Rigged

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.

__________________
Click here for further confusion

okpfloyd

I think that these "sterotypes" are more so than ever because the "conservative party's platform" has been stolen by control freaks and religious fanatics...wait, those are the same right? I agree about it being the last 30 years, slowly eroding or bypassing the Constitution, gaining power through fear, and using ignorance and intimidation to sway voters to their side....

They are not against big government when they create more government designed to spy on Americans, corrupt the justice system, or blur the lines of separation of church and state. (They have enlisted faith based administration officials from a 4th tier lawschool (Liberty Univ.) and these "traditional values" which are based on religion are so far from "reality based" they created the divide we have in America today).

When we are not united as one our democracy suffers.

Overall what I am saying is that conservative "representatives" today are anything BUT conservative when it comes to fiscal responsibility, TRUE Amercan values, and ensuring freedom of choice with being against any form of a theocratical type of government.

When "conservative" candidates and their flock start talking about ending the wars, addressing the poverty and economy, reject the corporate influence on law making, and the injustices in our judicial systems, then I will respect their views and consider...until then I consider them to be un-American to the true values TRUE patriots of this country embrace.

Your move...

PursuitOfHappinessParty

It appear the MSM, citizens, and government officials use whatever definition suits themselves best, as in all things American.

To me?

Conservatism is conservative to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Abuses and contradictions are not to be allowed. This leaves my conservatism to mean:

1) Minimal government impact on citizens and their businesses.
2) Fiscal responsibility by the government.
3) Maximizing citizen rights.
4) Direct following of the will of the citizens, true citizen representation.

Conservatism thus allows for healthy business practices, balanced governmental budgets, eradication of vice laws, serious criminal prosecution, corporation warriness, strong but not insane military allowances, sane foreign policy, sane budgets, and the like.

A conservative government would then be able to protect the citizen and citizens plural from each other, foreign influences, and corporations (monopolies and my newest leastest buddy mega-corporations), as well as the ecology. True conservatism protects citizens and their money, not pandering to special interest corporations.

__________________
" Tie two birds together and though they have four wings they cannot fly " Blind Master in 'Circle Of Iron'

okpfloyd

If only your ideas of true conservatism were actually practiced in the last 7.5 years then that would have been a positive.

If we were to not look back and assume these principals were to be practiced in the future do you see the candidate who represents "conservatism" as viable?

Long way to go yo from where we are now...good luck.

PursuitOfHappinessParty

The closest one, unfortunately, is the craziest of the group: Barr. In no way am I endorsing him, just saying McCain and Obama certainly aren't conservative and that Barr is - in an extremist, misguided way. Barr and the Libertarians are history revisionist, naive about isolationism, and too anti-consumer to fit my definition either.

Are there any John Adams great-greats running?

__________________
" Tie two birds together and though they have four wings they cannot fly " Blind Master in 'Circle Of Iron'

Heretic

I'd scratch nuber three from that list, because a number of fiscal conservatives aren't real big on religion even if they're not athiests.

But what I'd include in that lists are people who think the Constitution shouldn't be tinkered with and tend to fight for preserving traditions considered idealic [even if some really aren't]. Also, people who want to "conserve" the environment [see Barry Goldwater].

__________________
"In space no one can hear you scream. in D.C. it won't matter..." -Clinton Resurrection: The Alien Queen lives!

Dianekkdi

The word 'conservative' is just about as mutated as the word 'liberal.'

A conservative at this point is a closed minded prejudicial closet gay homophobe who wants to tell you what your religion should be, how you should breathe, think, live....

It's nothing to do with the running of government or conservation.

It's just another right-wing hypocritical lie.

The only reason current conservatives speak of cutting the bottom line of government now is because they want to have more of your cash around to steal. If you, as a middle class American, think you are going to get anything back...some piece of the proverbial pie, you are sadly mistaken. Watch for that toe tap at the airport--he'll show you what you are going to get. Open wide now.

__________________

----------------------
Reinvestigate 9/11
Impeach......Prosecute......Imprison

"...The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed...."
--Thomas Jefferson

disfigured

Conservatism:

A reaction to change the simple minded turn to when fearful of their small penises. At some point a political ideology that had a sparse few legitimate tenets, which eventually ended up being null and void with the change the followers so willfully tried to stop.

A political ideology who's only legitimacy is provided by its own self perpetuation. Divisive in nature, its basis is repulsive to all but the most insecure, ignorant and down right stupid. It's populace too stupid to break themselves of its rigid constraints, for fear of having to think for themselves.

It's mantra should be: "I don't think, therefore you don't matter" .

Historically (as we are seeing now), it will be seen as the biggest house of cards in ideological history.

__________________

okpfloyd

I agree, the definitions that are given on this thread are certainly NOT what are what practiced by "conservative" leaders...sure they may have a few positive points regardnig less government, individual rights, and fiscal responsibility but the one's who run on these seldom practice it.

They are more about greed "buy" control.

Pull the certain back and you see the them (most of them) for what that are, greedy control freaks who in many cases dispise themselves because they can't be who they are...and want their followers to fall into line without questioning any of their actions....and that's what you can expect to get from the sheeples...the blind followers....the scared to think for themselves types.

Just as a theory...do you suppose the dividing line is that religious conservatives tend to dwell on death and can't handle the questions of why we are here and what happens to us when we die?...while liberals tend to live for the day and make the best of things and not spend their lives stressing about death...

BleedingPinky

Consevartism. I don´t know. When you age x years old you have a 68.78956% of probability for reaching that status. Now time to define x.