
and a permanent repeal of the death tax, believe that the
government spending should not grow faster than the ability of citizens
to pay for it. Democrats fight to raise taxes largely to increase the
size of government and their ability to spend. Fiscal restraint is
necessary in families and it must be so in government.
HEALTH CARE - Republicans believe in personal choice, maintaining
quality, guaranteeing access, reducing cost, enhancing flexibility,
ensuring fairness and encouraging individual responsibility.
responsibility. Democrats support forcing Americans to purchase
health insurance through government alliances, massive new payroll
taxes, health entitlements and government controls which would lead
to rationing of health care and the quality of medical care in this
country.
DID YOU KNOW? As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall,
right above where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten
Commandments! *** As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge
oak doors have the Ten Command-ments engraved on each lower portion of
each door. *** As you walk up the steps to the building which houses
the U.S. Supreme Court you can see near the top of the building a row
of the world’s law givers and each one is facing one in the middle
who is facing forward with a full frontal view ... it is Moses and he
is holding the Ten Commandments!
FROM THE ARTICLE:
While Americans love to tout liberty and equality, we cannot have both
in their fullest extent at the same time. Conservatives have a steadfast
faith in the individual and hold firm to the belief that a man has a right
to keep what he earns, just as he has a right to reap what he sows.
“I define Conservatism, as I believe it is fit, on four categories of
principle: Respect for the Constitution, Respect for life, Less government
and Personal responsibility... Conservatism is not an ideology of feelings
- a romanticism as some people like to say. It is an Ideology of protecting
the people and the people’s rights.” (Jonathan Krohn)