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What is your definition of Conservatism?
Most common conceptions:
1. conservatism is against big gov't
2. conservatism is for traditional values
3. conservatism is what the bible tells us
Conservatism as i understand it...seeks to conserve the best elements of the past. It understands the important role that traditions, institutions, habits and authority have in our social life together and recognizes our national institutions as products of principles developed over time by custom, the lessons of experience, and consensus...Conservatism, too, is based on th belief that the social order rests upon a moral base.
--William J. Bennett
I agree with Mr. Bennett's definition better than the 3 stereotypes above however there are still many unanswered questions. I think there is a big difference between conservatism in theory and in practice as we have seen the last 30 years. If conservatives base they're supposed ideology on a 'moral base' what does that mean? Who decides this metaphorical base? For example, when conservatives say their moral base is the bible, there in lies a problem already. The bible cannot be applied to politics as we know it, well, not without a lot of omittance, interpretation, and selection. So what one person may consider a precept of the Christian faith another may disregard. Nevertheless, this problem of inability to explain why conservatives are moral and liberals are not is something that is vexing to most thinking people. Liberals are not any better though and cannot adequately explain why they are moral over conservatives either.
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