Sword and Sextant

There are many in this country that claim the mantle of Conservative, from Rudy Giuliani to John McCain to Ron Paul to even Christopher Hitchens. As you probably noticed, there are very distinct beliefs claimed by each of those names, yet they all claim to be Conservatives. Certainly that suggests that at least one, if not three, of them are lying to you. Doesn’t it?

Conservatism is a doctrine, a state of mind, even a kind of religion if you really buy into its tenets. The question is: What are they? What in the world makes one Conservative? Maybe we should start with what is NOT a Conservative outlook.

1) One easy answer is taxes. Conservatism does not include high taxes, fees, or levies. This stems from a belief (just short of Libertarianism) that the federal government should not have very much power, and that the citizens should be making the needle move on a daily basis, rather than arcane appointments in an office building on the beltway. So, no high taxes, but we still WANT to pay taxes, although we’ll gripe like everyone else.

We pay taxes gladly to support our military, which through manpower, technology, ingenuity, and a load of cash, has become extremely powerful and efficient. We will also pay for law enforcement on our own soil, which protects us from the shadier elements of our own citizenship, and those that may invade us illegaly (ahem, Mexico, ahem). This leads very nicely into another tenet of Conservatism: Sovereignty.

2) Conservatism is “all-in” on the topic of protecting our status as an independent state. This pillar has two halves. First, we protect ourselves by fighting in conflicts to preserve our existence, interests, and allies. We may fight to protect South Korea, a people under genocide, or even our security against a perceived threat. Second, we believe in enforcement of our own borders. Any unlawful invasion by any people is unacceptable, as we are an independent, recognized nation under a civil (at times) government.

We rail against the unlawful invasion from Mexico, in which Mexican Nationals enter our territory, against our laws, and return money to Mexico, or stay and live under the rock of society, often never learning English, and destroying our healthcare system, as well as filling up a great deal of our prisons. In short, we believe our borders should be enforced strongly, and our national interests should be protected in kind.

3) Conservatives also have an outlook on life that is particular to our cause, although others can feel similarly. The politics of personal responsibility are another central facet of this movement. You, as a legal US citizen, owe your family, yourself, and your progeny (future or otherwise) a right to earn as much money and success as you can reasonably acquire. This is not to say you should crush everyone around you and sacrifice all for money or achievement, but you certainly should make enough to make a good life for your family and children (occasionally parents, as well). You have a duty to do that.

As such, the government is not responsible for making sure that happens, assuming that you are able of body and mind. The welfare state is a creation of our best intentions, and a liberal voting war machine. The cycle of poverty created by liberalism allows the poor to appreciate democrats who hand them a free lunch in return for unwavering support at the polls. It is too bad that the poor do not realize that those big, bad republicans that they despise for all their possessions and money are their saviors if they would only break the cycle. Liberalism has created an underclass of our society that does not work, but votes for them, and introduces children into their world, propagating their votes over years and years.

To review, the Conservative is a person who believes they can use their money better than our government. They also believe their government should protect them from foreign attack and internal crime. Finally, they are responsible for their own families’ wealth and success. That is it.

Notice there is no mention of gay marriage, any religion, or abortion. Conservatism does not cover these issues, no matter how many times you hear the phrase, the Christian Right. According to the Constitution of the United States, a favorite of S&S, church and state are separate, and the government is not to infringe on any first amendment rights. Do what you will, as long as it does not harm others. You are a Republican if you tie your political beliefs to your religion. Conservatism is void of those concerns.

In that light, consider yourself. Are you a Conservative, or not?