No...beliefs or principles are not essential. See above. Robots don't have beliefs.
Posted on 10/31/2003 8:00:17 AM PST by Scenic Sounds
Does a Republican equal a conservative? There is an entire spectrum of beliefs embodied within those elected officials that have an (R) after their name, and most of us assume that if someone is a Republican, they are conservative. However, political parties die when they are stagnant, and so there is constant change.
To answer the conservativism question, first we have to know what the basic beliefs of conservatives really are.
Historically, their most common belief – the one issue that typically unites them – is a belief in a limited federal government. Conservatives in American tend to believe that power is best left to state and local governments – the governments that are closest to the people. They believe that these smaller governments know better what their own communities need than the more distant federal government.
Conservatives also believe that the government should have a limited fiscal policy, and that the economy runs better with as little government interference as possible. We believe that most government regulations on economic issues serve to stunt growth, and that the capitalist system works best when it is allowed to work as freely as is possible.
Conservatives believe in the rights of the individuals over the rights of the government. They also deeply believe in the idea of personal responsibility. They believe that with individual rights comes individual responsibility. With a limited government comes a limited amount of assistance for its citizens, and conservatives embrace this, because it encourages individuality and freedom from dependence.
Conservatives believe in a strong national defense, and they tend to believe that our borders should be tightly controlled. They support the military and tend to believe that our military is not well served when it is spread all over the world on peacekeeping missions.
These make up the core of conservative values. While there is room for argument within any of these, they are the foundational tenets.
Now, let’s get back to our original question. Does a Republican equal a conservative? There isn’t a simple answer, but the most obvious one is no. There is no Republican that can say that he has held to these values without fail. The problem occurs when the leaders within the Party stop making conservative values their goal.
When the foundation of a belief system is taken away, the entire system wobbles. When one tenet is taken away, the rest threaten to crumble. If Republicans cease to believe in the idea of a limited central government, it becomes easier to justify more regulation and restriction on our market system. When our troops become less of a defense force and more of a peacekeeping force, it becomes easier to justify spreading them out from country to country, which tires and stresses our military. When personal responsibility stops – anything can happen. If no one is to blame, then no one must fear consequences of what they do.
Perhaps the question really is – Should a Republican equal a conservative? For those of us that believe in the GOP, that answer is a resounding yes – but this question will be answered by the people, over a period of decades, who will give their money and their votes to the Republican Party. As the GOP moves closer to the center, there will be a day when conservatives must decide whether the Republican Party is still the party that represents them best; and if they conclude that it is not, they will have to find an alternative.
Cathryn Crawford is a student at the University of Texas.
Well, there is that divide. Then there are neoconservatives and paleoconservatives. Then there are liberal Republicans...the list goes on and on.
I'm wondering if there is a baseline conservativism that Republicans must have. Are certian beliefs essential?
Or New York.
Obviously, there is not. Look at Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, and most New Jersey GOP'ers for example. I think the better question would be should certain beliefs be essential.
No...beliefs or principles are not essential. See above. Robots don't have beliefs.
Nope, because there's a bitter debate over what constitutes conservatism as it is. Conservatism is a reflective term; it describes nothing but a position relative to something else.
LOL!
I would question that, as I am a fairly hardcore social conservative who is also a fairly hardcore small-'l' libertarian.
If people's reaction to a Republican being called a centrist is bad, then why do they elect centrists? Does that negative reaction assume that people want Republicans to be right-of-center (or strict) conservatives? Interesting.
Then freaking go, but please stop the whining.
Come on, Dane, cheer up. :-)
What is your opinion of the article?
Shall I help you pack? I'd be more than happy to see you go.
No you are still young, some day when you get into the real world.
To paraphrase Churchill or Lady Thatcher, the same basic quote has been attributed to both.
When you are young and not idealogical you have no heart, when you are 40 and still idealogical you have no head.
Notice everbody, I said "paraphrase".
You could write an entire book on the former. Certain conservatives on FR are really statists masked by social conservatism.
I think it's pretty funny that people around here (mistakenly) attribute beliefs to ideals instead of principles.
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