Why I'm a Conservative

On good days, conservatives are characterized in the main stream media as callous, unfeeling, racist robots; controlled by select members of talk radio and new media. But on a regular basis, if you believe the MSM, conservatives are gun-toting, Bible thumping, back-wood red necks, who would have us all live in a totally polluted environment and warring with every religious faction or nation that dared threaten the Judaeo/Christian ethic. Funny ... most of the conservatives I know are compassionate, caring, tolerant and intelligent humans who live their lives within the confines of common sense and a good measure of self discipline. So, you can understand my confusion when I hear conservatives being demonized by the liberal ambassadors of our generation.

I will admit that conservatives tend to be narrow ... not in their thinking, but in their values. Yes, if there is one thing for which conservatives can be indicted, tried and convicted, it would be their holding a narrow set of values. Now, let's be clear here. Values are not goals, ideals, or noble causes. Values are the means to goals, ideals and noble causes, and I believe it is at this juncture where the division between conservatism and liberalism begins.

Yes, I think conservatives and liberals differ on some basic core values. 1) Conservatives value self-determination/personal responsibility, which is most often expressed through opposition to any idea, measure, or regulation that would deny individuals from taking responsibility for themselves. For example, support for a health care system that removes choices from the individual betrays a value system that is opposed to self determination. You cannot say you value self determination (freedom) and then embrace ideas that deny personal responsibility. Freedom is the ability to choose, and then embrace the consequences of those choices; good or bad.
2) Conservatives value the free market system. Conservatives believe capitalism provides the best economic model for the individual to survive and prosper. This value is in strong opposition to socialism, which is an economic and political theory based on public/common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources. Furthermore, capitalism is bridled when government imposes regulations, taxes and fines on the entrepreneurial efforts of its citizenry. A tax rate that punishes success is in diametric opposition to capitalism. Conservatives value a free market system, because in all of history it has provided the best model for prosperity and success of the individual. You cannot claim to embrace capitalism and then support common ownership, re-allocation of resources or higher taxes on those who make more money than you. Those concepts, my friend, are born out of Marxism. 3) Conservatives value limited government at every tier, but especially at the national level. Conservatives recognize the wisdom of the Constitution and believe that a government big enough to provide you anything you want and need is a government big enough to take it away from you. Conservatives recognize that there is a legitimate role for government, but it is a limited role; one that makes up for the short comings of the individual. The Constitution is very clear about the role of government. It does not include providing food, shelter, clothing or education for its citizenry. You can read it for yourself here: Full text of the Constitution of the United States. I highly recommend it.

As I observe the behavior and words of the liberal community, I cannot help but think that they do not share values with their conservative counterparts. I strongly suspect that for most, the values they do hold are not solidified or well defined. Tell me, my liberal friend, what value do you associate with supporting an ever-expanding government? What value do you associate with higher taxes? What value do you associate with surrendering personal choice (what to eat, what car to drive, what doctor you see) to a government entity? What value do you associate with taking money from your neighbor and giving it to another neighbor? What value do you associate with imposing higher taxes on those who make more money than you? These are of course rhetorical questions because we all know the answer: Irresponsibility disguised as compassion. It is the liberal value that encompasses it all. The lack of personal responsibility naturally lends itself to relying on others, in this case the government, to satisfy some need or want or goal. Yes, government seems to be the most expedient means of solving the issues of our day. We are all familiar with the arguments surrounding clean air, clean water, endangered species, over-population ,et al., popular liberal topics that are used to beat up on conservatives and prove liberals are responsible people. Give me a break folks, conservatives also live on this planet, and have concerns regarding our survival. The difference is that conservatives tend to look first for free market and practical solutions before subjugating them to an inefficient and cumbersome government bureaucracy that will eat up tax dollars and eventually fail in its purpose. Let me illustrate my point with these cold hard facts:
The federal government has
• 342 economic development programs;
• 130 programs serving the disabled;
• 130 programs serving at-risk youth;
• 72 federal programs dedicated to assuring safe water;
• 50 homeless assistance programs;
• 45 federal agencies conducting federal criminal investigations.

We take a look at the list, and it is simply a cursory glance, and we can make some credible observations: Noble? Yes. Practical? No. Expensive? Yes. Redundant? Yes. Constitutional? Debatable. Seriously, can you read that list and not realize that conservatives have good reason for holding to their narrow values?

Yes, I'm a conservative ... for, I think, very good reasons.