[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The era of conservative values—a tight-fisted approach toward government aid to the poor, traditional positions on social issues and a belief in a muscular foreign policy—that emerged in the 1990s is coming to a close.

But what if, instead of being asked if you favor "a tight-fisted approach toward government aid to the poor," you are asked if the government should pay more for poverty and therefore get more poverty? You might, perhaps, answer differently.